I honestly thought that after our quick visit to Al Suhub Rest Area, we were done for the day and heading back home. But as always, my husband had a surprise up his sleeve. After he saw Shark Island from up there in Al Suhub, something in him lit up. He wanted us to explore the island and I couldn’t help but smile. Spontaneity is so his style. We looked for a hotel nearby and found one just a short walk from the Corniche.
Shark Island is a little rocky island, a short boat ride from the Corniche beach. There were no establishments, so visitors brought their own food and water. A serene place to chill, explore and enjoy the natural beauty of nature.
We both woke up early with full energy the next morning. The notion of going to a place called Shark Island made me curious and a bit worried. I asked my husband half jokingly, Are there really sharks there? He smirked and said Yes. Leaving me to wonder whether he was trying to spook me. I turned to Google and to my surprise, it was true! Reef sharks had been spotted in the area. But from what I read, they’re small and mostly harmless, and sightings depend on the season. That calmed me down a little. Kind of. After breakfast, we packed up our things and our beach umbrella and went out. The boat was just a short walk from our hotel. Some boats were lined up ready to take visitors to the island, along the beach. As we walked by, a local man came and asked if we were eager to visit the island. My husband asked about the cost, and the man quoted AED 400 for a private one hour trip. But of course, my husband haggled and we ended up settling for AED 300. We were on board, and a family of five came by asking if they could join. The boatman asked us if it was okay and we happily agreed. They then discussed the price and after some negotiation, We agreed to pay 400 AED for the trip. This deal saved us around 100 AED. They asked if we could extend the trip by 30 minutes, and the boatman kindly agreed. It was a good deal all around.
The boat ride from the Corniche to Shark Island only took about 15 minutes, but every second of it was happiness. I can feel the air touch my face as I watched jet skiers winding around the bay. Getting closer to the island, I was surprised, the water turned clearer, shimmering under the sun. The island was small and rocky, with no structures, no vendors, no noise, just nature.
We leaped down into the boat, a mix of thrill and curiosity burst into the air. We found a good spot, laid out our things, and quickly set off to explore. We went to the other side, the place was still, the kind of quiet that fills your soul. The island was stocked with rocky corners, tide pools, and calm, crystal clear water. This place has a fresh, natural beauty that instantly catches your eye. Some rocks are gentle and rounded by the waves, while others are keen and layered, adding texture and depth to the island’s charm. The place was just too beautiful to resist, we took some selfies with the rocks as our backdrop. And took a candid shot of my husband.
We walked quickly around the island, eager to explore before jumping into the water. Along the rocky path, I snapped this small mountain like shape rising from the island that added an impressive touch to the landscape.
After taking a few photos around the island, we hurried back to our spot. We're excited to swim into the inviting blue water. My husband kept looking at his watch. Checking how much time we had left on the island. We knew it wasn’t a long stay, so every second counted. It was surprising to realize that this little slice of paradise was just right behind the port. It felt like a hidden gem far away from everything.
Our time was up. It was time to leave this beautiful island behind. As the boat turned back toward the mainland, I captured one last photo of Shark Island. I wanted to keep its beauty with me a little longer. Some people were still enjoying the island while we were saying goodbye.
Shark Island might not be big or flashy, but its natural charm is something I’ll never forget.
Photos taken using Samsung S24 Ultra
Collage using Canva
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