KITE SURF SCHOOL

Welcome to KiteN’Surf, your one-stop kite surf school in Dubai.

The topmost asked question that we get all the time is how long it takes to learn to kite surf in Dubai? And how strong and fit do we need to be to learn the sport? Is it dangerous when it looks extreme? WELL, you might be concerned about the word extreme there, but not to worry, kitesurfing is a sport that doesn’t require you to be the best bodybuilder or fast runner BUT, all you need is a combination of PATIENCE and an INSTRUCTOR to get you up and ride. However dangerous it can be, it is still a sport anyone can try and learn, and it requires lessons that no YouTube video series or a friend could teach you! Below are the answer to all the Frequently Asked Questions about learning Kitesurfing in Dubai

Below the answer for all the Frequently Asked Questions about learning Kite surfing in Dubai

WHAT IS KITE SURFING?

Kiteboarding, also known as kitesurfing, is an extreme water sport that combines many aspects of wakeboarding, windsurfing, paragliding, skateboarding, snowboarding, and even gymnastics.

Kitesurfing is a specific style of kiteboarding; what makes it different is that it uses a directional board – a surfboard that is designed specifically for riding the waves. But 99% of kiteboarders are out there will call it kitesurfing while they mean kiteboarding. You can check the history of kite surfing for more details.

WHAT SKILLS DO I REQUIRE TO START KITE SURFING?

No prior experience is needed to start kitesurfing. However, any background in some watersports such as wakeboarding, surfing or windsurfing, or even sailing helps a lot. Even having a paragliding and skydiving background will also shorten the learning process of kitesurfing. For safety reasons, the minimal skill required to enroll at the Kite N Surf’s kite surf school is being able to swim comfortably in open water.

HOW FIT DO I NEED TO BE TO START KITESURFING?

There is no need for any type of fitness level to learn and practice kitesurfing. However, a general stamina level will help with faster progression in the lessons. Once you progress, you start to have better kite control, the effort required to ride and get on the board becomes minimal. And you will be surprised by the number of hours you can spend on the water when kitesurfing.

I’M TOO HEAVY/LIGHT CAN I STILL LEARN KITE SURFING?

It doesn’t matter how heavy or light you are, the kite and the board size you will be using will depend on your weight besides the fact that their sizes depend on the wind speed. A heavier person will tend to use bigger kites and board sizes in contrast to a lighter person who will use smaller boards and kites in the same wind conditions. For example, if the wind speed is 15 knots, a 100 kg person will be using a 15 m2 kite while a person of 60 kg will be using a 9 m2 kite. A practical guide to buying your first kitesurfing equipment is available on our blog, and for sure, you can always visit our kitesurf shop at Nessnass Kite beach and have a chat with our team about the best kite size for you.

DO I NEED LESSONS TO LEARN HOW TO KITE SURF?

As kite surfing is considered an extreme watersport, yes, IT DOES require lessons. It is a fact that you can’t learn the sport virtually through video tutorials or by buying your kite and trying to practice on your own (or with a friend), as this could be extremely dangerous. If you are a complete beginner interested in this sport, then kitesurf lessons are essential for you to learn. All safety precautions and procedures are included in the lessons. Our kitesurf school in Dubai has all the packages available for you.

WHERE CAN I GET KITE SURF LESSONS ?

There are numerous kitesurf schools all around the world. When picking a destination to learn how to kitesurf, you should know what type of courses they offer. Also, make sure that these schools in Dubai and the United Arab Emirates are certified by a valid kitesurfing association.

HOW DO I CHOOSE A KITE SURF SCHOOL?

When choosing a kite surfing school, it is always good to do some research in terms of their qualifications. How qualified are their instructors by the recognized bodies in the kitesurfing world, such as the IKO (International Kiteboarding Organization), BKSA (British Kite Sports Association), and VDMS? The good news is that these kitesurfing schools in UAE are already recognized by Dubai Sports Council and the EKA (Emirates Kiteboarding committee).

