# Dubai Creek and the abra crossing

> Dubai Creek (Khor Dubai) is the 14 km saltwater inlet the city grew around, with Bur Dubai on the south bank and Deira on the north. The must-do is the wooden abra crossing: a few minutes for AED 1–2 on RTA fares. Abras run roughly 7am–11:45pm; the waterfronts never close. Allow an hour, half a day with the souks.

Web page: https://yesgo.io/united-arab-emirates/dubai/dubai-creek

- City: [Dubai](https://yesgo.io/united-arab-emirates/dubai), United Arab Emirates
- YesGo score: 40/100 (Yes, if nearby)
- Time on site: 1 h
- Entry: Abra AED 1–2, waterfronts free
- Opening hours: Abras on RTA timetables, ≈ 7am–11:45pm, Sundays from ≈ 9:30–10:15am; waterfronts open 24 hours
- With kids: Fine with kids
- Abra routes CR3–CR6 (Al Fahidi – Deira Old Souq etc.): AED 2; cash, bank card or nol
- Traditional abra CR1 & CR2 (Bur Dubai – Deira Old Souq, Dubai Old Souq – Al Sabkha): AED 1, cash only, leaves when full
- Children: Under 5 free; under 12 only with an adult and in a life jacket
- Abra hours: ≈ 7am–11:45pm depending on route; Sundays from 9:30–10:15am
- Private abra (CR1, CR2): AED 60 per 30 min, AED 120 per hour
- Dhow dinner cruise: From ≈ AED 75, 1.5–2 hours, boarding around 7:30–8pm (unofficial)
- Waterfronts (Bur Dubai, Al Seef, Deira): Free, open 24 hours
- Nearest metro: Al Ghubaiba (Green Line), ≈ 6 min to Bur Dubai Abra Station; Al Ras, ≈ 6 min to Deira Old Souq
- Time needed: ≈ 1 hour; half a day with Al Fahidi and the Deira souks
- Coordinates: 25.26469, 55.29304
- Facts checked: 03.11.2026

## Key facts

- **AED 1–2** — an abra crossing: AED 1 on traditional routes CR1 and CR2, AED 2 on the rest (source: Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), abra timetable, September 2026)
- **14 km** — length of the creek from the Gulf to the Ras Al Khor lagoon (source: RTA, Abra page; English and Russian Wikipedia: Dubai Creek)
- **Two banks** — Bur Dubai to the south, Deira to the north (source: RTA; English Wikipedia: Dubai Creek)
- **≈ 7am–11:45pm** — abra timetable on scheduled routes; Sundays start at 9:30–10:15am (source: RTA, abra timetable, September 2026)
- **1963** — Al Maktoum Bridge opened — the first bridge across the creek; before it, abras or a long detour (source: Gulf News; English Wikipedia: Al Maktoum Bridge)
- **'Abara'** — the Arabic verb 'to cross' that gave the abra its name (source: RTA, Abra page)
- **Up to 20** — passengers on a petrol abra (source: RTA, Abra page)
- **≈ 2 km** — dhow wharf on the Deira bank, rebuilt in 2025 (source: Dubai Media Office, 18.05.2025)
- **1.8 km** — Al Seef promenade on the Bur Dubai bank, completed in 2017 (source: English Wikipedia: Al Seef)
- **Ras Al Khor** — the creek's natural end, now a wildlife sanctuary (source: English and Russian Wikipedia: Dubai Creek)

## How much is the abra and when does it run?

An abra crossing costs **AED 1 or AED 2** per person on RTA's fares. The AED 1 boats are the traditional on-demand routes — **CR1** Bur Dubai – Deira Old Souq and **CR2** Dubai Old Souq – Al Sabkha — and they take **cash only**. The AED 2 scheduled routes are **CR3** Dubai Old Souq – Baniyas, **CR4** Al Fahidi – Al Sabkha, **CR5** Al Fahidi – Deira Old Souq and **CR6** Al Seef – Baniyas, where cash, credit and debit cards and nol all work. Under-5s ride free.

