La Mer is a 2.5-kilometre beachfront development in the Jumeirah 1 district, opened in 2018, that combines a wide free public beach with an outdoor mall of low-rise white buildings housing restaurants, boutiques, and entertainment. It is one of the more pleasant beach developments in the city — the architecture avoids the megamall aesthetic, the beach is well maintained, and it is generally less crowded than the main Jumeirah Beach strip.
The development includes a waterpark, a marina for stand-up paddleboarding and kayaking, and a cinema. The promenade restaurants serve a mix of Lebanese, Asian, and international food and are good for evening dining. Metered parking is available; a taxi from Downtown takes about 15 minutes.