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Snoopy Island, Fujairah

Snoopy Island off Al Aqah beach, Fujairah: the rock in turquoise water with a snorkeler in front
Photo: JSPhotography2016, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

The essentials in 10 seconds

Entry
Free; Sandy Beach day pass AED 150
Hours
Open water, no gate; Sandy Beach day pass daily 9:00–18:00, public holidays included
Time on site
A typical visit without queueing. In high season add 15–30 minutes.
2 h
With kids
Fine with kids
Island access
Free — it's open sea
Sandy Beach day pass
AED 150 adult, AED 100 child
officialConfirmed by an official source: the venue, a ministry or the operator.
Day pass hours
9:00–18:00 daily, UAE public holidays included
officialConfirmed by an official source: the venue, a ministry or the operator.
Free entry point
Public stretch of beach next to the hotel — no shade, no rentals
verifyingFrom reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go.
Distance from shore
About 200 m — swim or kayak
Depth
2–3 m on the beach side, wall to 5–7 m on the west
Mask and fins rental
Unofficial: AED 30–60 on the beach
verifyingFrom reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go.
Getting there
≈ 43 km from Fujairah Fort, ≈ 144 km from Deira (Dubai) — car or taxi
Best season
October to April, mornings
Coordinates
25.49222, 56.36417YesGo MapGoogleApple

Key facts

≈ 200 mfrom the sand at Al Aqah to the island
2 sourcesISRA (Important Shark and Ray Areas), Snoopy Island factsheetEnglish Wikipedia, Al Aqah
Up to 6–7 mdeep: 2–3 m on the east side, a wall to 5–6 m on the west
2 sourcesISRA — to 6 mEnglish Wikipedia, Al Aqah — about 7 m
Marine reservethe island sits inside the Al Aqah protected area
2 sourcesISRA, Snoopy Island factsheetEnglish Wikipedia, Al Aqah
Reef sharksblacktip reef sharks circle the island year-round, mostly by day
SourceISRA, Snoopy Island factsheet
Snoopy's outlinethe rock looks like the cartoon beagle lying on his back
SourceEnglish Wikipedia, Snoopy Island
Al Aqah Islandits Arabic name, after the village on the shore
2 sourcesEnglish Wikipedia, Snoopy IslandWikidata Q21735383
Gulf of Omanthe UAE's east coast — not the Persian Gulf side like Dubai
2 sourcesEnglish Wikipedia, Snoopy IslandWikidata Q21735383
≈ 43 kmby road from Fujairah Fort, about 45 minutes with no traffic
SourceOpenStreetMap and OSRM routing, YesGo calculation
≈ 144 kmby road from Deira, about two hours
2 sourcesOpenStreetMap and OSRM routing, YesGo calculationuaeinform gives about 140 km
October–Aprilthe best season: calmer water, bearable heat
2 sourcesuaeinform, Snoopy IslandD&B Dubai guide

Is Snoopy Island free?

Yes — the island is open sea and nobody charges you to swim to it. What costs money is the beach. The simplest entry point is Sandy Beach Hotel & Resort, right opposite the island: a day pass is AED 150 for adults and AED 100 for children, valid 9:00–18:00 every day, public holidays included.

The pass covers the beach with loungers, the pool, changing rooms, showers and one towel each. The packages that add food credit or a watersports credit (a kayak or paddleboard for an hour, or a mask and fins for the day) show “bookings temporarily closed” on the hotel site, so ask the hotel before you count on them.

You buy the pass on the hotel's own website and pay by card online. The free option is the public stretch of Al Aqah beach next to the hotel: local guides describe walking in and swimming out at no cost, but there's no shade, no rental and no shower. We couldn't confirm where the public section starts and ends, so treat it as unverified.

Snorkeling at Snoopy Island: what you'll see

Snoopy Island is a small rock in the Gulf of Oman off the village of Al Aqah in northern Fujairah. From the beach its outline looks like Snoopy lying on his back, hence the name; in Arabic it's simply Al Aqah Island. People come for shore snorkeling and diving — the reef starts right at the rock.

The water around it is part of the Al Aqah marine reserve. On the side facing the beach it's 2–3 m deep; on the west a rocky wall drops to 5–7 m. That's ideal for a mask: you see the bottom clearly without having to dive.

Expect parrotfish, trumpetfish and triggerfish, turtles, and small blacktip reef sharks that circle the island all year — they're the reason it's listed as an Important Shark and Ray Area. Don't touch or feed anything.

Honest take: if you're not getting in the water, two hours each way from Dubai for a view of a rock isn't worth it. If you are, this is the best reef on the east coast you can reach without a boat.

How to get to Snoopy Island

Step-by-step directions are below; the map shows where you arrive.

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Where are you starting from?

We’ll draw it on the map on foot and by taxi; metro and buses open in your maps app. Your location isn’t stored.

More tips

  1. From Fujairah Fort take a taxi or drive north on the coast road — about 43 km, roughly 45 minutes with no traffic.
  2. You pass through Khor Fakkan (part of Sharjah emirate, home to the Khor Fakkan waterfall) and Bidiyah with its old Al Badiyah Mosque.
  3. In Al Aqah, turn off for Sandy Beach Hotel & Resort — the island sits right off its beach, about 8 km past Al Badiyah.
  4. Buy the day pass on the hotel site, or head for the public stretch of beach next door.
  5. From Dubai it's about 144 km and two hours by car. Intercity bus E700 runs from Dubai to Fujairah city, but from Fujairah bus station (≈ 48 km away) you still need a taxi.
  6. Head back before dark — the road across the Hajar mountains to Dubai winds a lot.

