Dubai must be one of the most exciting cities you can visit. The reasons for this are its extraordinary architecture and its multicultural vibe. It has other advantages, too, like being one of the safest cities in the world.
There is a significant focus on tourism; everything is shiny and new. Take the classy Dubai Marina. This artificial canal city is built along a two-mile stretch of the Persian Gulf shoreline and offers many activities that will thrill tourists.
A dhow cruise on the Marina is just the thing to unwind after some serious shopping or sky-diving. Dhows are traditional boats used for fishing and pearl farming in Dubai’s pre-oil era.
They are made of wood, have one or two masts, and typically have a long, thin hull. Your holiday break starts here. Have fun with the planning! Travelers recommended the cruises below.
1. Alexandra Dhow Cruise In Dubai Marina
A great way to do sightseeing around the Dubai Marina is by cruising the waterways on the dhow Alexandra.
This is the perfect luxury cruise for families and couples to enjoy a meal with entertainment as you sail along the network of canals.
This wooden 120ft traditional Arabic ship has been refurbished and renovated into a high-class floating restaurant. The upper deck has a window view at every table, and the lower deck has full panoramic windows.
You will dine in a beautiful, elegant dining area with lovely, adorned tables while watching live entertainment. The boat is beautifully illuminated and looks stunning on the water.
Enjoy a delicious buffet dinner while viewing the spectacular city skyline from the water.
The delightful menu has five salad options; hummus, coleslaw, corn, capsicum, and a Greek salad. A delicious soup of the day starter is served with a vegetable samosa.
You can choose from seven main course dishes, such as Lebanese-style grilled chicken, Yellow Dal Tadka, and beef stroganoff served with mashed potato, penne pasta, fried rice, and an assortment of bread.
End the meal with various decadent pastries, English cake, and fresh fruit salad. You can choose something to drink from the impressive house selection and premium drinks.
Sit back, relax, and watch the fantastic Tanura dance show, traditionally from Turkey.
With their beautiful, illuminated costumes, the lively music and dancers will enthrall you as they spin and whirl to the lovely music. Be prepared to be amazed!
The Alexandra will sail past the magnificent Cayan Tower, a 306-meter tall, 75-story skyscraper. The twisting design of this tower was achieved by rotating each floor 1.2 degrees around a cylindric elevator and service core.
The Jumeirah Beach Residence (JBR) is next on your journey. Then you will pass the newly built Blue Water Island, where you will see the Ain Dubai, the iconic Dubai Eye. This is the world’s tallest and largest observation wheel.
The duration of the cruise is 105 minutes, and 20 people can be accommodated per session. There are several cruise selections to choose from.
- Cruise Options: Sunset Dinner Cruise (5.30pm to 7.30pm), Dinner Cruise (9.00pm to 10.45pm)
- Meeting Point: Dubai Marina Promenade, West Bay
- Dress Code: Smart casual
- Booking: In advance
- Cancelations: You must cancel for a full refund at least 24 hours before the cruise starts.
- Website: https://dhowcruise.net/
- Phone Number: +971 52 899 63 10 for bookings
2. Dhow Cruise Dinner – Dubai Marina
This dhow cruise by Rayna Tours is ideal after a long day in the sun. Enjoy delicious international cuisine in the air-conditioned covered lower deck while you sail past the district’s iconic architecture.
If you want to feel the wind in your hair, spend some time on the partly open upper deck.
A Tanura show forms part of the entertainment. The word “tannoura” refers to the colorful skirt the dancer wears, and the dance itself involves whirling.
The company has cruises for special occasions like New Year’s Eve celebrations and Valentine’s Day. It also offers cruises without dinner. Alcoholic drinks are served but are not included in the cruise price.
- Address: ACICO Business Park Building, Office # 703, 704,705, Port Saeed Road, Deira.
- Website: https://www.raynatours.com/
- Phone Number: +971 42087444
- Toll-Free Number: 800 72962
3. 5-star Marina Dhow Cruise Dinner With Transfers
Daytur will pick you up at your hotel and whisk you to the sparkling Marina, where you can feast on a 5-star buffet. Soft drinks are included, and alcoholic beverages are for sale.
