The 10 best boat trips around Dubai

Discover the most bewitching of bling bling cities… from the sea. Here are the 10 best boat trips around Dubai.

Excessive, surreal, megalomaniac – all the superlatives apply to Dubai. Propelled by oil money and pharaonic projects, a land of exile for the world’s elite, Dubai has become in just a few years a symbol of excess and opulence.

Yet there are many ways to visit this extraordinary destination. Between a gourmet restaurant, a luxury shopping spree and a night in a dream hotel, you can also wander through the souks, sample the local kebabs and stroll through the abrasively colored galleries.

Then there are the boat trips around Dubai! Authentic, romantic or adventurous, here are the best of them.

1. Dhow cruise in Dubai Marina

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Are you familiar with dhows? These traditional boats from Arab countries, built entirely of wood and very slender, were used everywhere for coastal navigation and fishing in the Red Sea. Today, these ancient vessels have been revisited as formidable tourist craft. Yet they have lost none of their authentic charm.

So what could be more seductive than a dinner cruise aboard a dhow? This boat trip in Dubai takes you along the glittering marina under a starry sky. Admire the sights covered in a cloak of lights, enjoy a tanoura dance show set to Arabian music and take in the sights.

2. 5* dinner and dhow cruise in the Marina

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Our second boat trip around Dubai is similar to the first, but with a gastronomic twist. Aboard the world’s largest teak dhow, enjoy a 5-star buffet.

Admire the marina dressed in diamonds at night. Let yourself be transported by the melodious Arabian songs and undulations of the youwla and tanoura dancers.

As for flavors, now’s the time to try hummus, spicy chickpeas, lamb keftas and Oriental desserts. Why not even leave with a henna tattoo as a souvenir of this wonderful floating moment?

3. Deep-sea fishing trip to Dubai

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Dubai may be known for its opulence and superficiality, but the city is also home to an unspoilt coastline and abundant marine life. Its reefs, though artificial, attract fly-fishing enthusiasts in particular.

You, too, can embark on a voyage of discovery around the palm-shaped islands. From right to left, on the horizon, the Burj Khalifa, the Palm Jumeirah, the Marina and, under the hull of your vessel, thousands of fish to stalk.

Equip your fishing rod with bait and cast: it’s sporting. If you’re good at it, you pull, extend the line and pull out a Dubai queenfish! However, you’ll have to return it to the water.

4. Full-day Musandam cruise with lunch

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The Musandam peninsula, separated from the rest of Oman, is a collection of breathtakingly beautiful fjords. It stretches for almost twenty kilometers and is crowned by desert mountains that have earned it the nickname « Norway of Oman ».

Take a boat trip around Dubai and head for this popular destination. By your side? Schools of laughing dolphins. From the very first moment, you’ll be charmed. Then drop anchor in one of the most surprising and serene settings of your trip.

Swimming among rays and turtles, exploring the seabed, strolling through remote fishing villages: the Musandam peninsula offers an exceptional setting. This crossing takes place aboard a traditional Arabian dhow, finely decorated and welcoming with its soft carpets.

5. Private yacht cruise

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Fancy one of the most exclusive boat trips around Dubai? Then enjoy a private cruise on a skippered yacht. Cabot along the famous Palm Jumeirah in the shape of an extravagant palm tree, to meet the monumental Burj-al-Arab in the shape of a sail this time.

Your skipper stops at your request so you can swim, fish or play music. Look out for Dubai’s iconic landmarks such as the Sheikh Palace and Jumeirah Beach. If you choose the late evening package, your modern yacht will become the perfect spot to contemplate the illuminated skyscrapers.

6. Fountain show and boat trip on the lake

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From an abra, a local water cab, sail on Lake Burj, adjacent to the Burj Khalifa. It’s the perfect place to admire the Dubai Mall fountain show: the picture postcard of Dubai.

The illuminations for this show are more than a match for Dubai’s excessiveness. A 274-meter-long fountain, 1,000 models of aquatic expressions, 6,600 lights, 83,000 liters of water projections, classical, international and oriental melodies.

In short, this water, music and light show is a true masterpiece. From this boat ride through the heart of Dubai, the vistas are as exclusive as they are intimate. Tickets for this magical experience are going fast.

7. Romantic sunset and sushi cruise

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Discover the opulence of Dubai aboard a boat reserved exclusively for you and your other half. The cruise lasts two hours, but the experience will remain with you forever.

Tonight, your captain offers you an array of fine sushi and sparkling drinks. In this romantic setting, you admire the twilight and Dubai, which suddenly takes on a hue of honey and gold.

With their lights, the skyscrapers, bridges and your floating colleagues plunge the city into a fairytale. It’s the perfect time to celebrate a birthday or make a special request…

8. Guided jet-ski outing

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If you’re more of a thrill-seeker than a quiet twilight cruiser, this is the trip for you. Ride a jet-ski for an hour and a half along some of Dubai’s most beautiful vistas.

Turn down the handle and head for the Palm Jumeirah, the gigantic Atlantis and the Jumeirah Beach Residence. You can also discover the waterfront as you cruise past sumptuous luxury yachts to the Sheikh’s private island. Adjust your speed: this exhilarating experience is accessible to all levels.

9. Speedboat tour of iconic sites

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First of all, discover the marina, the place to be in Dubai. Walk the red carpet and hop aboard your speedboat. Head for Jumeirah Beach.

One fabulous site follows another: the Dubai Ferris wheel, Jumeirah Beach, the Port of Dubai, Palm Islands and its hotels, Atlantis, the private island of Dubai’s rulers and, of course, the Burj-al-Arab. It’s one of the best ways to soak up the city’s breathtaking scenery and exuberant signage.

10. Yacht cruise with breakfast or barbecue

Photo credit: Shutterstock – S-F

Finally, we’re offering you a complete discovery of Dubai, on a VIP luxury yacht cruise. It’s a bit like the trendy version of our previous Dubai boat trip.

Choose your formula: a breakfast with oriental flavors or a barbecue on the open sea for lunch or dinner. Either way, we’ll roll out the red carpet for you and charm you with our attentive staff.

Drive through the Dubai marina towards Blue Water Island, then on to Ain Dubai. Along the way, the fabulous Jumeirah beach, the Burj-al-Arab and Atlantis offer their most beautiful profiles.