Dubai Harbour Cruise Terminal sits between Dubai Marina and Palm Jumeirah, in Terminal A and Terminal B on one 910 m quay. Dubai also has Mina Rashid, 25 to 30 km away at the other end of the city, roughly an hour in traffic. Check which one your ship uses before you book a taxi.
Where do cruise ships dock in Dubai?
Cruise ships in Dubai dock at one of two ports, and the two are at opposite ends of the city. Dubai Harbour is in the south, wedged between Dubai Marina and Palm Jumeirah. Mina Rashid, usually called Port Rashid, is in the north, next to old Dubai and the Creek.
| Dubai Harbour | Mina Rashid (Port Rashid) |
|---|---|
| Between Dubai Marina and Palm Jumeirah | Next to old Dubai and Dubai Creek |
| Terminal A and Terminal B on a 910 m quay | Hamdan bin Mohammed Cruise Terminal (T3) and Al Maktoum Cruise Terminal (T2) |
| Closest to Dubai Marina, JBR, Bluewaters Island, Palm Jumeirah and Burj Al Arab | Closest to the Creek, the souks, Al Fahidi and Downtown |
| About 35 km from Dubai International, 35 to 40 minutes | About 15 km from Dubai International, 20 to 25 minutes |
| Two large ships at once | Up to seven mega cruise ships at once |
Mix the two up and you’ve bought yourself an hour in a taxi and the fare to go with it. A cruise sold simply as sailing from Dubai can leave from either one. If your booking says Mina Rashid, the Port Rashid cruise port guide covers the terminals and the rides into old Dubai.
MSC has traditionally sailed from Hamdan bin Mohammed at Mina Rashid. The Carnival Corporation brands, Costa, AIDA, P&O, Princess, Seabourn and Holland America, are the ones associated with Dubai Harbour, and AIDA Cosma and Costa Toscana were scheduled to berth there while MSC, TUI and Ponant homeported at Mina Rashid.
Peak-season call lists also put Royal Caribbean, Explora Journeys and TUI at Dubai Harbour, and MSC turns up on both, which tells you how much the assignments move around.
Ship schedules won’t settle it either. They list Dubai as a single port, sometimes as Port Rashid-Dubai Harbour, and never tell you which side of the city you need. The terminal named on your e-ticket is the one that counts.
Dubai Harbour cruise port map
Ships dock at Dubai Harbour Cruise Terminal A. From the terminal, Ain Dubai is about a 26-minute walk, Bluewaters Island about 28 minutes and The Walk at JBR about 28 minutes. Tap a pin for directions.
- Dubai Harbour Cruise Terminal AWhere ships dock
- Dubai Harbour Cruise Terminal BWhere ships dock
- Ain DubaiObservation wheel · About 26 min walk from the terminal
- Bluewaters IslandIsland · About 28 min walk from the terminal
- The Walk at JBRBeachfront strip · About 28 min walk from the terminal
- Dubai Marina WalkWaterfront promenade · About 2 km from the terminal
- Palm JumeirahIsland · About 4 km from the terminal
- Burj Al ArabHotel · About 10 km from the terminal
- Burj KhalifaTower · About 24 km from the terminal
- The Dubai MallShopping mall · About 25 km from the terminal
Terminal A and Terminal B at Dubai Harbour cruise terminal
Dubai Harbour Cruise Terminal is two purpose-built buildings on one quay, together covering more than 120,000 sq m. Four Seaport Passenger Boarding Bridges feed them, which is how the port turns around the largest ships afloat.
Inside there are cafés, shops, a duty-free area, ATMs, currency exchange and free Wi-Fi, with taxi ranks and parking outside. The route from ship to car is barrier-free and the whole terminal is wheelchair accessible.
If you’re giving the address to a taxi driver, it’s Dubai Harbour, Zone 1, King Salman Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud Street, Dubai, or simply Marsa Dubai, Dubai Marina. The cruise desk answers on +971 4 389 5600 and at cruiseinfo@dubaiharbour.com.
Getting to Dubai Harbour cruise terminal from the airport, the Marina and Downtown
Every way in ends by road. Neither Dubai port has a Metro station, and at Dubai Harbour the tram runs past on the main road outside the district rather than into it.
- From Dubai International (DXB): about 35 km and 35 to 40 minutes by taxi.
- From Downtown Dubai: 25 to 30 minutes.
- From Dubai Marina and JBR: 5 to 10 minutes; the marina is about 1.3 km away.
- From Palm Jumeirah: about 15 minutes over the crescent bridge.
- From Mina Rashid: 25 to 30 km, about an hour in traffic.