WHAT KIT DO I NEED FOR THE LESSONS?

When starting kitesurf lessons with our school, all the equipment needed is provided for you from the harnesses, kites, and boards. We recommend that you wear something you are comfortable with on the beach and in the water.

WHAT WILL I LEARN IN THE LESSONS AND HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE?

The average amount of time that it takes to learn to kitesurf is between 10 to 15 hours, and usually, the duration of each lesson is 2 hours. However, it depends on your background and your ability to learn. The key factors in learning the sport are kite control, safety procedures, and understanding of the wind window.

The first lesson in kitesurfing is usually conducted on land dedicated to mastering kite control and building muscle memory. Also, it is committed to understanding the wind theory and all the safety surrounding kitesurfing.

The second lesson in kitesurfing is conducted on the water where you will be doing body-dragging with the kite. It focuses on how to relaunch your kite out of the water and how to recover your board if you lose it in the water.

The third lesson in kitesurfing is when your instructor will start getting you up on the board until you are up and riding.

HOW DO I KNOW WHEN  I’M READY TO STOP TAKING LESSONS?

One of the most important aspects to be considered to stop taking lessons is to be signed off and approved by your qualified instructor that has evaluated your performance and agrees that you are ready to go on your own. Another important fact to consider is that you feel comfortable and ready to go by yourself if you do not feel ready yet, what you can do is to continue with the lessons or at least speak to your instructor to monitor you for the first few sessions before going completely on your own. At Kite N Surf, our instructors are always available at the beach, seeing the location of our shop and our kitesurf school. You will always get advice from them before you get on the water.

WHAT KITE SURF EQUIPMENT SHOULD  I GET AS A BEGINNER?

As a beginner kitesurfer, there is no need to buy kitesurfing equipment after your first lesson. We best recommend that once you are done with the course and have a better understanding of what type of equipment you might need, then you start considering buying your equipment. Choosing your most fitting kite and board depends on many factors. You must take into consideration the average wind speed in your local spot, your weight, the size of the board, and a few other factors that we have explained in our practical guide to buying your first kitesurf equipment. Although most kite schools all around the world rent kitesurfing equipment for when you travel, it is always better to have your own kitesurf equipment that is suitable for your home spot.

DO YOU NEED A LICENSE TO KITE SURF IN DUBAI OR ANY OTHER COUNTRIES?

Generally speaking, you do not need a license to kite surf in Dubai. However, you need to make sure you are only kitesurfing in the allocated beaches and launching your kite in the designated Kite Zone in Dubai, such as Kite Beach by Meraas and Nessnass Kite Beach. If you are traveling to other countries, best to do some research on where it is allowed and where it’s not – to check on the kite surfing zone rules by the municipality and if you will require a local permit before setting up on a beach where it is not allowed. It’s important to have a chat with the locals and the schools available at the spot to get more info about the spot, wind directions, currents, and rescue boats’ availability.

WHEN IS THE KITE SURFING SEASON IN DUBAI?

Dubai is famous for the nice weather almost all year long with warm sea, water temperatures, and moderate weather temperatures for almost 9 months a year. As for the wind, we have no wind season in Dubai, for example, the wind seasons in Srilanka and Tarifa where you will have 20 knots for 3 or 4 months in a row and 24 hours a day. The wind season in Dubai for kite surfing can be split into 2 seasons, winter and summer, and in both cases, it will depend always on the wind forecast.

WHAT TYPES OF WIND YOU HAVE IN DUBAI DURING WINTER?

Kite surfing during the winter season in Dubai which is from the end of October till the end of May will be mostly due to the wind blowing from the West/NorthWest – known even as Shamal wind. The Shamal wind usually blows for 3/4 days in a row with an average wind speed between 15 to 20 knots that brings amazing conditions for kitesurfing in Dubai and not only the kite surfers in Dubai will enjoy this wind but even the entire west coast of the United Arab Emirates.

