Dhow cruise in Dubai: Marina or Creek, prices and what to expect

What is a dhow cruise in Dubai?

A dhow cruise is an evening on a traditional wooden dhow, the cargo boat that once traded out of Dubai Creek, now fitted out as a floating restaurant. You board around sunset or later, eat from a buffet while the boat sails for about two hours, and watch a Tanoura dancer spin on deck. It is a relaxed, sociable night out shared with other guests, not a private trip.

There are three main departure areas: Dubai Creek in the old city, Dubai Marina, and Dubai Harbour, which sits between the Marina and the Palm.

Marina, Creek or Dubai Harbour: which dhow cruise should you choose?

Choose the Creek for history and a lower price, and the Marina or Dubai Harbour for the modern skyline. The dinner and the show are much the same on all three.

The Rustar dinner cruise on the Creek, for example, boards on Baniyas Road in Deira and passes the Spice Souk, the Al Bastakiya quarter and Al Maktoum Bridge before heading out towards the open sea.

Be careful with the word “Marina”. Several cruises sold as Dubai Marina dhow cruises board at Dubai Harbour Marina: Dhow Cruise Dubai Harbour calls its trip a Dubai Marina cruise but boards at the Dubai Harbour pier. The Harbour Dhow Cruise sold on Dubai Pass also boards at Dubai Harbour, at Gate P1, and sails past Cayan Tower, the JBR shoreline and Bluewaters. The Dubai Pass listing advises anyone prone to seasickness to bring tablets. Check the exact pier and map pin on your ticket before you order a taxi.

How much does a dhow cruise cost in Dubai?

A dhow dinner cruise costs about AED 75 per adult on Dubai Creek and AED 130 to 140 from Dubai Marina or Dubai Harbour, on the operators’ own websites in November 2026. Booking sites and passes can list higher prices.

Checked 2 November 2026 on Dhow Cruise in Dubai, Dhow Cruise Dubai Harbour and Dubai Pass.

Transfers are the main extra. Dhow Cruise Dubai Harbour sells shared and private hotel transfers on top of the ticket, and quotes different prices in different parts of its own page, so confirm the figure before you pay. Dubai Pass bookings carry a strict rule: no cancellations or changes within 72 hours.

If you want the Creek without the dinner, the RTA rents out a whole traditional abra for AED 120 an hour, and the public crossing costs AED 1 (RTA marine transport).

What happens on a dhow dinner cruise?

The evening follows much the same pattern on every boat. This is how the Dubai Harbour cruise runs:

1. Arrive at the pier and board from 7:45pm, at least 30 minutes before sailing.
2. Find your table on the open upper deck or the air-conditioned lower deck.
3. Welcome drinks: dates and Arabic coffee, juices and soft drinks.
4. The dhow sails at 8:30pm and the buffet opens: starters, salads and mezze, hot mains including a live grill, and desserts, with vegetarian dishes.
5. A Tanoura dancer performs, spinning in wide, layered skirts, with background music for the rest of the evening.
6. The boat is back at the pier around 10:30pm.

Creek cruises vary a little. Rustar’s adds a puppet show to the Tanoura dance and sails from 9pm to 11pm. During Ramadan, Dhow Cruise in Dubai says there is no entertainment on board; see Ramadan in Dubai for tourists before booking a cruise in that month.

Is alcohol served on a dhow cruise?

Alcohol is not included in any of the standard tickets we checked. Some boats run a bar where you pay per drink: Dhow Cruise Dubai Harbour listed beer at AED 45 to 50, wine at AED 60 a glass and spirits at AED 30 to 80 a measure. Others serve none, including the Harbour Dhow Cruise on Dubai Pass, which offers unlimited soft drinks, tea and coffee instead.

A Dubai Maritime Authority circular of March 2026 bans selling or serving alcohol on any boat without a permit, so if a drink matters to you, ask before you book rather than assuming.

What should you wear on a dhow cruise?

Wear smart casual clothes. Dhow Cruise in Dubai asks guests to avoid shorts, short skirts, sleeveless dresses and flip-flops, and Rustar’s Creek cruise also asks for smart casual. Flat shoes help on the steps between decks.

The open upper deck catches the breeze, so bring a light layer on winter evenings. For what to wear around the city more generally, read the Dubai dress code for tourists.

Is a dhow cruise good for children?

Yes, as long as your children can stay up. Most cruises sail between 8:30pm and 11pm, which is late for toddlers. Fares are kind to families: Dhow Cruise Dubai Harbour charges a child rate from ages 5 to 11 and lets under-fives travel free, and Rustar’s Creek cruise is free for under-threes.

The live grill and the dessert table tend to win over fussy eaters. Keep small children on the air-conditioned lower deck during service, and hold hands on the upper deck and the gangway.

How do you choose a good dhow cruise?

1. Decide on the view first: Creek for old Dubai, Marina or Harbour for the skyline.
2. Check the exact pier. “Marina” on the ticket may mean Dubai Harbour.
3. Compare the operator’s own price with booking sites and passes; it can be lower.
4. Check what the price includes: welcome drinks, unlimited soft drinks, the Tanoura show and transfers.
5. Ask whether there is a bar, if you want a drink, or whether the boat is alcohol-free, if you would rather it was.
6. Look at the boat’s size and reviews. A smaller dhow feels less like a banquet hall.
7. Read the cancellation terms. Some tickets can’t be changed within 72 hours.

Booking a dhow dinner cruise with a hotel transfer

The dhow dinner cruise sold on this site is run by Khat Tours on a traditional dhow with Marina views. Boarding starts from 7:45pm, and the evening includes a welcome drink, a BBQ dinner, soft drinks and water and a Tanoura show, about three hours in all. A hotel transfer is available on request, and alcohol is not included. The tour card below shows the current price.

You can pair it with the half-day Dubai city tour on the same day: the souks and an abra across the Creek in the morning, then dinner on the water. For other ways to get afloat, from the RTA ferry to a private charter, see Dubai on the water and how much it costs to rent a yacht in Dubai.