Dubai Marina
A canal lined with towers, the 7 km Marina Walk and JBR beach; 30 km from Mina Rashid, 2 km from Dubai Harbour.
At a glance
Dubai Marina is built around an artificial canal along a 3 km stretch of the Gulf shoreline.
Dubai Marina is a waterfront district built around an artificial canal along a 3 km stretch of the Gulf coast, framed by some of the tallest residential towers in the world. Marina Walk, a 7 km promenade on both sides of the water, links cafés, restaurants, yacht moorings and Dubai Marina Mall, and next door Jumeirah Beach Residence (JBR) leads to a public beach with watersports.
The visit is a walk rather than a list of monuments: along the promenade, across the bridges, onto a water taxi or a boat trip, and to the beach for a swim or lunch with a view of the towers. It is livelier in the late afternoon and evening, when the towers light up and the terraces fill.
For cruise passengers the distance depends on the terminal. Ships that dock at Dubai Harbour are only about 2 km from the Marina, while from Mina Rashid it is about 30 km by road, 35 to 45 minutes by taxi or around an hour by metro. Two to four hours are enough to see the promenade, the beach and the mall.
Official websiteGetting there from the port
5 optionsYour day in port
Example: call from 08:00 to 18:00, all aboard at 17:30 (ship at Mina Rashid).
- 09:00To the MarinaTaxi from the terminal to Dubai Marina Mall, about 40 minutes.
- 09:45Marina WalkWalk along the canal past the yacht moorings and towers.
- 11:00Water taxiRide the water taxi between stops to see the Marina from the water.
- 12:00JBR beachWalk to JBR for the beach and lunch on The Walk.
- 14:30Back to the portTaxi back to Mina Rashid, about 40 minutes plus traffic.
- 15:30On boardBack on the ship with a good margin before all aboard.
What to see
- 1Marina WalkThe 7 km promenade on both sides of the canal, lined with cafés, restaurants and shops.
- 2Dubai Marina MallA smaller mall in the middle of the Marina, with waterside terraces and the RTA ferry and water bus stops.
- 3JBR and the beachJumeirah Beach Residence and its public beach, with watersports and beachfront restaurants.
- 4Water taxiThe air-conditioned RTA water taxi links four stops along the canal, a cheap way to see the towers from the water.
- 5Pier 7A seven-storey tower beside Dubai Marina Mall with one restaurant per floor and views over the water.
- 6The skylineSome of the tallest residential towers in the world, best seen in the evening when they light up.
Tips for cruise passengers
- Check your terminalIf your ship docks at Dubai Harbour, the Marina is a short taxi ride away; from Mina Rashid, allow at least 45 minutes each way.
- Go late if you canThe Marina is hot and quiet at midday and much more pleasant in the late afternoon and evening; check your all-aboard time.
- Water taxiStops at Marina Promenade, Dubai Marina Mall, Marina Walk and Marina Terrace; AED 7 per stop, payable with a nol card.
- Children on the waterOn RTA boats, children under 12 must travel with an adult and wear a life jacket.
- Beach etiquetteSwimwear is fine on the beach, but cover up on the promenade and in the malls.
Accessibility & families
Marina Walk and the JBR promenade are flat and paved, and the metro, tram, water taxi and ferry have wheelchair spaces, so the area is accessible. With children, the beach and the promenade work well; on RTA boats under-12s must wear a life jacket.
In pictures