RTA's September 2026 timetable has the scheduled routes running from about 7–8:15am to 11:15–11:50pm, starting later on Sundays (9:30–10:15am). Boats leave every 15–30 minutes in the morning and every 10–15 minutes in the afternoon and evening. RTA publishes no hours for CR1 and CR2: they simply go when the boat fills. Timings can change during Ramadan, on public holidays and in bad weather.

**Paying in Dubai:** foreign Visa and Mastercard cards work almost everywhere, including the AED 2 abras. The metro needs a **nol card**, sold at station ticket offices and machines. Keep a few one-dirham coins for CR1 and CR2, where you pay the boatman directly.

## What is Dubai Creek?

**Dubai Creek** — Khor Dubai in Arabic — is a natural saltwater inlet that runs 14 km inland from the Gulf to the Ras Al Khor lagoon. It's not a single sight with a ticket but the water the old city was built around: **Bur Dubai** with [Al Fahidi](https://yesgo.io/united-arab-emirates/dubai/al-fahidi) and the Textile Souk on the south bank, **Deira** with the gold and spice souks on the north.

Before oil, this was Dubai's harbour for pearling and trading dhows, and abras ferried people between the banks — RTA says the name comes from the Arabic 'abara', to cross. The first bridge, Al Maktoum, only opened in 1963, so the abra stayed the city's main transport for a long time. It still runs, and it's the cheapest way to see Old Dubai from the water.

> **AED 1 or AED 2: which abra to board** Head for **Bur Dubai Abra Station** if you want the classic AED 1 crossing to Deira Old Souq (cash only). Starting from Al Fahidi or Al Seef, you'll be on the AED 2 routes — slightly newer petrol abras that take cards and nol. Either way the ride lasts a few minutes and drops you by the Deira souks.

## How to get to Dubai Creek

1. From **Burj Khalifa/Dubai Mall** station take the Red Line towards Centrepoint, 6 stops to **BurJuman**.
2. Change to the **Green Line** towards e& and ride 2 stops — Sharaf DG, then **Al Ghubaiba**.
3. From Al Ghubaiba walk through the covered Textile Souk to the water — about 400 m, ≈ 6 minutes to **Bur Dubai Abra Station** (CR1). **Dubai Old Souq** station (CR2, CR3) is a couple of minutes further along the quay.
4. Starting at Al Fahidi instead? Get off at **Sharaf DG** and walk ≈ 12 minutes north to **Al Fahidi** abra station (CR4, CR5).
5. Door to door from Downtown it's about 30–35 minutes; a taxi takes 15–25 minutes outside rush hour. Pay for the metro with a **nol card** and carry cash for CR1 and CR2.
6. To head back, cross to Deira: from Deira Old Souq it's ≈ 6 minutes through the souks to **Al Ras** metro on the Green Line.

## Is the Dubai Creek abra ride worth it?

Yes — for a dirham or two you get the most atmospheric five minutes in Dubai: low wooden boats, dhows unloading across the water, and the old souks on both banks. It takes so little time that it fits into any day that includes Old Dubai.

Don't expect a sightseeing cruise, though. The crossing is short and functional; the value is in what you link it with. Pair it with Al Fahidi on the Bur Dubai side and the [Spice Souk](https://yesgo.io/united-arab-emirates/dubai/dubai-spice-souk) and [Gold Souk](https://yesgo.io/united-arab-emirates/dubai/dubai-gold-souk) in Deira. If you want longer on the water, hire a whole abra for AED 120 an hour instead of booking a cruise.