The excellent service on board deserves a special mention. Daytur offers 24/7 support with “a live person”, which is always a plus.
- Address: Churchill Tower Business Bay Burj Khalifa area.
- Website: https://www.daytur.com/
- Phone Number: +971 56 788 8031
4. Dhow Cruise Dubai Marina
Voir cette publication sur Instagram
Al Wasl Dhow offers a continental as well as an Arabic buffet dinner. The buffet includes a barbeque as well as an impressive array of salads.
You will enjoy a traditional Tanura dance performance as well as English, Arabic, and Indian music played by the onboard DJ while you cruise on the calm waters of the Dubai Marina.
The remarkable Atlantic Hotel on Palm Island and the Burj Khalifa on the horizon will also be seen. You can choose to be seated on the lower or upper deck. The cruise is alcohol-free and free for children under three.
- Address: Office No. 207, Al Owais Building, Airport Road.
- Website: https://www.alwasldhow.com/
- Phone Numbers: +971 4 295 3485 +971 4 295 3486
5. Dhow Cruise With Dinner And Fountain Show
Book this tour using the Tiqets app. The tour operator is Amazon Travel and Tourism LLC, and you will watch the famous IMAGINE water show at the Dubai Festival Mall from the comfort of the dhow.
The water show is not all that makes this cruise unique; a saxophonist on board makes the experience even classier, and taped commentary ensures you get all the landmarks while cruising.
The international buffet includes appetizers, grilled meats, fresh salads, Arabic sweets, and all non-alcoholic drinks.
The boarding point is the Dubai Festival City Mall. To get there, take either the BM2 ferry to the Dubai Festival City Station or bus lines 24, 44, 53, 64A, or F08 to the same venue.
The Tiqets app allows you to upgrade your experience at checkout. You can include the wonder of La Perle by Dragone, a spectacular fusion of immersive artistic performances, imagery, and technology.
Stunts and special effects will leave you spellbound. Tickets are delivered instantly to your smartphone. There is extensive help on the website should you need further support with your booking or collecting your tickets.
- Address: Tiqets International BV, James Wattstraat 77-P, 1097 DL, Amsterdam, Netherlands.
- Website: https://www.tiqets.com/
- Whatsapp Number: +31 6 81890787
6. Marina Dhow Cruise
If onboard entertainment is your thing, you would want to take advantage of this cruise operated by Jashan Tourism.
Besides Tanura dancing (offered by most cruises on the Marina), you will enjoy belly dancing, puppet and magic shows, and orchestral music. Be sure to consult the website or an agent to confirm the entertainment booked for your cruise.
You are greeted with a welcome drink, dates, and Arabic coffee. A buffet with vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes is on offer, and the desserts are guaranteed to delight anyone with a sweet tooth.
Everyone likes to dress up a bit from time to time. Here is your chance! The dress code is formal or smart casual and should be on the conservative side: no shorts, short skirts, or sleeveless dresses.
- Address: 307, 3rd floor, RKM Building, Hor Al Anz East, Deira.
- Website: https://www.bestdhowcruisedubai.com/
- Phone Number: +971 5 63652129
7. Dubai Marina Dhow Sightseeing Cruise
This cruise will take you through Canal City, the area surrounding the Marina, which is known as modern Dubai. This tour is appropriate for tourists of all ages.
You will travel in a beautifully restored dhow boat, with huge open windows and a lovely upper deck.
You will feel like you are escalated back in time, and you can sit back and enjoy the stunning views of Dubai. This boat is wheelchair and stroller accessible and has seats for infants. It also has a restroom on board.
You will be served soft drinks on this tour, and there will be lots of time to take beautiful photographs as you slowly pass by the fabulous architecture of Dubai.
You will sail passed awe-inspiring skyscrapers and the tallest block in the world. See the Cayan Tower, Ocean Heights, Marina Pinnacle, and Sulafa Tower, a 76-story building.
