By Mohammed Rashad Hussain, Managing PartnerPublished 3 min read
What is a dhow cruise?
A dhow is a traditional wooden Gulf boat. Today’s dhow cruises use boats styled on that shape, with a lower deck for tables and an upper deck open to the air. Most sail in the evening and serve dinner during a trip of roughly 90 minutes to two hours.
Dubai has three common routes. The water you pick decides what you see.
Marina, Creek and Canal side by side
| Marina | Creek | Dubai Canal | |
|---|---|---|---|
| View | Towers of the Marina, JBR and Bluewaters | Souks, wind towers, wooden boats, Deira and Bur Dubai | Business Bay and the Downtown side |
| Setting | Open to the Gulf | Narrow, historic waterway | Man-made canal through the city |
| Character | Modern and bright | Old Dubai | City-centre |
| Typical length | About 90 minutes to 2 hours | About 90 minutes to 2 hours | About 90 minutes to 2 hours |
Boarding piers differ by operator and are confirmed with your quote. We do not publish a pier for each boat because it changes by partner and date. Prices are quoted on WhatsApp.
Is a Dubai Marina dhow cruise worth it?
For a first night in Dubai, yes. The Marina is the most photographed of the three at night, and the boat has the widest view of the glass towers. The ride is smoother in the open water between JBR and Bluewaters than in a narrow channel.
Read the Marina dhow cruise page for pickup and what is included. The Marina is 22 km from Downtown, about 19 minutes without traffic, so add that to the evening plan.
Norlando Pobre / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0.
Why choose the Creek?
The Creek is where Dubai began as a trading port. Wooden cargo boats still load along the Deira bank. A dhow dinner here passes the same Bur Dubai and Deira waterfront that the public abra crosses by day.
It suits visitors who care about history and want a calmer evening. Pair it with a daytime abra ride and a walk through Al Fahidi. See the Creek dhow cruise for details.
Iwona Rege / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.
What does the Dubai Canal cruise add?
The Dubai Water Canal links Business Bay to the Gulf. RTA lists marine stations along it at Business Bay, Al Wajeha, Al Marasi, Godolphin and Sheikh Zayed Road. The Canal cruise gives views of the Downtown towers and the Burj Khalifa that the Marina and Creek cannot.
Choose it if the Burj Khalifa is the picture you came for. The Dubai Canal dhow cruise page has the pickup details. We have not confirmed the exact route and bridges for each partner dhow.
Vicharam / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Dinner, drinks, vegetarian options and entertainment
Dinner is served at tables, and the menu depends on the operator. Tell us about vegetarian, halal or allergy needs when you book, and we pass them to the partner. Whether a route serves alcohol depends on the operator, so we confirm it per booking. Entertainment varies by boat and by night.
During Ramadan, evening cruises can follow iftar timings. Read Ramadan in Dubai for visitors before you book those weeks.
Upper or lower deck, and tips for motion sensitivity
- Upper deck: open air, best for photos, more wind and some heat on summer nights.
- Lower deck: air-conditioned seating, calmer, and closer to the dinner service.
- Motion sensitivity: sit at the middle of the lower deck and look at the horizon. The Creek and Canal are sheltered. The Marina can be slightly more open.
Private dhow charter for families and groups
A private charter gives your group the whole boat. Capacity and minimum hours are set by the partner’s boat. Send the date, group size, occasion and hours on WhatsApp for a quote. A charter also suits a proposal, and our guide to the best places to propose in Dubai covers the water options. If a yacht is nearer to what you want, read yacht or dhow cruise in Dubai.
Plan the rest of your stay with places to visit in Dubai and the wider list of day trips from Dubai.
Photos in this guide
A two-deck wooden cruise dhow on Dubai Creek, passing wind-tower buildings on the Bur Dubai bankAlan & Flora Botting / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0
The towers of Dubai Marina at dusk, seen across the water from Palm JumeirahNorlando Pobre / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0
Boats on the Dubai Water Canal at sunset, with the Business Bay towers on both banksIwona Rege / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
The Dubai Water Canal and its waterside walkway at night, with a lit arch footbridge in the distanceVicharam / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
