Amazon Tours UAE Canal Dinner Cruise in Dubai: Glass Dhow from $56
Quick answer
The Amazon Tours UAE canal dinner cruise costs $56 per person for a buffet dinner on a glass-enclosed dhow, boarding from 6:15 PM at Dubai Festival City.
The listing says 2 hours but its timings run 7:00 to 9:30 PM; it is rated 4.6/5 from 1,089+ GetYourGuide reviews.
Amazon Tours UAE
Luxury Canal Dinner Cruise with Optional Transfers
4.6 (1,089) · from $56
The Amazon Tours UAE canal dinner cruise is an evening trip on the Dubai Water Canal aboard a glass-enclosed dhow, with a seated international buffet and live saxophone music, run by Amazon Tours UAE from the Dubai Festival City waterfront.
The detail that changes the decision is the clock. The listing headline says 2 hours, but the notes say the cruise runs 7:00 to 9:30 PM with boarding from 6:15 PM, and a shared hotel transfer stretches the whole outing to 3-4 hours.
If you are comparing evening boats, start from the Harbour Advisor home page, the Dubai boat tours guide or the Dubai dinner cruises page.
| Operator | Amazon Tours UAE |
|---|---|
| Boat | Glass-enclosed dhow, boarded at the Al Faris Floating Restaurant |
| Price | $56 per person |
| Duration | Headline: 2 hours. Notes: 2.5 hours on the water (7:00-9:30 PM); 3-4 hours door to door with the shared transfer |
| Departure | 7:00 PM; boarding from 6:15 PM (be ready 45 minutes ahead) |
| Pier | Dubai Festival City waterfront, behind the InterContinental Dubai Festival City |
| Route | Dubai Water Canal, Business Bay, Burj Khalifa views, Dubai Creek Harbour, Al Habtoor City |
| Food and drinks | Welcome coffee, dates, international buffet; house beverages with one option, otherwise on sale |
| Languages | English, Hindi, Arabic |
| Cancellation | Free up to 24 hours before for a full refund |
| Rating | 4.6/5 from 1,089+ reviews on GetYourGuide |
What is the Amazon Tours UAE canal dinner cruise?
It is a sit-down dinner cruise on a glass-sided dhow, sold by Amazon Tours UAE, that follows the Dubai Water Canal through Business Bay and towards the Burj Khalifa while you eat from a buffet.
Guests get Arabic coffee (kahwah) on arrival, dates and chilled refreshments, are escorted to a table, and then sail with soft Arabic music. The listing describes grilled meat, salads, Arabic appetizers and sweets at dinner, and a saxophone performance.
- Glass dhow - enclosed; one passenger mentions an upper deck
- Buffet dinner - international and Arabic dishes with table service
- Live music - saxophone, and a dance or concert option on the itinerary
- Dress code - smart casual
Where does the Amazon Tours UAE canal cruise leave from?
It leaves from the Dubai Festival City waterfront, where the Al Faris Floating Restaurant, managed by Amazon Tours UAE, sits behind the InterContinental hotel.
The coordinates in the listing point to Dubai Festival City waterfront on Google Maps, and Dubai Festival City Mall is the nearest landmark.
- By taxi: ask the driver for the Hard Rock Cafe at Dubai Festival City Mall, then walk towards the Imagine fountain show; the boat is at the far right of the show area.
- By car: park at P1, the North car park of Dubai Festival City Mall, then walk to the Waterfront Promenade and find the boat behind the InterContinental.
- Be ready 45 minutes before departure, which makes 6:15 PM for the 7:00 PM sailing.
- Wear smart casual clothes; smoking is allowed only in the designated area on the dhow.
The listing names no metro station. The Roads and Transport Authority prices a Silver nol card at AED 3 for one zone, AED 5 for two adjacent zones and AED 7.50 for more, but without a named stop I give no walking time and would use the taxi route the listing describes.
What is the route of the canal cruise?
The dhow sails the Dubai Water Canal past Business Bay and the Burj Khalifa, with pass-by stops of 5 to 15 minutes, according to the listing's reference itinerary.
| Stop | What happens | Allowance | Map |
|---|---|---|---|
| Al Faris Floating Restaurant | Welcome refreshments | 15 min | Dubai Festival City waterfront |
| Imagine show, Festival City | Pass-by, scenic views | 5 min | Dubai Festival City Mall |
| Mohammed bin Rashid Library | Pass-by, scenic views | 5 min | Mohammed bin Rashid Library |
| Dubai Creek Harbour | Pass-by, scenic views | 5 min | Dubai Creek Harbour |
| Burj Khalifa | Pass-by, scenic views | 5 min | Burj Khalifa |
| Business Bay | Pass-by, scenic views | 15 min | Business Bay |
| JW Marriott Marquis | Pass-by, scenic views | 5 min | JW Marriott Marquis Dubai |
| Al Habtoor City | Photo stop | 15 min | Al Habtoor City |
The list also names Al Jaddaf, Ras al Khor Wildlife Sanctuary, Dubai Design District and Tolerance Bridge as pass-bys. Because the listing calls the itinerary "for reference only", read it as the sights you may see rather than a promised order.