## Things to do along Dubai Creek

- **Cross by abra** between Bur Dubai and Deira — water at elbow height, other boats all around.
- **Watch the Deira dhow wharf** — nearly 2 km of quay where wooden trading dhows load sacks, fridges and tyres. It's a working port, best seen in daytime.
- **Walk Al Seef** — a 1.8 km promenade in Bur Dubai, the souk half styled on the old creekside with wind towers, the other half modern. New-build, but lovely at dusk.
- **Browse the Bur Dubai Textile Souk** — covered lanes right behind the Bur Dubai and Dubai Old Souq abra stations.
- **Visit [Al Shindagha](https://yesgo.io/united-arab-emirates/dubai/al-shindagha)** — the heritage district at the mouth of the creek.
- **Picnic in Creek Park** — a large park on the south bank by Al Maktoum Bridge; entry ≈ AED 5 (unofficial).
- **Take a dhow dinner cruise** — buffet, music and the lit-up banks and bridges.

## Dubai Creek dhow cruise: price and what to expect

A dinner cruise on a two-deck wooden **dhow** lasts 1.5–2 hours with a buffet, music and sometimes a tanoura dancer. Boarding is usually around 7:30–8pm from Al Seef or the Deira side, and many sellers include hotel pick-up. Prices vary hugely: listings start around AED 75 for a basic cruise and run several times higher for 'luxury' versions with transfers — these are unofficial figures, so check when you book.

It's a relaxed evening with views of the lights, but the food is usually canteen-style and the route short. If you mainly want the water and the old city, a private abra gives you more freedom for less. If you want dinner with a view and no planning, the cruise does the job.

## Abra, private abra or dhow cruise

|  | Abra CR1/CR2 | Abra CR3–CR6 | Private abra | Dhow dinner cruise |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Price | AED 1 | AED 2 | AED 60 per 30 min, AED 120 per hour | From ≈ AED 75 (unofficial) |
| Payment | Cash only | Cash, card, nol | RTA tariff | Through the seller, usually online |
| When | Leaves when full | ≈ 7am–11:45pm | CR1/CR2; TR10 loop 4pm–10:15pm | Evenings, ≈ 8pm |
| Duration | A few minutes | A few minutes | As long as you pay for | 1.5–2 hours |
| Best for | Just crossing | No small change | Groups, photographers | Dinner with a view |

Abra fares and times are from RTA's official timetable (September 2026). Cruise prices come from seller listings and are approximate.

## Dubai Creek on the map

The lively stretch is the lowest 2–3 km, from the mouth at Al Shindagha to Al Maktoum Bridge. Along the south bank you pass Al Shindagha, the Bur Dubai and Dubai Old Souq abra stations by the Textile Souk, Al Fahidi and Al Seef. On the north bank are the gold and spice souks, the Deira Old Souq and Al Sabkha stations, the long dhow wharf and Baniyas station.

Upstream, past the bridges, come Creek Park, Al Jaddaf, Dubai Festival City and the new Dubai Creek Harbour district — abras run there too (CR9, CR11, BM2), but it's modern Dubai. The creek ends at **[Ras Al Khor](https://yesgo.io/united-arab-emirates/dubai/ras-al-khor)**, a wildlife sanctuary where flamingos gather in winter.

> **Kids, heat and wet steps** RTA doesn't allow children under 12 on its boats without an adult, and accompanied children must wear a life jacket. Abras sit low and the quay steps can be wet, so hold small hands. On summer afternoons it's over 40 °C on the water — go early or around sunset.

## Before you go: checklist

- [ ] A few dirham coins for the CR1 and CR2 abras
- [ ] nol card topped up for the metro
- [ ] Water and a hat on a hot day
- [ ] Decided which bank to start from: Bur Dubai or Deira
- [ ] Dhow cruise booked, if you want dinner on the water
- [ ] An hour for the creek, another hour or two for the souks

## Dubai by the water compared

Every waterside place in Dubai rated by YesGo.