Cruise by the beautiful Dubai Marina Yacht Club, the Dubai Mall, and Blue Water Island. Along the route, you will see the exclusive Dubai Marina residences, multiple five-star hotels, and Palm Jumeirah.
While sailing along the canals, you will also see trams and cars passing on the bridges as you sail under them. This tour takes about 1 hour to complete and will have a maximum of 40 passengers. The perfect way to view the city!
- Boat Departs: every hour between 10.00am and 5.00 pm. A Hotel Pickup can be arranged.
- Duration of cruise: 1 hour
- Meeting Point: Dubai Marina Promenade
- Booking: In advance
- Cancelations: You must cancel for a full refund at least 24 hours before the cruise starts.
- Dress Code: Casual
- Website: https://tour-dubai.com/
8. Marina Royal Dinner Dhow Cruise
What is better than cruising past iconic Dubai skyscrapers? Cruising past dazzling lit-up iconic Dubai skyscrapers, of course! Seriously, if you like lights, you will love this Tour Dubai cruise with its mouthwatering international buffet.
You will sail past Ain Dubai on Bluewaters Island, the world’s largest observation wheel. Ain Dubai is nearly twice the height of the London Eye. The immense Dubai skyline needs a wheel that is 250 meter high!
Alcoholic drinks are served on the cruise but are not included in the price.
- Address: Spectrum Building, Oud Metha Dubai.
- Website: https://tour-dubai.com/
- Phone Number: +971 4 336 8407
9. CT Dubai Marina Dhow Cruise
You will cruise for two hours on board Al Canari Tourism‘s dhow, which offers a romantic ambiance while dining. The buffet is a delicious affair, with guests having the pleasure of selecting both international and Asian dishes.
In keeping with the romantic atmosphere, the music is a soothing selection of Arabic, English, and Hindi melodies. There is also an entertaining live Egyptian folk dance show (a Tanura dance).
- Address: Mai Tower – 413 Dubai UAE
- Website: https://ctdubai.net/
- Phone Number: +971 5 66319998
10. NavitaTours Marina Dhow Dinner Cruise
Dining against the backdrop of iconic illumed Dubai buildings with Navita Tours is magical. Navita prides itself on the five-star food they prepare for guests.
This cruise is ideal for couples; your eyes will shine as brightly as the landmarks you sail past. Live shows will entertain you on board.
Pick-up and drop-off at your hotel are included. Babies under a year are unfortunately not catered for on this cruise.
- Address: Bar Dubai
- Website: https://www.navitatours.com
- Phone Number: +971 5 01550081
11. Orient Tours Dubai Marina Dhow Dinner Cruise
Orient Tours is the oldest tour company in the Arabian region, and their experience shows. You will be taken care of from when they pick you up at your hotel until they drop you off after one of the most relaxing pastimes possible.
Live entertainment and an international buffet should keep you happy while you sail past illuminated souks, palaces, and skyscrapers.
Orient Tours has overseas representation in several countries. The Contact Us page on their website provides details.
- Address: 248 Emarat Atrium, Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai.
- Website: https://www.orient-tours-uae.com/
- Phone Number: +971 4 282 8238
12. Dhow Cruise Dinner in Dubai Marina
Headout Inc runs this three-hour-long cruise with its lavish buffet of vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes, live entertainment, and fruit champagne on the table.
There are also live cooking stations, depending on the package you select. Note that tickets cannot be canceled or rescheduled. The cruise departs from the Marina Promenade Waterbus Station.
Get to the promenade by taking the metro to the JLT metro station. The promenade is within 10 minutes’ walking distance from here.
13. RVT Dhow Cruise Dubai Marina
This cruise is brought to you by Royal Vision Tourism and will take you past the architectural wonderland that is Dubai.
Among other sights, you will see the Atlantis hotel and Palm Jumeirah. A buffet dinner with delectable, fresh dishes is prepared with care for you to enjoy.
Royal Vision Tourism offers hotel pick-up.
- Address: 414 Khaleej Center.
- Website: https://rvt.ae/
- Phone Number: +971 559651000