How long is it and when does it sail?
It sails at 7:00 PM and, per the know-before notes, runs about 2.5 hours until 9:30 PM, although the headline says 2 hours.
I trust the timed notes over the headline, because they give clock times and the headline gives a round figure. With a complimentary shared transfer the whole outing is 3 to 4 hours, because the shuttle collects other guests in evening traffic.
| Month | Sunset | Minutes after sunset at 7:00 PM |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 5:50 PM | 70 |
| Feb | 6:12 PM | 48 |
| Mar | 6:27 PM | 33 |
| Apr | 6:41 PM | 19 |
| May | 6:56 PM | 4 |
| Jun | 7:10 PM | Sun still up for 10 min |
| Jul | 7:11 PM | Sun still up for 11 min |
| Aug | 6:53 PM | 7 |
| Sep | 6:22 PM | 38 |
| Oct | 5:51 PM | 69 |
| Nov | 5:30 PM | 90 |
| Dec | 5:31 PM | 89 |
Outside May to August the towers are fully lit before you cast off, which matters here because the canal views of the Burj Khalifa are the point of the route.
What is included, and what costs extra?
The $56 fare covers the welcome coffee, dates and refreshments, the international buffet and the cruise; hotel transfers and house beverages depend on the option you pick.
- Welcome - kahwah coffee, dates and chilled refreshments
- Dinner - international buffet with Arabic appetizers, grilled meat, salads and sweets
- Transfers - hotel pickup and drop-off if you choose that option
- Beverages - unlimited house beverages with one option
- Extra - house beverages, photo souvenirs and mixers such as tonic or Red Bull, on sale on board
- Extra - confirmed alfresco seating at AED 50 per person
- Optional extras - a two-hour beer, cocktail, spirits and wine item and the La Perle by Dragone show (1.5 hours) both carry fees
Entertainment is not available during Ramadan, the listing says. Ramadan's dates move every year, so confirm what runs on your date before paying for a show-oriented evening.
How do the hotel transfers work?
The shared transfer is complimentary but runs as a shuttle through evening traffic, and a private transfer costs extra and is recommended from several marina and Palm areas.
- Shared transfer - free with the option, adds time, and the total outing becomes 3 to 4 hours
- Private transfer - paid; the listing advises it for guests staying in Al Barsha, Greens, the Palm, Jumeirah Beach, Media City, Tecom, JBR, the Marina or JLT, and the other west-side districts it lists
- Self-drive or taxi - no transfer, you arrive by 6:15 PM
The listing does not give the private transfer price, so check it at checkout.
How does it compare with other Dubai dinner cruises?
At $56 it is the cheapest of the three Dubai dinner cruises here and the only one on the canal rather than the Marina or the open Gulf.
| Tour | Price | Length | Rating | Character |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amazon Tours UAE canal dinner | $56 | 2-2.5 h | 4.6 (1,089) | Canal, glass dhow, buffet |
| Xclusive sunset or dinner cruise | $58 | 1.5 h | 4.7 (6,096) | Marina, open bar, live music |
| Dutch Oriental mega yacht | $82 | Not stated | 4.4 (4,865) | Big yacht, DJ, shows |
| 360 Adventures sunset yacht | $21 | 1-2 h | 4.6 (5,061) | Open sea, light bites |
For other formats, see all dinner cruises in Dubai.
Is the Amazon Tours UAE canal cruise worth it against a Marina dinner cruise?
It is worth it if you want a calm, seated dinner with the Burj Khalifa skyline and you do not need to see Atlantis or the Palm.
19.59 millioninternational overnight visitors came to Dubai in 2025, up 5% on 2024.
The canal sits inside the city, so the sea state that can cancel or reroute Gulf boats matters less here. My pick for a couple or a family that wants dinner first and sights second is this dhow; for open water and Atlantis, the $21 360 Adventures yacht is the better fit.
When is the best time to take the Amazon Tours UAE canal cruise?
