Dubai Water Canal
Dubai Water Canal cruise
A Dubai Water Canal cruise costs from AED 149 per person for two hours with dinner and runs through the canal between Business Bay and the sea, passing under the illuminated waterfall bridge. It is the newest of Dubai's dinner cruise routes and the one most residents take.
- Route
- Business Bay to the Creek and back
- Length
- 2 hours
- From
- AED 149 per person
- Highlight
- The waterfall bridge, passed twice
The Water Canal is the three-kilometre cut opened in 2016 that joins the Creek to the Gulf through Business Bay and Safa Park. It changed the city more than people expected: an entire waterfront district exists now that did not before, and the best way to see it is from the water at night.
The set piece is the Sheikh Zayed Road bridge, which has a curtain of water falling from it that parts as boats pass underneath. It is unashamedly a spectacle and it works. Past that the canal runs between the Business Bay towers, then opens into the Creek near Jaddaf.
Boats on this route are newer and glassier than the traditional dhows — several are modern catamarans with a served menu rather than a buffet. That is reflected in the price, and in the fact that this is the cruise Dubai residents book when family visit.
What is included
- Two hours through the Water Canal and into Business Bay
- Two passes under the illuminated waterfall bridge
- Dinner — buffet on the dhows, served menu on the catamarans
- Unlimited soft drinks, water and hot drinks
- Open upper deck with seating and an air-conditioned lower deck
Worth knowing
- The canal is fully sheltered, so this route is flat in any weather.
- The waterfall runs on a schedule and pauses for boats — you will pass under it, not through it.
- Board at Marasi Business Bay or Jaddaf depending on the operator; we confirm which when you book.
Check a date
Ask about water canal cruise on your date.
Leave the date and the headcount and we will come back with what is free and what it costs. No deposit, and no obligation to book.
- No deposit to enquire
- A reply within a couple of hours
- Licensed boats, licensed crew, price all-in
Send an enquiry
FAQ
Questions people ask
- How much is a Dubai Water Canal cruise?
- From AED 149 per person for a two-hour cruise with dinner. Sightseeing-only tickets without dinner run around AED 100 when they are available.
- Does the Dubai Canal cruise go under the waterfall bridge?
- Yes, twice — once each way. The waterfall on the Sheikh Zayed Road bridge pauses to let boats pass, so you go under it rather than through it.
- How long is the Dubai Water Canal cruise?
- Two hours, covering the canal between Business Bay and the Creek and back again. The canal is three kilometres long and fully sheltered, so the water is flat regardless of the weather outside.
- Where does the Dubai Canal cruise depart from?
- From Marasi Business Bay or from Jaddaf, depending on the operator and the sailing. We confirm the exact boarding point and send a pin when you book.
- Is the Water Canal cruise better than the Marina dhow?
- It is newer, glassier and about AED 20 more. Take the Canal if you want Business Bay, Downtown and the waterfall bridge; take the Marina if you want the tower channel and Ain Dubai.
Related
Other ways onto the water
Check a date
Tell us when, and we will tell you what is free.
Weekends and sunset slots go first between October and April. Leave the date and the headcount below, or call — if your date is close, calling is quicker than any form.
- No deposit to enquire
- A reply within a couple of hours
- Licensed boats, licensed crew, price all-in