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5 minutes to book. Best day of our entire trip. Everything felt effortless from pickup to sunset.
Destination guide
United Arab Emirates — at a glance
17 boats are available to book across 1 departure base. Boats leave from Dubai (17). The fleet is 17 motor yachts. Weekly prices start from €15,350 for a motor yacht; every price on this page is the boat’s own listed rate for 7 nights, before extras.
When to go
The Gulf season runs from October to April. November to March is the best of it, with warm sea, low humidity and sunsets early enough for an evening cruise; from May to September daytime temperatures pass forty degrees with high humidity, and most boats go out early in the morning or after dark. Yacht rental in Dubai is booked by the hour rather than the week, and the best slots, late afternoon into sunset, go first; weekends are Saturday and Sunday, and public holidays and New Year's Eve are booked weeks ahead. The sea is usually flat; a shamal, the north-westerly wind, can bring a day or two of chop in winter.
Where to sail in United Arab Emirates
Yacht rental in Dubai Marina and Dubai Harbour
Where every boat on this page leaves from. The standard two-hour cruise runs past JBR beach, around Palm Jumeirah to Atlantis and the Burj Al Arab, and back; three- and four-hour trips anchor off the Palm for swimming or reach the World Islands. Prices are per hour for the whole boat, so a group of twelve pays far less per head than a couple.
Boats leave from Dubai 17
Boat rental at Dubai Creek and the old city
A different Dubai: the souks and dhow wharves seen from the water, with the skyline behind. Short evening cruises from the Creek and the Canal are the cheapest way onto the water, and the dinner-dhow product runs from the same quays.
Boats leave from Dubai 17
Yacht charter from Dubai to Abu Dhabi and the east coast
Longer charters run down the coast to Abu Dhabi's Corniche and Yas Island, or overland to the Gulf of Oman side, Fujairah and Dibba, where day boats go snorkelling at Snoopy Island and on to the Musandam fjords across the Omani border. Both are day trips arranged from the Dubai fleet rather than separate bases.
Boats leave from Dubai 17
Bareboat, skippered or crewed
Almost every charter in the Emirates is crewed: a licensed captain is required and the boat comes with a crew who handle everything from mooring to drinks, so "yacht rental with captain" is the whole market and "self drive" is limited to small boats with an Emirati licence. Catering, decoration, a DJ and water sports are added as packages, and tipping the crew is customary.
Types of boats in United Arab Emirates
Motor yachts from 40 to 100 feet make up the entire Dubai fleet on this page, from party boats for twenty guests to large crewed yachts with flybridge and jacuzzi; traditional dhows serve the dinner-cruise market, and there are almost no sailing yachts in the Gulf.
- 17 motor yachts from €15,350 per week
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a licence to charter a boat in the United Arab Emirates?
Almost every charter in the Emirates is crewed: a licensed captain is required and the boat comes with a crew who handle everything from mooring to drinks, so "yacht rental with captain" is the whole market and "self drive" is limited to small boats with an Emirati licence. Catering, decoration, a DJ and water sports are added as packages, and tipping the crew is customary.
When is the best time to sail in the United Arab Emirates?
The Gulf season runs from October to April. November to March is the best of it, with warm sea, low humidity and sunsets early enough for an evening cruise; from May to September daytime temperatures pass forty degrees with high humidity, and most boats go out early in the morning or after dark. Yacht rental in Dubai is booked by the hour rather than the week, and the best slots, late afternoon into sunset, go first; weekends are Saturday and Sunday, and public holidays and New Year's Eve are booked weeks ahead.
Where can I sail in the United Arab Emirates?
3 sailing areas: Dubai Marina and Dubai Harbour (from Dubai); Dubai Creek and the old city (from Dubai); Dubai to Abu Dhabi and the east coast (from Dubai). Each has its own bases, and the boats on this page leave from all of them.
How many boats can I charter in the United Arab Emirates?
17 boats from 1 base: 17 motor yachts. Availability and prices are live from the charter companies.
How much does it cost to charter a boat in the United Arab Emirates?
On the boats listed here day rates start from €2,192 and a week (7 nights) from €15,350. These are the boats’ own listed rates before extras; fuel, marina fees on the route and local taxes are paid separately.