November to March is best: daytime highs ease from 31°C to 24-28°C, and the whole 7:00 PM cruise is in the dark with the towers lit.
| Month | 2025 avg high | 2015-2024 avg high | Rain days | On-deck advice |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 24°C | 24°C | 2.4 | Mild: bring a light layer after dark |
| Feb | 26°C | 25°C | 1.8 | Mild: bring a light layer after dark |
| Mar | 29°C | 28°C | 2.2 | Warm: open deck is comfortable |
| Apr | 35°C | 33°C | 1.0 | Hot: shade and water on the open deck |
| May | 38°C | 37°C | 0.1 | Hot: shade and water on the open deck |
| Jun | 39°C | 40°C | 0.0 | Very hot: pick the air-conditioned deck |
| Jul | 42°C | 41°C | 0.3 | Very hot: pick the air-conditioned deck |
| Aug | 42°C | 41°C | 0.1 | Very hot: pick the air-conditioned deck |
| Sep | 39°C | 39°C | 0.3 | Very hot: pick the air-conditioned deck |
| Oct | 35°C | 35°C | 0.5 | Hot: shade and water on the open deck |
| Nov | 31°C | 31°C | 1.2 | Warm: open deck is comfortable |
| Dec | 27°C | 26°C | 1.2 | Mild: bring a light layer after dark |
The dhow is glass-enclosed, which should keep the dining area cooler than an open yacht deck, though the listing does not mention air-conditioning. One reviewer felt the captain slowed down so the upper deck did not get too windy. Weather bulletins come from the National Centre of Meteorology, which the UAE government portal lists among its weather services.
What do passengers say about it?
The ten reviews I can read are all 5 stars, so the sample is positive-only, and the praise clusters on the food, the calm seating and the music.
- Food - good, plentiful food is the most common praise
- Atmosphere - uncrowded seating, a well-kept boat and background music at a comfortable volume
- Music - one reviewer calls the saxophone player the highlight
- Organisation - clear directions beforehand and a smooth check-in
The platform's AI summary, built from 23 recent reviews, names one complaint: photo sales during dinner felt intrusive. Sub-scores are 4.7 for guide, 4.6 for transportation and 4.5 for value.
Who should skip the Amazon Tours UAE canal cruise?
Skip it if you want open water, Atlantis and the Palm, a party atmosphere, or a short evening.
- Sea-view seekers - the canal route does not reach Atlantis or the Palm; use the 360 Adventures yacht
- Party groups - this is a seated dinner with music, not a DJ night
- Short-on-time travellers - the shared transfer makes it a 3-4 hour commitment
- Hotels far from Festival City - the listing itself advises a private transfer from marina-side areas
How do you book the Amazon Tours UAE canal cruise?
$56 per person for a buffet dinner cruise on a glass dhow with welcome coffee and live music; hotel transfers are optional.
Check availabilityI earn a commission if you book through this link, at no extra cost to you.
Frequently asked questions
Is a Dubai canal cruise worth it?
Yes for a seated dinner with skyline views at $56. It is less suited to anyone who wants the sea, Atlantis or a lively party boat.
How long is the Amazon Tours UAE canal cruise?
The headline says 2 hours, but the notes give 7:00 to 9:30 PM, so plan 2.5 hours on the water. With the shared transfer, the total is 3 to 4 hours.
What time should I arrive?
Be ready 45 minutes before departure. For the 7:00 PM sailing, boarding starts at 6:15 PM.
Where do I go if I take a taxi?
Ask for the Hard Rock Cafe at Dubai Festival City Mall, walk towards the Imagine fountain show and look for the boat at the far right.
Where do I park?
Park at P1, the mall's North car park, and walk to the Waterfront Promenade. The boat is behind the InterContinental.
Can you drink alcohol on the cruise?
The itinerary lists beer, cocktails, spirits and wine as an optional item with an extra fee. House beverages are included only with one option.
What is the dress code?
Smart casual. Smoking is allowed only in the designated area on the dhow.
Is the shared hotel transfer free?
Yes, but it is a shuttle and evening traffic can delay it. A private transfer costs extra.
Does the entertainment run during Ramadan?
No. The listing says the entertainment is not available during the holy month, so check what is offered on your date.
Is it suitable for families?
The listing calls it ideal for families, couples and solo travellers.
Sources: GetYourGuide listing 86489 (price, times, includes, reviews, checked 2026-10-17); Roads and Transport Authority, nol fares; Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism, 2025 visitors; UAE government portal, weather; Open-Meteo archive API.
