- How much does it cost to rent a yacht in Dubai?
- From AED 750 an hour for a 48ft carrying up to twelve guests, with a two-hour minimum, so AED 1,500 for the smallest real charter. A 55ft is AED 1,050, a 62ft AED 1,400 and an 85ft AED 3,200. Crew, fuel and marina fees are inside every rate.
- Do you need a licence to rent a yacht in Dubai?
- No. Every charter comes with a certified captain and crew whose licence covers the trip, so no qualification, residency or paperwork is needed from you. A passport for the lead booker is the only document that ever comes into it.
- Where do the boats leave from?
- Dubai Marina Yacht Club, in Dubai Marina. You get a berth number and a map pin the evening before, and boarding is fifteen minutes before departure. Charter time runs berth to berth, so arriving late shortens the trip rather than moving the finish.
- How long should a yacht charter be?
- Three hours for most people. Two covers the Marina channel, JBR and Bluewaters but cannot anchor to swim. Three adds a forty-minute swim stop off the Palm, four lets you eat aboard properly, and five reaches the World Islands.
- How many people can go on a yacht in Dubai?
- Between twelve and thirty-five depending on the boat, set by the vessel licence rather than deck space. That number includes children and infants and cannot be exceeded. Above thirty-five, a privately hired dhow takes up to a hundred.
- What is the best time of year for a yacht charter in Dubai?
- November through March for comfort: clear air, flat sea and evenings you can sit out in. July and August have the calmest water of the year if you go before 9am or after 6pm. May, June and September are the best value.
- Can you bring your own food and drink?
- Yes, on every boat and every charter, at no charge, and most groups do. There is a fridge and ice aboard. Catering arranged through us starts at AED 120 a head. Alcohol is by prior arrangement and subject to UAE law.
- How far in advance should you book?
- Two to three weeks for a weekend or sunset slot between October and April, three or four days midweek, and often the day before for a summer morning. New Year, both Eids and National Day need a month or more.