Can you swim to Snoopy Island?

Yes. It's about 200 m from the beach, and the water is usually calmest in the morning. A reasonably fit swimmer in fins gets there in five to ten minutes. The seaward side is open water, so if you're not confident, stay between the island and the shore — that's where most of the coral is anyway.

Whether you're allowed to climb onto the rock itself, we couldn't confirm from any official source. The edge is rocky with coral rubble, so reef shoes are a good idea either way.

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Where to stay near Snoopy Island

Closest is Sandy Beach Hotel & Resort — the island is directly opposite its beach, and it has a PADI dive centre. If you want to snorkel at sunrise, when the water is flattest, stay here and you're two minutes from the sea.

Several more large resorts line the same road within 1–2 km. From those you can walk the beach or drive over, and if your hotel is on the sand you don't need the Sandy Beach pass at all.

An overnight stay makes sense if you're combining the island with the rest of the east coast — the fort and museum in Fujairah city, Al Badiyah Mosque, the Khor Fakkan waterfall. For a single day trip from Dubai, you can skip it.

Snoopy Island, Fujairah Corniche or Khor Fakkan waterfall

Snoopy Islandyou are hereAl Aqah, north FujairahFujairah≈ 40 km—Snorkeling and diving
Fujairah CornicheFujairah cityFujairah≈ 2 km≈ 40 kmSeaside walk
Khor Fakkan waterfallKhor FakkanSharjah≈ 25 km≈ 14 kmWalk and photos

If you're crossing to the east coast for the sea, pick Snoopy Island. The corniche and the waterfall are good stops on the way, but not worth two hours from Dubai on their own.

Fujairah by the water: compare and choose

Waterside places on the east coast scored by YesGo. Tap a column header to sort.

Fujairah Corniche401 hFree41.3 km
Khor Fakkan Waterfall3030 minFree14.0 km
Snoopy Islandyou are here262 hFree; Sandy Beach day pass AED 150—

The east coast in a day

Snorkel at the island in the morning, then head south: the old Al Badiyah Mosque, the Khor Fakkan waterfall and Fujairah Fort by evening. YesGo works out the timing and transfers.

  1. Snoopy Islandyou are here2 h · Free; Sandy Beach day pass AED 150
  2. 104 min walk from the previous stopAl Badiyah Mosque30 min · Free
  3. 139 min walk from the previous stopKhor Fakkan Waterfall30 min · Free
  4. 440 min walk from the previous stopFujairah Fort45 min · Free (unofficial)

4 places · about 15 h 8 min with walks · 683 min on foot in total

Go · my route

How to do it right

  • Not a strong swimmer? Take a kayak — the island is only about 200 m out.
  • Wear reef shoes: the island's edge is rock and broken coral.
  • Don't touch the coral, turtles or sharks — this is a marine reserve.
  • Pair the island with Al Badiyah Mosque, ten minutes' drive south.
  • Leave Dubai early so you're there by nine, when the hotel beach opens.
  • The public beach has no shade — bring an umbrella and plenty of water.

Questions

Where is Snoopy Island?

Off the village of Al Aqah in northern Fujairah, in the Gulf of Oman, about 200 m from the shore — directly opposite the beach of Sandy Beach Hotel & Resort.

Is Snoopy Island free?

The island is. Swimming out from the public beach next to the hotel is free; the Sandy Beach day pass is AED 150 for adults and AED 100 for children.

Can you swim to Snoopy Island?

Yes, it's about 200 m. You need to be a confident swimmer, ideally with mask and fins; otherwise take a kayak.

How far is Snoopy Island from Dubai?

About 144 km from Deira by road — around two hours by car or taxi.

Can you get to Snoopy Island by bus?

Only partly. Bus E700 runs from Dubai to Fujairah city; from the bus station it's about 45–50 minutes to Al Aqah by taxi.

What are the Sandy Beach day pass hours?

9:00 to 18:00 every day, including UAE public holidays.

What can you see snorkeling at Snoopy Island?

Coral, parrotfish, trumpetfish, triggerfish, turtles and small blacktip reef sharks, which stay around the island all year.

When is the best time to visit Snoopy Island?

October to April, in the morning, when the water is calmer and the beach is quieter.

Is Snoopy Island worth it?

If you'll snorkel, yes — it's the best shore reef on the east coast. If you won't get in the water, the long drive isn't worth it for the view alone.

Have you been? Was it worth your time?

1 — no, 5 — absolutely

Your vote counts towards the YesGo score.

Sources and fact-check

  • Sandy Beach Hotel & Resort (sandybeach.ae): day pass prices, hours and inclusions, 03.11.2026
  • ISRA (Important Shark and Ray Areas): Snoopy Island factsheet
  • English Wikipedia: Snoopy Island, Al Aqah; Wikidata Q21735383
  • OpenStreetMap (Nominatim) and OSRM routing — coordinates and distances, 03.11.2026
  • uaeinform: Snoopy Island, 2026; Property Finder: day pass guide, 2025; D&B Dubai guide
  • Gulf News, dubai-online.com — intercity bus E700
YesGo editorial team · facts checked 03.11.2026 ·
How we checkedDay pass prices and hours come from Sandy Beach's official website. Depth, distance from shore and the sharks are checked against the ISRA factsheet and English Wikipedia. Distances are our own OpenStreetMap calculation. uaeinform describes a free public beach, while Property Finder says access is through the hotel only — so the public beach is marked unverified. Rental prices are unofficial. Sources disagree on the E700 fare (AED 25 vs 30) and its Dubai terminus (Union or Etisalat), so we quote neither.

Top YesGo picks: Fujairah

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Fujairah Museum

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