Shared or private: the two kinds of yacht tour
A shared yacht tour sells seats. You get a fixed route and departure time, and the price is per person. On a private charter you rent the whole yacht. The price is for the boat, not per person, and it grows with the hours.
Departures are offered from Dubai Marina and from Dubai Harbour. These are different places with different meeting points, so check where your tour starts. The route you book is the route you get. A cruise from the Marina does not automatically go around the Palm.
Our picks: yacht tours
Choose the Marina yacht cruise with a lounge and virtual guide if you want a one- to three-hour trip; breakfast or BBQ depends on the option. The open-deck yacht offers different food by departure time, with Atlantis dependent on the weather. The speedboat suits a sightseeing trip whose listed route includes the Palm, Atlantis and Burj Al Arab.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide and Viator. Prices are indicative starting prices in US dollars (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Speedboat tour from the Marina past Atlantis and the Palm
- Chilled bottled water
- Live English commentary
- Life jackets provided
The route continues past the Palm to Burj Al Arab, with photo opportunities along the way.
Check availability →
Dubai Marina yacht cruise
- Captain and life jackets
- Air-conditioned lounge with Wi-Fi
- Virtual guide
Breakfast depends on the option you pick, and a barbecue is part of the two- and three-hour trips.
Check availability →Yacht cruise with open upper deck
- Water and soft drinks
- Captain and crew
- Air-conditioned lower deck
Departure time and food depend on your option: a light meal at 15:00, snacks at 17:00 or BBQ with the 20:00 dinner option. The Atlantis route is weather-dependent and may be replaced by Burj Al Arab.
Check availability →Dubai yacht tours and boat trips
Shared cruises, private yachts and other boat trips from Dubai Marina and Dubai Harbour, with live prices and availability. Check the route of each tour.
Shared and private cruises compared
AED, 2026. Check the route before you book.
| Option | Price | Length | Route |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shared tour, category entry price | From AED 89 per person | – | Fixed by the tour |
| Shared Marina tour | AED 89 per person from age 3, ages 0 to 2 free | 1 hour | Marina, Ain Dubai and Bluewaters, JBR and Harbour. Atlantis and the Palm are not part of it |
| Private charter | From AED 500 per hour for the boat | Usually at least 3 hours | You agree it with the operator |
| Dinner cruise on a houseboat | – | 90 minutes | Buffet dinner, daily |
For most visitors who want the Palm in the view, a private charter that you book with the Palm or Atlantis as the destination is the route that fits. If you want a cheap hour on the water, the shared Marina tour is the simple choice, as long as you know it does not reach the Palm. The Dubai Marina page shows the skyline you pass.
Private charter: what to know
Charter prices start at AED 500 per hour for the boat. Short trips under the usual minimum of three hours are possible on request. A booking asks for a 50 percent deposit. Costs for extras depend on the offer, so ask what the price covers.
At one charter operator, check-in is at Marina Level, Al Majara Tower, Al Hubob Street in Dubai Marina, 20 to 30 minutes before departure. Other products and Harbour departures can have different rules, so use the meeting point on your own booking.
Bring ID. Tourists show a copy of the passport, residents their Emirates ID, and a copy on your phone is enough. Children under 9 wear a life jacket during a charter. Children under 2 stay with an adult in the salon or cabin area.
What the route promises, and what it does not
Only the route you book counts.
Palm views
A trip around the crescent is not guaranteed on a short Marina tour. If the Palm matters, pick a tour or charter that names it.
Swimming and dolphins
Swimming stops, dolphin sightings and sunset positions are not promised. Do not book for them alone.
Alcohol
Do not assume you can drink alcohol on board. Ask the operator before you book. Dubai's minimum drinking age is 21, and a venue booking is not permission to drink anywhere else.
Weather
The operator makes the final decision on safety. Ask how a cancellation for weather is handled.
Dinner cruises and the dhow question
Daily dinner cruises run on houseboats with a buffet and last 90 minutes. A houseboat is not a traditional wooden dhow, and a dhow is not a yacht. If you want a dhow, check the boat type on the booking page.
Planning a longer stay? See the things to do on the Palm, or read about the skydive and helicopter flights if you want to see the Palm from the air. Desert trips belong to our sister guide for the desert, see desert safari.
Dubai yacht tours: frequently asked questions
How much is a yacht tour in Dubai in 2026?
Shared tours start at AED 89 per person. A private charter starts at AED 500 per hour for the whole boat, not per person, and usually runs for at least 3 hours.
Does a Marina tour go around the Palm?
Not necessarily. The 1-hour shared Marina tour goes past the Marina, Ain Dubai and Bluewaters, and JBR and Harbour, not to Atlantis or the Palm.
What do I need to bring?
ID. Tourists show a passport copy, residents their Emirates ID. A copy on your phone is enough.
Can I take young children?
Yes. Under 9 they wear a life jacket on a charter, and under 2 they stay with an adult in the salon or cabin area. The shared Marina tour is AED 89 from age 3, and ages 0 to 2 are free.
Where do I check in?
At one charter operator, at Marina Level, Al Majara Tower, Al Hubob Street, Dubai Marina, 20 to 30 minutes before departure. Use the meeting point on your booking.
Is a dinner cruise a dhow cruise?
Not always. Daily dinner cruises run on houseboats with a buffet for 90 minutes, which are not traditional dhows.