La Mer has a character of its own. Along Dubai’s coastline, the beach brings together the openness of the sea and a setting filled with colourful details, unusual features and places that invite a closer look.
During our visit, I enjoyed taking my time and looking around rather than heading straight for the water. La Mer offered a change of scenery from the usual city surroundings, and I was curious to see what we would come across as we walked.
What I particularly enjoyed was the variety. One moment, my attention would be drawn to something unusual in the surroundings; the next, the open stretch of water would draw my eyes back towards the sea. There was plenty to appreciate without needing a packed itinerary or a long list of things to do.
A Beach with Its Own Character
One of the details that caught my attention was an old green truck with fishing nets draped across its back. Against the painted walls and palm trees, it stood out immediately. Its weathered appearance gave it a rustic, seaside charm, making it an interesting contrast to the colourful surroundings.
The murals added another layer of character, bringing colour and personality to the area. Rather than blending into one uniform beach setting, these features gave different corners their own visual appeal.
I liked the way these details sat alongside the natural landscape. The truck and painted walls offered texture and colour, while the sand and sea provided a simpler backdrop. Neither needed to compete with the other; together, they made the surroundings more interesting to photograph.
What I liked most was the contrast between the weathered truck, the colourful walls and the natural scenery around them. Each had a different character, yet they came together in a setting that felt distinctly different from the beach alone.
When the Sea Became Part of Our Memory
As the sun began to sink towards the horizon, we were still busy taking photographs when my partner came up with an unexpected idea. He asked me to put one foot a little farther into the water. I remember looking at him, wondering what on earth he was planning. Why just one foot? What was so special about that?
Before I could figure it out, he stepped into the water beside me, and there we were, both standing with one foot in the sea. I burst into a smile and a little laugh at his sweet, slightly silly idea. When I asked him why he wanted to take that photograph, he said, “It’s a memory.” And then he added, “As I love you.”
Honestly, what could be sweeter than that? A moment that had seemed so strange just seconds earlier suddenly made sense. I couldn’t help smiling at the thought that he wanted to turn such a tiny, everyday moment into something we could look back on together.
Now, when I look at that picture, I don’t just see our feet in the water. I remember his unexpected suggestion, my laughter, and those few words that made the whole thing special.
Sometimes, love finds its way into the smallest things—not through grand gestures or carefully planned surprises, but through a little idea by the sea and a photograph that means far more than it might seem.
The Way We See a Moment
I have come to feel that photography is about much more than knowing how to use a camera. It is about having an eye for the things other people might overlook, noticing how light falls across a scene, how the sea meets the shore, or how an ordinary corner can become beautiful when seen from the right angle.
Two people can stand in the same place, look at the same view and take completely different photographs. The difference is not always the camera or the technique. Sometimes, it is simply the way each person sees the world.
Watching the scenes my partner chooses to capture makes me appreciate this even more. He notices details that turn a place into something worth remembering, and I love that a photograph can preserve not only what we saw, but also a little of the way he saw it.
That is what I love about looking through the photographs he takes. They bring back the places we visited, but they also let me see what caught his attention and appreciate details I might have missed myself. In a small way, his photographs give me another perspective on places we have experienced together.
Planning a Visit to La Mer, Dubai
La Mer is a beachfront destination in Jumeirah 1, Dubai, known for its seaside setting and waterfront leisure. If you’re planning a visit, it’s worth checking the latest information before setting out, as redevelopment may have changed access to some areas and the facilities available.
What would you most like to enjoy during your visit? Perhaps it’s a walk beside the sea, a few photographs along the waterfront, or finding a spot to watch the sunset. Having an idea of what you’d like to do can help you plan your time, while checking current beach access and any restrictions beforehand can save you an unexpected disappointment.
I’d especially recommend checking the sunset time if you hope to photograph the evening light. Arriving with enough time to look around means you won’t have to rush straight to your chosen spot.
If sunset photography is part of your plan, check the sunset time before your visit and arrive early enough to find your preferred spot. This gives you time to settle in and enjoy the changing evening light without rushing.
Dubai is always changing, and I’d love to return to La Mer one day to see what’s different and how the place has evolved since our visit.
Some Moments Stay with Us
I don’t know how La Mer will look the next time we visit, or whether some of the corners we photographed will still be there. But I am glad we took the time to capture them when we did.
Long after an outing is over, it is often the smallest details that bring it back to us: a particular view, the sound of the sea, the colours of the evening sky, or a photograph that makes us smile for reasons no one else would quite understand.
That evening gave us plenty of pictures to look back on, but what I treasure most is that it was a moment in our life that we got to share. And sometimes, that is more than enough to make an ordinary visit worth remembering.
