The Dubai Ferry has now been running in the Emirate for a number of years and is popular with tourists mainly as it allows visitors to see the sights of Dubai from the water.
If you take the ferry between Al Ghubaiba and Dubai Marina then you will get a great view of the coastline and the Palm Island. It is a leisurely trip along the coast that is great just to see the sights from the sea.
The RTA is constantly updating and reassessing the needs of its marine transport system and the Dubai Ferry is being frequently improved and expanded.
Since 2009 Dubai has built up its public transport network including the opening of the Dubai Metro and the Dubai Tram. It now transports millions of passengers each year.
In most countries the term ‘ferry’ would imply a boat that takes you from one place to another for more of a public transport purpose. However, although the Dubai Ferry is run by the RTA (Roads and Transport Authority), the Ferry is more of a tourist trip as many of the trips that are run on the Dubai Ferry, start at one of the ferry stations, tour round areas of local interest, and return to the same station, with each trip lasting for an hour to 90 minutes.
Added to the circular and commuter routes, there are routes that go from one port to another to enable people to get a good view of the shoreline and the canal within Dubai.
There are a number of stations served by the Dubai Ferry at either end of Dubai in Al Ghubaiba, Dubai Marina and although there were also some stations running through the Dubai Water Canal, these have stopped for now.
The ferry runs multiple times a day from each location, for a duration of 60-90 minutes (frequency and times may change so check out the routes page for more info) and the boats are designed for comfort with a snack bar on board and facilities for two classes of passenger as well as two spots for those in wheelchairs.
There are tickets available for gold class and silver class passengers just like on the Dubai Metro, so you can choose your level of comfort. As the ferries are very new they are also very modern and stylish.
The Dubai ferry was opened in 2011 and each boat can take up to 100 passengers. Although it is scheduled to run at certain times, the round trips will only run if there are a minimum of 10 passengers on each trip. (One way trips will run however many people are on them).
The boats can also be hired for private use from the RTA on hourly rental charter packages either with or without seats installed. Contact the RTA on 800 9090 for more info (this site is not run by the RTA but provides information for those who want to use the Dubai Ferry.)
The Dubai Ferry can be a great option for tourists as it enables them to see the city from the sea and get a view of some of the most popular parts of Dubai including the Burj al Arab and the Palm Jumeirah at a great price. Other options for this kind of tourist trip exist but are usually much more expensive so it is worth taking a trip on the Ferry if you are on holiday in Dubai.
My itinerary is scheduled to travel from Dubai Marina to Al Ghubaiba and then to the airport, so I wonder if I can bring my suitcase to the boat. Is there extra space to put it?
There is no specific space for suitcases but provided it is not too busy you should be able to fit it on.
Hi if I get 1pm from creek to marina. Would I make the 3.15pm back to the Dubai mall. Are both running today.
Hi, sorry we don’t always get to answer straight away due to other commitments. I would expect that answer to be yes to both questions although the mall service tickets seem a bit haphazard on the AtTheTop website.
Hi,
Could you tell me the ferry sailing times from Ghubaiba to Dubai Marina please !
Also if I wanted to book a Golden ticket on this ferry – what is the best way to do this ?
Many Thanks,
Neville Taylor
Hi Neville, all sailing times are shown on the timings page. You can buy your tickets at the marine transport station that you are sailing from.
1) Hello, tell me please, has the new route from Dubai Mall to Dubai Marina already started? It is announced on the Burj Khalifa site, but I cannot book tickets.
2) Is it possible to buy the tickets at the Marine Transport Station’s terminals in advance , for example I buy it today for tomorrow?
Hi Natalia, yes the route is currently running as far as we are aware. Some days are already sold out so you may have to book a little in advance. The only way of advance booking i believe is to book via the AtTheTop website and not at the ferry terminal.
it’s open and free 🙂
Hello!
I am interested in Dubai ferry company,and i would like to be a part of its crew members on board as a polyvalent Seaman.
I have checked into your officail website in order to apply for employment position there was no luck!
may you provide me with the necessary information on how to apply!
thanks for your help.
question 1
Is there a route between Sheikh Zayed Road Station and Marina Mall?
I want to get on the ferry at Sheikh Zayed Road Station and get off at Marina Mall.
Round trip is also appreciated.
Please let me know the Time schedule and fee of gold class seat.
Thank you!
Hi, no there isn’t currently a direct route for this – you can check all of the current routes on the Routes page. There is a new route that is similar however, check it out here.
Good Morning
We are wanting to go on the 4:45 pm Ferry Trip from Al Wajeha to Dubai Marina today.
We are trying to book Tickets but note you comment that at present we cannot Book on-line?
Please could you confirm that the Trip is definitely running today and if we get to Al Wajeha before 4:45 today we can Book Tickets and go on the Trip.
Where do we book the Tickets from>
Regards
Kim
Hi, these trips are not starting until next week (we are not sure exactly when). Please see this post for more information.