On public transport, Mina Seyahi Tram Station is the nearest fixed point, mapped at anywhere from 300 m to 500 m from Terminal B, so four to seven minutes on foot. Buses reach the marina area on routes listed as 8 and 84, with 12 and 93 appearing on other listings.
By car, an RTA bridge runs 1.5 km from Interchange 5 on Sheikh Zayed Road straight into Dubai Harbour, two lanes each way, and the approach is signposted.
Taxis queue outside the terminal buildings. RTA cabs are metered, so ask for the meter rather than agreeing a price at the kerb.
Parking at Dubai Harbour cruise port
Parking at Dubai Harbour is run by Parkonic, and there’s nothing to collect at a barrier: your number plate is the ticket, and there are no machines and no cash. You pay by scanning the QR code on site, by SALIK auto-deduction, or through the PARKONIC+ app, and the car has to be registered on the app before it goes in. Park only in the designated car parks.
The rate is low for the first hour and rises for each extra hour or part hour after that. Check the current rates before you travel on the parking terms page.
If someone’s driving you to the ship, the drop-off is at the terminal buildings and the walk from car to ship is step-free throughout.
Burj Khalifa and Downtown Dubai: 25 to 30 minutes from the ship
Burj Khalifa and Downtown Dubai are 25 to 30 minutes from Dubai Harbour by taxi, which makes them a half day rather than a quick stop: the drive each way, plus the time you actually want at the tower and the Dubai Mall. From Mina Rashid the same trip is 10 to 12 km and 15 to 25 minutes.
Book a timed slot for the tower before you travel, on a day when a hold-up on Sheikh Zayed Road won’t eat into your time before all-aboard.
Best photo spots near Dubai Harbour
The best photos near Dubai Harbour are all within about 15 minutes of the gangway, because this end of the city stacks up the skyline, the beach and the Palm in one place.
- Ain Dubai and Bluewaters Island: the wheel is on the island next door to the terminal, so you get the full height of it from the quay side without travelling.
- The Walk at JBR and the Marina towers: a five-minute drive, with beach on one side and a wall of towers on the other.
- The Palm Jumeirah crescent: about 15 minutes over the crescent bridge, looking back at the marina skyline.
- Burj Al Arab: the tower sits along the same stretch of coast and is the other shot people want from this side of the city.
Money in Dubai Harbour: currency, cards and cash
The currency is the UAE dirham (AED), pegged to about 3.67 to the US dollar. Cards and contactless are widely accepted, including in taxis, and most purchases here are made by card rather than cash.
You’ll still want some dirhams for the souks, small cafés, tips and the Creek abra crossing, which is cash-only. Some souk stalls take US dollars, but at a poor rate, so pay in dirhams or by card instead. Euros aren’t generally accepted. At terminals and ATMs, always choose to pay in dirhams rather than your home currency.
Is Dubai Harbour safe for cruise passengers?
Dubai is a safe, easy port for cruise passengers. Everyday crime is low, and there are no specific areas flagged to avoid. Take the usual precautions: watch your belongings in crowded places and use only licensed taxis or ride apps.
The main practical risk is a taxi overcharging you, not theft. Insist on the meter and note the taxi number if you’re unsure. Local law matters more here than in most ports: public drinking, swearing and rude gestures, and photographing people or government buildings without permission can all lead to trouble, so keep this in mind along with the dress advice.
Where to eat near Dubai Harbour cruise port
Eating near Dubai Harbour cruise port happens in the marina and on the beach, five to ten minutes away by taxi, or inside the terminal itself if you only want coffee before check-in.
The two concentrations are The Walk at JBR, a beachfront strip of restaurants, and Marina Walk, which follows the water through Dubai Marina. Both are a short ride from the terminal rather than a walk with luggage.
Inside the terminal buildings there are cafés, retail units and a duty-free area, which covers a drink and a snack but not a proper meal.
The harbour is also a boarding point for the Marina sightseeing and dinner dhows, so the quay gets busy in the evening. If your ship stays overnight, a dhow dinner is the local version of eating out with a view.
Weather in Dubai Harbour for a cruise port day
Ships call between October and April. December to March is the mildest and driest stretch, with highs of 24 to 28°C and milder evenings. The months either side are hotter: 31°C in November and up to 36°C in October and April.
Rain is rare and light even in winter. It’s heaviest in February and March, and there’s no hurricane or cyclone season here. On a day ashore, heat and strong sun matter more than rain. Plan outdoor time for morning or late afternoon and take water.
What to wear in Dubai: outfit ideas for a port day
Dubai Harbour’s own code of conduct asks visitors to dress in line with UAE law and to respect local culture, which is a different brief from a beach resort’s.
- The further you get from the beach and the marina, the more you should cover up; shoulders and knees are the usual yardstick in public buildings and the old city.
