Five-star dinner buffet
An international open buffet catered by Radisson Blu, with vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes plus water, soft drinks, tea and coffee.
Which Abu Dhabi Yas Island cruise is this?
Arabiers runs three departures from Yas Marina. This page is the evening dinner dhow cruise, the one that boards at 7:30 pm and sails with a full Radisson Blu buffet. If you want a daytime cruise without dinner, see the Yas Marina sightseeing cruise. For a midday meal on the water, see the Yas Marina lunch cruise.
| Dinner Dhow Cruise (this page) | Sightseeing Cruise | Lunch Cruise | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Time | Evening, 8:00 to 10:00 pm | Daytime | Midday |
| Meal | Radisson Blu dinner buffet | No meal | Lunch buffet |
| Best for | Couples, families, evening out | Daytime island photos | Cruise plus lunch together |
| From | 229 AED adult | See sightseeing page | See lunch page |
For every dhow departure in the emirate, including Corniche and Louvre routes, see the Abu Dhabi dhow cruise hub.
The evening in full
The Yas Island dinner dhow cruise is a two-hour evening cruise on Yas Marina in Abu Dhabi, aboard a traditional two-deck wooden dhow operated by Arabiers. Boarding opens at 7:30 pm at Yas Marina Yacht Club, the boat sails at 8:00 pm and returns at 10:00 pm. Dinner is a five-star international open buffet catered by the Radisson Blu hotel, served on board throughout the cruise, with water, soft drinks, tea and coffee included. The lower deck is fully air conditioned and the upper deck is open air; guests choose their deck on boarding. Table reservations on either deck can be requested at the time of booking. The cruise runs daily as a scheduled shared departure, subject to weather and Abu Dhabi coastguard advice. Adults pay 229 AED, children 189 AED, and infants cruise free.
The route passes through Yas Marina, with Yas Island landmarks lit around the waterfront. Boarding is part of the experience: a walk onto the traditional dhow, then the crew casts off within minutes of eight.
Guests combining Abu Dhabi with Dubai can compare the Dubai dhow cruise options on the Creek and Marina, which run on a similar format.
Your evening, step by step
Boarding opens
Meet at Yas Marina Yacht Club, or arrive from your hotel if you selected a transfer. Boarding closes at 7:45 pm. No refund is given for late arrival.
Cast off
Choose the air-conditioned lower deck or the open upper deck. Reserved tables are held until departure.
Dinner service opens
The Radisson Blu buffet is served throughout the cruise, with vegetarian and non-vegetarian options plus water, soft drinks, tea and coffee included.
The Yas Island circuit
Enjoy Yas Marina and the illuminated Yas Island waterfront from the water.
Return to berth
The dhow docks back at Yas Marina Yacht Club. Transfer guests return to their original pickup point.
What is included, and what is not
Included
- Two-hour evening cruise on Yas Marina
- Five-star international dinner buffet catered by Radisson Blu
- Water, soft drinks, tea and coffee throughout
- Pick-up and drop-off if the transfer option is selected at booking
- Recorded music on board
- Life jackets and on-board safety briefing
- VAT and all service fees
Not included
- Transfers if the cruise-only rate is selected
- Alcoholic drinks. Wine, beer and champagne can be arranged with prior permission
- Belly dance and live music
Optional at booking: shared or private transfers, baby and toddler seat, and table reservation on the upper or lower deck.
Rates in detail
Adult
229 AEDPer person
Child
189 AEDPer person
Infant
FreeOn an adult lap
Who this cruise suits
Built for guests who want dinner and Yas Island views in a single evening, without coordinating a restaurant, transport and a viewpoint separately. Couples tend to take the open upper deck for the evening air; families with young children usually settle on the air-conditioned lower deck close to the buffet. The 8:00 pm departure also fits well at the end of a theme-park day at Ferrari World or Yas Waterworld, since Yas Marina Yacht Club is a few minutes from both parks. If your evening schedule is already full and you only want daytime photographs of Yas Island, the Yas Marina sightseeing cruise is the better fit.
Perfect if you...
- Want dinner and Yas Island views in one evening
- Prefer the open upper deck for evening air
- Want an air-conditioned lower deck close to the buffet
- Are a couple, family or group staying around Yas Island
- Want an evening activity after a theme-park day
Maybe not, if you...
- Want a daytime sightseeing-only cruise
- Need wheelchair access to board the dhow
- Want belly dance or live music as part of the cruise
- Need a guaranteed private transfer without arranging it in advance
Questions before you book?
Ask about deck preference, transfers, child seating, group arrangements or your travel date.
WhatsApp / Call: +971 58 879 8139 · Email: explore@arabiers.com · Abu Dhabi office: 833 Al Falah Street, Al Danah, Abu Dhabi.
Frequently asked questions
The Yas Island dinner dhow cruise sails at 8:00 pm and returns to Yas Marina at 10:00 pm, a two-hour cruise. Boarding opens at 7:30 pm and closes at 7:45 pm. It runs daily, subject to weather and Abu Dhabi coastguard advice.
Dinner is an international open buffet catered by the five-star Radisson Blu hotel, with both vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes. Water, soft drinks, tea and coffee are included. Alcoholic drinks are not included but can be arranged with prior permission.
The dhow has two decks. The lower deck is fully air conditioned and the upper deck is open air with no roof. You can choose your preferred deck on boarding, and table reservations on either deck can be requested at the time of booking.
The dinner dhow cruise is an evening cruise, 8:00 pm to 10:00 pm, with a full Radisson Blu buffet included from 229 AED per adult. The Yas Marina sightseeing cruise is a shorter daytime cruise focused on views of Yas Island, without a dinner service and at a lower price. Book the dinner cruise for an evening meal on the water; book the sightseeing cruise for daytime photographs of Yas Island.
The Yas Island dinner dhow cruise costs 229 AED per adult and 189 AED per child. Infants cruise free when seated on an adult lap. Optional shared transfers, private transfers and a baby seat can be added at booking.
Yes. Infants cruise free when seated on an adult lap; a separate baby seat can be arranged on request at reservation. Children pay 189 AED. Life jackets and a safety briefing are provided on board for all guests.
The traditional wooden dhow cannot accommodate wheelchairs, and the crew are not able to carry guests on or off the vessel. Guests with limited mobility can board only if a companion in their group can assist them.
The standard transfer option is a shared facility. Private transfers to Yas Marina Yacht Club can be arranged at an additional cost. Contact Arabiers at the time of booking to confirm availability and pricing.
Cancellation policy
- Cancellation before 10:00 am on the day of the cruise: full refund
- Cancellation between 10:00 am and 6:00 pm on the day of the cruise: 50 per cent refund
- Cancellation after 6:00 pm on the day of the cruise, or no-show: no refund
- If Arabiers cancels due to weather or coastguard advice: full refund
Special notes
- Departures require a minimum number of guests. Once availability is confirmed, payment is collected online before the cruise. No booking is confirmed without payment.
- Boarding closes at 7:45 pm for the 8:00 pm departure. No refund is given for late arrival.
- Sailing is subject to weather and Abu Dhabi coastguard advice. Arabiers will contact you if a departure is cancelled; weather cancellations are refunded in full.
