Abu Dhabi - Dubai Dhow Cruise

  

Seen that wooden boat sailing in corniche at night? It’s be-yu-ti-ful yes?! They decorated it with many lights like Christmas tree! Try it pal, it is a special peaceful experience. Calms the mind after a stressful work-week.

In Dubai many brightly lit wooden boats are parked at the creek docks on late afternoons. You gotta choose one of them and hop in, doesn’t really matter which one coz they are all nice and pretty!  2hour ride plus Buffet dinner costs 150 dirhams. Won’t regret it, lots of delicious food choices on the table.
While in Abu Dhabi there’s just 2 dhow boats parked backside of the old fish market. Here no need to choose coz only one’s sailing. They got 5-course dinner on board (if you love seafood like me, you’ll enjoy it!) also 2 hours ride at 225 dirhams….WHAT? Twice Dubai’s price? Yeah, what do you think? Abu Dhabi’s always bit more expensive than Dubai, right?

At Dhow cruise Dubai: most seats are occupied by tourists. You are free to select your table. (I prefer near the food stalls!) The glass windows show the other boats floating in the sea outside and the quiet blue waters of the Dubai creek. There is a phony magician at the upper deck, no problem, he is funny enough. Will entertain you for 30 minutes with his magic tricks, disappearing magic money, magic water pot, magic rope, magic stick, etc... etc…don’t forget you have to clap, clap, clap.

vs.

Abu Dhabi’s Al Dhafra Dhow: most customers are black and white kanduras and abayas, children more. Business towers and hotels line up the shores of corniche. The ride goes near Marina Mall until the heritage dome, U-turn beside Lulu Island then back towards Mina while eating the 5-course menu. Warning: the food amounts are huge so eat slowly and with small quantities, inorder to enjoy all the varieties. Was hungry when I’m on board so I swallowed all the food placed in front of me, as a result my stomach almost blasted, thank goodness the waitress served mint tea, helped it calm down. Wahehe!

Fresh experience, relaxing at the upper deck, you can feel the cool wind against your face, hear the soft splash of the sea waves under the boat, swaying it gently. Listen to the steady hum of the boat motors, the distant traffic of cornice road, smell the fishy waters and observe the cars, the lights moving along Mina. Nice. Nice. Then at 11pm go back to reality. Au Revoir!