- Public drinking is not allowed. Alcohol is restricted to licensed venues and private spaces, so nothing comes off the ship in a glass.
For more inspiration, see these casual cruise outfit ideas for women and cruise outfit ideas for men.
Where to stay near Dubai Harbour cruise port
Stay in Dubai Marina or on Palm Jumeirah the night before you sail from Dubai Harbour: both are a short taxi ride from the terminal, and neither means crossing the city on the morning of the cruise. Both work just as well if you’re staying on after you disembark.
Le Meridien Mina Seyahi sits right on the edge of the harbour, next to the point where the Marina dhows board, so it’s as close to the terminal as a hotel gets on this side.
Luggage storage at Dubai Harbour cruise port
Neither Dubai port runs a left-luggage office for cruise passengers, so a late flight after an early disembarkation needs a plan. The good one here is the airline desk.
Emirates runs free cruise check-in at Dubai Harbour Terminals A and B, with 12 counters at the harbour, and at Port Rashid Terminal 3. Your bags get tagged at the port and delivered to your flight at DXB, with check-in available up to four hours before departure, and the desks are wheelchair accessible. You keep the day; the bags don’t.
If your airline isn’t part of that, arrange storage before you head out and book luggage storage in Dubai.
How to spend a port day in Dubai Harbour
A port day in Dubai Harbour works best if you pick one: a short taxi loop round the Marina, JBR and Palm Jumeirah, or a longer trip into Downtown Dubai for the Burj Khalifa.
Before you sail
- Check which Dubai port is on your ticket, Harbour or Mina Rashid
- Book Burj Khalifa timed-entry tickets if visiting Downtown Dubai
- Register your car on the Parkonic app before driving to the terminal
Short port day: under 6 hours
- On dockingTake a metered taxiAsk for the meterRTA taxis queue outside the terminal. Agree nothing before you see the meter running.
- +15 minAin Dubai and Bluewaters IslandThe wheel sits on the island next to the terminal, visible from the quay without much travel.
- +45 minThe Walk at JBRA five minute taxi ride to the beachfront strip of restaurants and shops.
- +1 hr 30 minLunch at The Walk at JBRPlenty of beachfront cafes and restaurants line the strip for a relaxed lunch.
- +2 hrs 30 minPalm Jumeirah crescentAbout 15 minutes over the crescent bridge by taxi, looking back at the marina skyline.
- All-aboard minus 1 hrBack at the terminalTaxi back to the terminal, allowing extra time as traffic builds near the gangway.
This map shows the taxi ride from the ship. The time is the drive only, not your time ashore.
Open the taxi route in Google Maps
If plans change: If traffic is heavy over the crescent bridge, skip Palm Jumeirah and spend longer at JBR instead.
Long port day: 8 hours or more
- On dockingTaxi to Downtown Dubai25 to 30 minRTA taxis queue outside the terminal. Ask for the meter before setting off for Downtown Dubai.
- +45 minBurj Khalifa timed entryBook aheadBook timed-entry Burj Khalifa tickets online in advance, since popular slots sell out.
- +2 hrsThe Dubai MallBrowse the shops and aquarium, a short walk from the tower.
- +3 hrsLunch in the mall food courtWide choice of cafes and restaurants inside the mall for a quick lunch.
- +4 hrsDubai Fountain showWatch a show from the promenade outside the mall before heading back.
- +5 hrs 30 minTaxi back to the terminalAllow 25 to 30 minutes for the drive back to Dubai Harbour.
- All-aboard minus 90 minBack at the terminalLeave extra time in case of traffic on Sheikh Zayed Road.
This map shows the taxi ride from the ship. The time is the drive only, not your time ashore.
Open the taxi route in Google Maps
If plans change: If Downtown traffic is heavy, skip the fountain show and head straight back to the terminal.
Dubai Harbour cruise port FAQs
Do Costa and AIDA still sail from Dubai Harbour?
Costa and AIDA have both sailed from Dubai Harbour, though both have paused their Gulf seasons at times. Check the cruise line’s own booking for your sailing to be sure.
Will my ship use Terminal A or Terminal B?
No published list matches ships to buildings. Both terminals sit on the same 910 m quay, so the difference is which door you walk through, and your e-ticket names it.
How many passengers can Dubai Harbour process in an hour?
More than 3,250, across four Seaport Passenger Boarding Bridges on the quay. That capacity is what lets the harbour turn around two large ships on the same day.
Can I leave a car at Dubai Harbour for a longer trip?
Parkonic offers a monthly membership for longer stays. There’s no published cruise-parking package, so ask the operator about rates before you rely on it.
Last Updated: 5 November 2026