For sure, kite surfing season during winter in Dubai doesn’t depend only on the Shamal wind, but we usually have plenty of wind blowing from the North/NorthEast that blows for 5 to 6 hours per day with an average speed of 12 knots. Usually, during the change of the Seasons between summer and winter which is the last weeks of October, and sometimes during March and April, it happens to have some nice North/Northwest with an average wind speed of 15 knots.

DO YOU KITE SURF DURING SUMMER SEASON IN DUBAI?

Believe it or not, even in the heat during summer, we do kite surf in Dubai starting from 3 pm until 7 pm. We do plenty of kite surfing during the summer season in Dubai, and usually, we have two types of wind during summer.

Thermal wind and the wind will have mostly West/Northwest direction will blow for 3 to 4 hours a day, and it will be in the average of 10 knots which is suitable for kitesurfing in Dubai. If you have a big kite like a 15 m2 or 17 m2 it’s best for Hydrofoiling.

North wind: this wind direction is consistent during summer (almost 5 to 6 hours a day) 4 to 5 days a week where the wind is blowing from the North/NorthEast (Cross shore) making it very easy to kite away from the shore.

Kite zone Dubai

The kite surfing zone in Dubai is limited to 2 beaches, the famous kite beach by Meraas and Nessnass Kite beach. Kite surfing in Dubai is not limited to those two beaches only. However, those are the two beaches from where we are allowed to launch and land our kites and where kite surfers in Dubai have priority on the water. Once on the water, you can go anywhere along the coast between the two beaches located 2.5 km away.

The first kite zone in Dubai is located at kite beach and is limited to almost 400 meters in terms of beach length, where you can launch and land your kite. The kite zone is limited from the wooden wall that goes around 100 meters inside the water perpendicular to the beach. The kite beach became very famous in the last years, and it got populated with a lot of coffee shops and restaurants that made it become the favorite spot for beach lovers. Kitesurfing on this beach is recommended only for very advanced riders during winter due to the consistent onshore wind direction (west/northwest) that make it very hard for beginners and medium-level kite surfers to ride upwind and to stay away from the crowded beach.

The second kite zone in Dubai is located at Nessnass kite beach, and the space allocated to launch and land the kites is around 0.7 km. The beach has a shape of a bay and it’s very suitable for all kitesurfing levels and all wind directions (beside Offshore wind) because of the breakwater that keeps the water completely flat next to the shore and makes it very easy for the water to start and this is where our Kitesurf shop and Kite Surf School in Dubai is located. Given the ease to teach on this beach no matter what the wind direction (of course not in the offshore wind), this beach is known to be quieter compared to the other kite beach in terms of the number of beach visitors, but busier with kite surfers and windsurfers.

CAN I KITE SURF WHILE ON A BUSINESS TRIP IN DUBAI?

As the most populated city in the United Arab Emirates, Dubai is considered one of the fastest-growing economies in the world. With that said, if you are a kite surfer on a Business trip to Dubai and see the fact that as a kitesurfer you will always have kitesurfing on the top of your mind we’ve got you all covered no matter what!
If you are a beginner who had a few kite surfing lessons and wants to continue with his lessons or if you are a beginner who just finished his lessons but doesn’t feel confident enough to rent and to kite surf in Dubai on his own, you can choose our tourist package (consisting in 1-hour lesson and 1-hour rental). In case you are an advanced rider who would like to try the buzz of kiteboarding in Dubai with the breathtaking skyscrapers in the background then you can choose one of our kitesurfing equipment rental packages.

CAN I KITE SURF IN DUBAI DURING RAMADAN?

Seeing the reduced working hours during the holy month, plenty of people can leave the office early and have the possibility to kite surf in Dubai during Ramadan every day. Our kite surfing lessons in Dubai during Ramadan are done daily. We saw plenty of the kite surfing students and beginners progressing big time during this month due to the increased time they spent on the water kitesurfing. The Kitesurf beaches in Dubai are located in the middle of the city and can take you a maximum of 20-30 minutes no matter where you are located in Dubai to get from the office to the beach and have 3 to 4 hours of kitesurfing every day.