- [Burj Al Arab](https://yesgo.io/united-arab-emirates/dubai/burj-al-arab) — YesGo score 59/100 (Yes, go) · 30 min · Free to view; closed inside
- [Palm Jumeirah](https://yesgo.io/united-arab-emirates/dubai/palm-jumeirah) — YesGo score 52/100 (Yes, go) · 2 h · Island free, The View from AED 80
- [The Dubai Fountain](https://yesgo.io/united-arab-emirates/dubai/dubai-fountain) — YesGo score 45/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 30 min · Free; Boardwalk and abra ride paid
- [Dubai Creek and the abra crossing](https://yesgo.io/united-arab-emirates/dubai/dubai-creek) — YesGo score 40/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h · Abra AED 1–2, waterfronts free
- [Dubai Water Canal](https://yesgo.io/united-arab-emirates/dubai/dubai-canal) — YesGo score 39/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h · Free; abra rides from AED 2
- [Ras Al Khor Wildlife Sanctuary](https://yesgo.io/united-arab-emirates/dubai/ras-al-khor) — YesGo score 39/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 45 min · Free
- [Dubai Aquarium & Underwater Zoo](https://yesgo.io/united-arab-emirates/dubai/dubai-aquarium) — YesGo score 38/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h · Free view; tunnel ≈ AED 199
- [Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood (Old Dubai)](https://yesgo.io/united-arab-emirates/dubai/al-fahidi) — YesGo score 37/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h 30 min · Free to walk
- [Dubai Marina](https://yesgo.io/united-arab-emirates/dubai/dubai-marina) — YesGo score 33/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h 30 min · Free; boats and cruises extra
- [Madinat Jumeirah and Souk Madinat](https://yesgo.io/united-arab-emirates/dubai/madinat-jumeirah) — YesGo score 29/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h 30 min · Free entry; abra ride AED 100
- [Al Shindagha Museum](https://yesgo.io/united-arab-emirates/dubai/al-shindagha) — YesGo score 28/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h 30 min · AED 50; students 5–24 AED 20
- [Atlantis, The Palm](https://yesgo.io/united-arab-emirates/dubai/atlantis-the-palm) — YesGo score 27/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h 30 min · Aquarium ≈ AED 125, waterpark ≈ AED 300
- [JBR Beach and The Walk](https://yesgo.io/united-arab-emirates/dubai/jbr-beach) — YesGo score 26/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 2 h · Free; sunbed AED 125
- [Al Mamzar Beach Park](https://yesgo.io/united-arab-emirates/dubai/al-mamzar-beach-park) — YesGo score 21/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 2 h · AED 5, car AED 30

## Both banks of Old Dubai in half a day

Al Shindagha and Al Fahidi on the south bank, an abra across the creek, then the spice and gold souks of Deira. Add them to your route — YesGo fits in the timing and transfers.

1. [Al Shindagha Museum](https://yesgo.io/united-arab-emirates/dubai/al-shindagha) — YesGo score 28/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h 30 min · AED 50; students 5–24 AED 20
2. [Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood (Old Dubai)](https://yesgo.io/united-arab-emirates/dubai/al-fahidi) — YesGo score 37/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h 30 min · Free to walk
3. [Dubai Creek and the abra crossing](https://yesgo.io/united-arab-emirates/dubai/dubai-creek) — YesGo score 40/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h · Abra AED 1–2, waterfronts free
4. [Spice Souk](https://yesgo.io/united-arab-emirates/dubai/dubai-spice-souk) — YesGo score 36/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 30 min · Free entry
5. [Dubai Gold Souk](https://yesgo.io/united-arab-emirates/dubai/dubai-gold-souk) — YesGo score 34/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 45 min · Free entry

## Good to know

Dubai Creek Harbour and Creek Tower are a new district upstream by Ras Al Khor, not the historic creek; Dubai Creek Golf Club, Dubai Creek Resort and Park Hyatt Dubai Creek are a golf club and hotels on the bank. Al Fahidi metro station has been called Sharaf DG since 2020. Al Seef was completed in 2017 in a heritage style — the houses are not historic.

