Routes/Timings

The below Dubai Ferry routes/timings information is accurate to the best of our knowledge. If in any doubt, please contact the RTA on 800 9090 for clarification on any of the trips shown.

Routes are occasionally changed and we will endeavour to keep these up to date.

Ferry Terminals

The Dubai Ferry currently runs from six ferry terminals: Dubai Marina, Bluewater Marine Transport Station, Al Ghubaiba, Dubai Canal Station, Sharjah Aquarium and Souk al Marfa.

The first two stations to operate were at Al Ghubaiba and Dubai Marina, with a terminal at Al Mamzar introduced in October 2014 – However, Al Mamzar no longer runs services due to lack of demand. The service also used to run along Dubai Water Canal to Al Jadaf but this has changed to a Water Taxi service.

The ferry service between Dubai and Sharjah was suspended after the 2020 pandemic but has now resumed and you can find full details of that service here.

Ferry services run 7 days a week.

The Al Ghubaiba terminal is a minutes walk from the Al Ghubaiba Metro station, near the creek abra stations.

The Marina terminal is a short walk (about 500 yards to the left) from outside the Marina Mall.

The Bluewater Marine Transport Station is on the island that holds the AIN Dubai ferris wheel, just off the marina.

Souk al Marfa is on Deira Islands.

There are circular tourist type trips that run for approximately 1 hour from each terminal and there are trips that run from one terminal to the other (which take around 1h 55m minutes for the trips between the Marina and Al Ghubaiba).

As there are sometimes changes to the schedule it is worth contacting the RTA in advance to check on sailing times.

All Routes Map

Here is a summary map of the routes that are covered by the Dubai Ferry. You can click on the map to see a larger version.

dubai ferry routes

Below is a summary of the timings of the Dubai Ferry but you can find specific details on this page.
Trips from Dubai Marina:
11.30am Sightseeing circular trip to Palm Jumeirah and Atlantis and back
1pm One way trip to Al Ghubaiba  with a stop at Bluewaters and Dubai Water Canal
4.30pm Sightseeing circular trip to Palm Jumeirah and Atlantis and back
6pm One way trip to Al Ghubaiba  with a stop at Bluewaters and Dubai Water Canal
Trips from Al Ghubaiba:
1pm One way trip to Dubai Marina  with a stop at Dubai Water Canal and Bluewaters
4.30pm Circular Tourist trip within the Creek – we understand that this trip is currently not running.
6pm One way trip to Dubai Marina  with a stop at Dubai Water Canal and Bluewaters
Trips from Dubai Water Canal Marine Station
Ferry Direction 1 2
To Al Ghubaiba 14:25 19:25
To Dubai Marina 13:50 18:50

Sharjah to Dubai

Friday, Saturday, Sunday 2pm, 4pm, 6pm & 9pm
Monday to Thursday 7am, 8.30am, 1pm, 4.45pm, 6.15pm

Dubai to Sharjah

Friday, Saturday, Sunday 3pm, 5pm, 8pm & 10pm
Monday to Thursday 7.45am,  10am, 4pm, 5.30pm,7pm

Scheduled circular services (services that start and leave from the same station) will only run with at least 12 passengers. You can also privately hire the boats for your own trip at any available time between 9am and 9pm. Evening trips are busier so you may need to get to the terminal well in advance of the sailing (30 minutes or more).

Both circular routes run along the shore from the terminus with views of the coastline and the many local attractions, they run for one hour and then return from the place they started from. In this way they are really just excursions rather than a means to actually get anywhere within Dubai.

Dubai Marina

This is the tourist route covered by the Dubai Marina ferry which runs at 11.30am:

Dubai Marina Ferry Route
Dubai Marina Ferry Route

There is also a route running from Dubai Marina and out to the Burj al Arab for 60-90 minutes at 4.30pm. Trips may change – see table above for current trips available.

In addition you can travel at 1pm and 6pm from Dubai Marina to Al Ghubaiba. This stops at Dubai Canal Station and BlueWaters en route.

Al Ghubaiba

The route covered by the Al Ghubaiba ferry for the circular trip at 4.30pm is shown below. However, note that the route may be subject to change. There is a 3pm circular trip that previously ran within Dubai Creek – check with the RTA for the current route.

dubai-ferry-routes.bmp

In addition there is a ferry running from Al Ghubaiba to Dubai Marina Ferry terminal at  1pm and 6pm. This stops at Dubai Canal Station and BlueWaters en route.

Souk al Marfa

In March 2022 a new ferry route was launched to Souk al Marfa on Dubai Islands. It ran from 6pm to 10pm on Friday, Saturday and Sundays. However, this trip no longer runs and marine access to Souk al Marfa is now just by abra.

Ticket Prices

Ticket prices are shown here.

The Dubai Ferry can be hired for private trips with no seats so that guests can mingle. It costs 2800 dirhams per hour (prices may change).

626 thoughts on “Routes/Timings”

  1. Is the ferry running today from Al Gubaiba to marina? Last day when we came, it was closed due to heavy waves.

    1. If you think the ferry may not be running because of heavy seas then call the RTA on 800 9090 to check before you travel.

  2. Please, tell me from which PLACE of Dubai Marina the ferry to Deira departs at 1pm? I lost half day walking around superhuge Marina promenades and didnt find the place. Maybe just mark a departing point in Google maps would be fantastic modern and sophisticated solution for tourists.

  3. Is there a return ferry trip from Dubai Canal to Blue water and return on Friday evening? Tickets can be bought at the counter or advisable to book in advance?

    1. No, if you want to do a return to Bluewaters of an evening you will have to take the 6pm from the Marina and then return from Bluewaters at 7.50pm.

  4. Greetings!
    We are gonna Le Perle. Can we use ferry for transferring from Marina Mall to Godolphin Marine Transport Station? Performance start at 21:00. I couldn’t find the route(

  5. Hi! If we depart from Dubai Marina at 18:00 on FR4 to Dubai Canal, are we gonna be on time to go back on boat from Dubai Canal to Dubai Marina that departs at
    18:50? Or this is risky?

  6. kindly let me know details for al ghubiba circular trip timing and i heard that ENBD Go4it card holder is eligible free trip
    please let me know how to book the ticket

  7. Hi,

    I would like to book the tourist route from Dubai Marina leaving at 4,30pm. But I could not find the tickets online from the RTA website. Can I only buy it from the counter physically?

  8. Hi, if I would like to do a route from Dubai Marina to the Fold Souk, which route and teip do I take and what times?

  9. Hello, if we take the Route from Al Ghubaiba to Dubai Marina, do we pass the Burj al Arab, the Atlantis and the AIN? How long does the trip last?

    1. Hi, yes the route now goes past all of those landmarks as we understand – it currently takes almost 2 hours for the whole trip.

    1. Hi Valentin, no, there is no ferry station at Atlantis but you may be able to get a water taxi. Contact the RTA on 800 9090.

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