Celebrate New Year’s Eve in Dubai Like Never Before! Witness the Spectacular Waterfront Fireworks Aboard Ferries, Abras, and Water Taxis – An Unforgettable Experience Awaits.

Published on November 30, 2025

Dubai, known for its dazzling skyline, opulent malls, and unparalleled experiences, is adding another impressive feature for its New Year’s Eve celebrations. The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has confirmed that this year, visitors can escape the usual chaos of crowded streets and instead celebrate the arrival of 2026 from the peaceful waters of Dubai’s coastline. Thanks to RTA’s special New Year’s Eve marine transport services, including Dubai Ferry, traditional abra boats, and Dubai Water Taxis, residents and tourists can glide past the iconic landmarks of the city, enjoying breathtaking fireworks displays without the usual traffic stress.

Dubai’s waterfront fireworks are among the world’s most famous, drawing thousands of visitors every year. In 2025, the marine services on offer promise to deliver a more relaxed, scenic, and sustainable way to celebrate. With this announcement, RTA is not just providing transport — it’s offering an unforgettable experience for those who want to ring in the new year in style.

Bypass the Traffic: A Smarter Way to Celebrate

Every year, Dubai’s streets become congested with people trying to reach the best spots to watch the fireworks. Roads are closed, taxis are unavailable, and the usual traffic jams are intensified by the sheer number of visitors to the city. However, this year, RTA’s marine transport services offer a thoughtful solution: let the water take you to the celebration.

From 10:00 pm until 10:30 pm on December 31st, Dubai’s water-based transport will operate extra services. The boats are scheduled to return by approximately 1:30 am, allowing ample time to enjoy the celebrations. This new transportation service is a game changer for both residents and tourists who want to avoid the stress of navigating crowded streets and are instead opting for a calm and scenic ride along the Dubai coastline.

In a city known for its fast pace and gridlocked traffic during major events, this new initiative offers a relaxing alternative. It’s more than just transport; it’s a new way to experience the festive spirit, bypassing traffic to enjoy a smooth ride while viewing the stunning fireworks from unique vantage points along the city’s waterfront.

Experience Dubai’s Iconic Fireworks in Comfort

The RTA’s special marine services include three different options: the luxurious Dubai Ferry, the traditional Dubai Abra, and the exclusive Water Taxi service. Here’s a closer look at each one:

• Dubai Ferry: Known for its comfort and modern facilities, the Dubai Ferry will depart from stations at Marina Mall (Dubai Marina), Al Ghubaiba, and Bluewaters Marine Transport Stations. The Silver Class tickets are priced at AED 350, while the Gold Class is AED 525. These ferry services offer guests a comfortable ride with panoramic views of Dubai’s spectacular skyline. Children aged 2–10 years can avail of a 50% discount, and those under 2 years travel free.
• Dubai Water Taxi: For those seeking an even more exclusive experience, the Dubai Water Taxi is a private boat service available for booking from Marina Mall. This service can accommodate up to 20 passengers, including wheelchair accessibility. The full-boat booking is available for AED 3,750. A private water taxi gives groups or families a chance to experience the celebrations in privacy and comfort while cruising past Dubai’s waterfront.
• Dubai Abra: For a more traditional experience, visitors can opt for the Dubai Abra, a wooden boat that has been a part of Dubai’s history for centuries. The Abra boats will depart from stations at Al Jaddaf, Al Fahidi, Al Ghubaiba, and Marina Mall, offering an affordable and charming way to experience the New Year’s Eve fireworks. The fare for an Abra ride is AED 150 per person, with children under 2 years traveling for free.

With these diverse options, RTA ensures that visitors have access to a range of services to suit their needs and budgets, all while ensuring that they don’t miss out on the chance to enjoy one of the world’s most impressive firework displays.

Sustainable Travel: A Green Alternative

For environmentally conscious travellers, RTA’s special marine transport services provide a sustainable alternative to traditional land-based travel. Instead of relying on private cars, which contribute to congestion and carbon emissions, the marine transport services offer a cleaner way to travel to one of Dubai’s most iconic celebrations.

By using boats to ferry large numbers of people along the waterfront, RTA is reducing the number of vehicles on the road, decreasing emissions, and making it easier for people to enjoy the celebrations in a more sustainable way. This eco-friendly approach aligns with global efforts to make travel and tourism more sustainable and highlights Dubai’s commitment to improving environmental sustainability across all sectors.

Moreover, this initiative is not just about reducing emissions. By providing marine transport, Dubai also highlights its commitment to public transportation, ensuring that major events are accessible to everyone, whether they are residents or tourists. Whether you are visiting for the first time or are a local, this initiative ensures that you can take part in one of the world’s most famous events in a way that doesn’t harm the environment.

A Memorable Experience with Panoramic Views

Dubai’s waterfront is an ideal location to witness the stunning fireworks displays that light up the sky on New Year’s Eve. By choosing a marine transport option, passengers are treated to panoramic views that are simply not available from land. From the towering Burj Khalifa to the luxury resorts of Atlantis The Palm, Dubai’s waterfront offers an unparalleled vantage point for celebrating the arrival of 2026.

As the boats cruise past some of the most iconic landmarks in the city, passengers can enjoy the atmosphere of the celebration while simultaneously taking in the serene surroundings of the water. This immersive experience provides a perfect way for tourists and locals alike to enjoy Dubai’s spectacular fireworks in a way that is both unique and memorable.

Why This Matters for Tourists and Travel Planners

For travel agents, tour operators, and those in the tourism industry, RTA’s marine transport services for New Year’s Eve represent a valuable opportunity to enhance tour packages and create an unforgettable experience for clients. Travel planners can now offer clients the chance to see the fireworks from the water, providing a more luxurious and relaxed way to celebrate.

With packages that cater to all budgets, from affordable abra rides to private water taxis, this service opens up new avenues for tourists to explore the city and celebrate in style. It’s an experience that appeals to a wide variety of tourists, including families, couples, and solo travellers.

For those in the hospitality and travel industries, offering this as part of a New Year’s Eve package could be a great selling point. Tourists coming to Dubai for the festive season are looking for more than just a hotel stay; they want experiences that create lasting memories.

A New Tradition for Dubai Celebrations

Dubai is a city known for pushing boundaries and setting new standards, and the RTA’s innovative approach to New Year’s Eve celebrations is no exception. For both residents and visitors, the idea of celebrating on water rather than in the midst of crowded streets presents a new way to ring in the new year.

As Dubai continues to grow as a global tourist destination, this initiative from the RTA shows how urban transport authorities are increasingly focusing on providing sustainable, unique experiences for both residents and tourists. By offering a range of marine transport services on one of the busiest nights of the year, Dubai is redefining how its visitors experience celebrations.

For anyone visiting Dubai this New Year’s Eve, the opportunity to join the festivities from the water — stress-free and environmentally conscious — is a compelling reason to make this year’s celebration even more special.