## Tips

- Start in Bur Dubai and cross to Deira: you walk the old city in a straight line and finish by Al Ras metro.
- Go an hour before sunset — cross to Deira in golden light and come back with Al Seef lit up.
- On CR1 you pay the boatman on board; have a coin ready, as change for a big note isn't guaranteed.
- Want to ride along the creek rather than across it? Hire a whole abra for 30 minutes — AED 60 for the boat.
- See the Deira dhow wharf in the daytime, when loading is under way — it's quiet in the evening.
- Combine the crossing with lunch at Al Seef or in the Deira souks rather than making a separate trip.

## Questions

### How much is the abra on Dubai Creek?

AED 1 on the traditional CR1 and CR2 routes (cash only) and AED 2 on routes CR3–CR6 (cash, card or nol), according to RTA. Under-5s are free.

### What time do the Dubai Creek abras run?

Scheduled routes run from about 7–8:15am to 11:15–11:50pm, starting at 9:30–10:15am on Sundays. CR1 and CR2 leave whenever the boat is full.

### Can I pay for the abra by card?

Yes on the AED 2 routes (CR3–CR6), which take credit and debit cards and nol. The AED 1 traditional abras CR1 and CR2 are cash only.

### How long is the abra ride across Dubai Creek?

Just a few minutes from bank to bank. Allow about an hour for the crossing plus a walk on both sides.

### Where do you catch the abra in Dubai?

On the Bur Dubai side at Bur Dubai, Dubai Old Souq, Al Fahidi or Al Seef stations; on the Deira side at Deira Old Souq, Al Sabkha or Baniyas.

### What is the nearest metro to Dubai Creek?

Al Ghubaiba on the Green Line, about 6 minutes on foot from Bur Dubai Abra Station. On the Deira side, Al Ras is about 6 minutes from Deira Old Souq.

### Is the Dubai Creek abra ride worth it?

Yes, as a cheap, short taste of Old Dubai from the water. It's best combined with Al Fahidi and the Deira souks rather than done on its own.

### How much is a Dubai Creek dhow cruise?

Dinner cruises of 1.5–2 hours start around AED 75 on seller listings and cost several times more with transfers or 'luxury' menus. These are unofficial prices.

### Can children ride the abra?

Yes. Under-5s ride free; under-12s must be with an adult and wear a life jacket.

### What is the difference between Dubai Creek and Dubai Creek Harbour?

Dubai Creek is the historic inlet between Bur Dubai and Deira. Dubai Creek Harbour is a new residential district upstream by Ras Al Khor.

## How we checked

Abra fares, hours and payment come from RTA's official September 2026 timetable and its Abra page. RTA itself settles the AED 1 vs AED 2 question: traditional CR1 and CR2 are AED 1, cash only; the other routes are AED 2, payable by cash, card or nol. Guides quoting only AED 1 describe CR1. RTA publishes no hours for CR1 and CR2, and we could not confirm guide claims of 'until midnight' or '24 hours'. Dhow cruise prices come from two seller listings and are marked unofficial, as there is no official tariff. Creek Park's entry fee (≈ AED 5) and its cable car differ between sources, so we don't promise the cable car. The two Wikipedias disagree on the creek's width, so we leave it out. Walking times are calculated from OpenStreetMap coordinates and journey times from the metro map, not timed by us. The English page follows English-language search results and questions (abra cost, hours, worth it, dhow cruise, how to get there), not the Russian text.

## Sources

- Roads and Transport Authority (RTA): Abra Rides: Timings & Destinations, September 2026 — routes, times, fares, payment, 03.11.2026
- RTA: Abra page — abra types, capacity, rules for children, origin of the name, length of the creek, 03.11.2026
- Dubai Media Office, 18.05.2025 — Deira creek wharf redevelopment
- English Wikipedia: Dubai Creek, Al Maktoum Bridge, Al Seef, Abra (boat); Russian Wikipedia: Хор-Дубай; Wikidata Q1262853
- Gulf News — Al Maktoum Bridge opening in 1963
- Dhow cruise listings: Platinumlist (Dubai Creek Luxury Dinner Dhow Cruise), Rayna Tours on Magpie (Dhow Cruise Dinner), 03.11.2026
- OpenStreetMap — coordinates of metro stations and abra stations

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