Good morning
We want to book a one way 11AM trip from Dubai Marina to Al Ghubaiba with a stop at Dubai Water Canal for 4 adults on 7 Feb 2019 but we can’t seem to find it on your reservation page. I know the reservation page is limited to January at this stage but even in January this ferry ticket can’t be booked.
Hi Jan, it is not possible to book this trip online at present.
Guten Tag
Gerne würde ich wissen, ob es eine Möglichkeit gibt mit einer Fähre von Dubai nach Abu Dhabi zu kommen. Wie ich bis jetzt ausfindig machen konnte, sind die Fähren nur eine Touristenattraktion.
Besten Dank!
Hi Danielle, no this ferry only travels within Dubai and I don’t believe there is one that goes from Dubai to Abu Dhabi, just a bus service.
Good afternoon, tell me if there are discounts with an ISIC student ticket
Hi Natalia, not as far as we know but you can contact the RTA for confirmation.
Hai i am looking for a job in ferry captain how to apply I have experience in yacht captain so how to apply for a job
As per FAQs please apply direct to the RTA.
Hallo, wir sind im November in Dubai und wollen unbedingt ein Fährfahrt machen. Wir wollen bei der Marina Mall einsteigen und durch den Hafen fahren und möglichst viele Sehenswürdigkeiten sehen z.b Burj al Arab, Burj Kalifa von weiten und The Palm ?
Welche Tour ist da am besten geeignet?
Sie können entweder eine der Touren von der Marina nach Al Ghubaiba nehmen (das ist einweg) oder Sie können die Rundfahrt um 15 Uhr zum Burj Al Arab nehmen. Natürlich ist der Burj Khalifa etwas weit entfernt, aber auf dem Al Ghubaiba Tour könnte man ihn besser sehen.
So can anyone tell me if the 11am service from marina to Gubaiba is running in november 23/11/2018 to be exact as i would like to use the route at this time and cant find any details if this service is still running or not
We have no reason to believe that the service will not be running. You can call the RTA on 800 9090 on the day to check.
Hello Can anyone confirm for me that the 11am service from Marina to Al Ghubaiba is running on 23/11/2018 or is this service no longer available?
Hi thanks for your website, really the best and clearest. My silly questions is: is not more economic to hire a water taxi from, for example, Al jaddaf to Dubai Marina than a ferry boat?. We are 7 people, 50 dr each for ferry. With Water Taxi 400 dr, mo problem with timetable. Question is: is easy to book and find a water taxi? May i do that while waiting on the dock or is it better in advance??
Hi Larry and thank you. Yes, when there is a group of you it can be worth hiring a water taxi instead. In fact if you went from Al Jadaf to Dubai marina that would be 2 trips on the ferry so would cost you more. You do need to book the water taxi in advance – you can phone 800 9090 or use the RTA website at http://www.rta.ae/wt – It looks like that trip would be 535 dirhams with the water taxi at present but might be a good bet for you – as you say you can choose what time you wish to go, and it would take you straight there with no stops.
I went to Dubai marina on Sunday September 2nd just to be told that the 3pm circular ferry was not going to Burj Al Arab due to construction. It would be nice if this info was on the website to avoid disappointment.
Hi Cecilia, sorry you were disappointed. I will try and find out the full details of the construction and how that is affecting the services and update when I can.
Hi, Do you know by any chance if the constructions are still going on and the 3pm circular ferry is till going to Burj Al Arab?
Thanks a lot
Sorry I am away right now so not aware of the situation.
hi i want to go Dubai ferry from al Ghubaiba to marina and return al Ghubaiba station is any trip available
Hi, all the available trips are shown on the routes page.
Hi there
Went on the ferry last year from Al Ghubaiba to Dubai Marina and it was wonderful it was the high light of my hoilday I am returning with my stepson in September and just wanted to check it is hour to 90 mins for the journey because I can’t remember
Thanks for a great time last year
Hi Janet, glad you enjoyed the trip. Yes that is right it is around 60-90 minutes for that trip.
Can I take a ferry from the Marina to the city this weekend and return the same route
Hi Jane, it depends what area of the city you want to go to. There are ferries that go from the marina to al Ghubaiba or you can change at Dubai Canal Station and go down the canal to other areas. See the routes page for full details of all sailings.
Hi,
I live in Salem, Oregon. We are going to visit Dubai in January 2019. We want to do the circular tourist trip around Palm Island. Could you please tell me when the daily Al Ghubaiba ferry will leave the Dubai marina for the Palm Island tour.
Thanks, Harlan Nale
Hi Harlan, the Marina to Al Ghubaiba trip does not go around the Palm, it goes underneath the trunk. You can do a circular trip either from (and returning to) the marina or Al Ghubaiba. Check out the Routes page for more info.
Can we take a round trip from Marina – Gubaiba – Marina at 7 pm today. Cost is 50/ pax?
No, there are one way trips running at 6.30pm from both places but no round trips at 7pm.