Dubai · Sharjah · Ajman · Abu Dhabi · Ras Al Khaimah
The Dubai coastline at full throttle.
Guided jet ski tours to Burj Al Arab, the Palm and Atlantis, flyboard sessions, parasailing over JBR, and kayaks and paddleboards for a quieter morning. Licensed operators, life jackets, no licence needed.
✦No licence needed
✦Guided tours to Burj Al Arab and the Palm
✦Flyboard, parasail, wakeboard, kayak
✦Life jackets and briefing included
The most famous photo of a Dubai holiday is a jet ski in front of Burj Al Arab, and it is easier to get than it looks: no licence, a ten-minute briefing, and a guide who leads you along the coast at a pace the group is happy with. Tours run from Dubai Marina and Jumeirah, from thirty minutes to two hours.
Around the jet skis has grown every other water sport the coast can hold: flyboarding, where a water jet lifts you above the sea; parasailing over JBR beach; wakeboarding and water-skiing behind a speedboat; and for a calmer morning, kayaking and paddleboarding along the Palm or in the Marina.
The pages below cover what each sport costs, what a jet ski tour is like, and the safety rules that matter, including the one that catches visitors out: the coastguard's speed and distance limits.
Read before you book
Good to know
Do I need a licence or experience?+
No. A briefing and a few minutes of practice in the marina are enough; the guide sets the pace. Drivers must be 16 or over; younger children ride behind a parent.
Can two people share a jet ski?+
Yes, most tours price per jet ski for up to two riders. The second rider pays a smaller passenger fee.
Will I get wet?+
On a jet ski, a little spray; on a flyboard, completely. Bring swimwear under your clothes and a towel; lockers are available at the base.
What if I fall off?+
The engine cuts out when the kill-cord pulls; the life jacket keeps you up; you climb back on from the rear step. The guide is beside you within seconds.
When is the sea calmest?+
Mornings, from 8 to 11 am, almost all year. Afternoons in winter can have a chop; sessions are cancelled for real wind.
Make it a full trip
Same team, same simple booking, other days of your stay.