Dhow cruise · Dubai Marina
Dhow cruise in Dubai Marina
A Dubai Marina dhow cruise costs from AED 129 per person for two hours with a buffet dinner. It boards at Marina Walk around 19:30, runs the length of the Marina channel and out towards Bluewaters, and is back alongside by 22:00.
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- Boards
- Marina Walk, near Pier 7
- Sails
- 20:00, back by 22:00
- From
- AED 129 per person
- Best seats
- Upper deck, port side outbound
This is the skyline version of the dhow cruise. The boat leaves from the Marina Walk side, threads the whole channel between the towers with the buildings lit on both banks, passes out towards Bluewaters and Ain Dubai, then turns and does it again from the other direction. On a clear evening it is the single best hour of photography in Dubai for the money.
Marina dhows tend to be the newest and largest boats in the fleet, which matters because the upper deck is where you want to be. There is more open seating here than on the Creek boats, and the deck rail is high enough to be comfortable with children.
Boarding is at Marina Walk near Pier 7. Parking is at Dubai Marina Mall and the walk is about seven minutes, so arrive at least twenty minutes before the sailing time rather than ten.
What is included
- Two hours through the Marina channel and out past Bluewaters
- International and Arabic buffet dinner with a vegetarian counter
- Unlimited soft drinks, water, tea and Arabic coffee
- Tanoura performance on the lower deck mid-cruise
- Open upper deck seating with skyline views on both banks
Worth knowing
- Sit on the upper deck, port side, on the way out. The tower wall is closer on that bank.
- The channel is narrow and busy on Friday and Saturday evenings; the boat runs slower and you see more.
- Bring a light jacket between December and February. It is noticeably cooler out on the water.
The Marina route, and how it differs from the Creek
This is the modern half of Dubai's dhow fleet: the newest and largest boats, running the tower channel, the JBR frontage and out towards Bluewaters and Ain Dubai. It boards at Marina Walk, which is the easiest of the four boarding points to reach and the one with restaurants and parking either side of it.
The Creek routes cost AED 30 less and show you something else entirely — souks, abra crossings and working cargo dhows loading by hand. Neither is better. For a first visit to Dubai the Creek is more interesting; for a modern skyline at night on a newer boat, this is the one.
The route is genuinely photogenic after dark, and the return leg through the lit channel is the best stretch of the evening.
What the ticket includes and where to sit
Two hours on the water, a buffet dinner with a separate vegetarian counter, unlimited soft drinks, water, tea and Arabic coffee, and usually live entertainment around the halfway point. Alcohol is not served on most traditional dhows, which surprises people who booked expecting a bar.
Seating is assigned on arrival rather than chosen, and on a busy sailing you may share a table. Ask for the upper deck at the boarding desk rather than after you sit down: it is almost always possible early and almost never once the boat is loaded. Downstairs is enclosed and air-conditioned, which matters between June and September and is where the buffet is; upstairs is open and is where the view is.
Timing, boarding and getting there
Boarding is usually 19:30 for a 20:00 departure, back alongside about 22:00, and boarding closes ten minutes before sailing. A boat carrying a hundred and fifty people does not wait, and there is no refund for missing it.
Park at Dubai Marina Mall or Pier 7 and allow fifteen minutes to walk to the boarding point rather than seven — the Marina is a canal with limited crossing points and ending up on the wrong bank is the commonest way to arrive late. Ask the operator for the boarding pin and send that to your driver rather than the district name.
What it costs
Per person including dinner. Hotel transfer from Marina, JBR and Downtown can be added.
| Option | Detail | From |
|---|---|---|
| Adult, sharing | 2 hours with buffet dinner | AED 129per person |
| Child, 5 to 11 | Same cruise, half price | AED 65per person |
| With hotel transfer | Marina, JBR and Downtown pickup | AED 169per person |
Ask about Dhow cruise · Marina on your date.
Leave the date and the headcount and we will come back with what is free and what it costs. No deposit, and no obligation to book.
- No deposit to enquire
- A reply within a couple of hours
- Licensed boats, licensed crew, price all-in
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Questions people ask
How much is a dhow cruise in Dubai Marina?
From AED 129 per person for a two-hour cruise with a buffet dinner and unlimited soft drinks. Children aged five to eleven pay half and under-fives sail free. Hotel transfer adds about AED 40 a head.
Where does the Dubai Marina dhow cruise board?
At Marina Walk near Pier 7. Park at Dubai Marina Mall and allow about seven minutes on foot. Boarding opens at 19:30 and closes ten minutes before the 20:00 sailing.
What are the Dubai Marina dhow cruise timings?
Boarding from 19:30, sailing at 20:00, back alongside at 22:00. Some operators add a 17:30 sunset sailing between November and February.
Is the Marina dhow cruise better than the Creek one?
It depends what you want to see. The Marina route is modern Dubai (towers, JBR, Ain Dubai), and the boats are newer with more upper-deck seating. The Creek route runs through old Dubai past the souks and costs AED 30 less.
Can we book a private dhow in Dubai Marina?
Yes. A whole Marina dhow starts around AED 12,000 for two hours and takes up to a hundred guests, with the menu and the route agreed beforehand. It is the cheapest way to put a large party on the water here.
The questions people ask before booking this
- Booking a dhow cruise in Dubai, step by stepBooking a dhow cruise in Dubai takes about five minutes: pick one of the four departure points, confirm the date and headcount, and pay per person, from AED 99 on the Creek to AED 149 on the Water Canal, dinner included.
- The restaurants near the Dubai Marina berthsEvery restaurant you need is near the berths: within a ten-minute walk of the Dubai Marina charter pontoons.
- Getting to Dubai Marina, and where the parking isPark at Dubai Marina Mall or Pier 7.
Other ways onto the water
Tell us when, and we will tell you what is free.
Weekends and sunset slots go first between October and April. Leave the date and the headcount below, or message us on WhatsApp. If your date is close, WhatsApp is quicker than any form.
- No deposit to enquire
- A reply within a couple of hours
- Licensed boats, licensed crew, price all-in
WhatsApp only — messages and calls