Dubai Marina
Dubai Marina is a high-rise district built around a man-made waterway on the coast of the Persian Gulf, between Jebel Ali and Dubai Internet City. It is one of the easiest parts of the city to explore on foot, with a long promenade, a mall and two metro stations.
Quick facts
- To DXB airport
- About 25 min by taxi with no traffic (Rome2Rio estimate, about 33 km)
- Getting there
- Red Line metro to Sobha Realty (formerly Dubai Marina) or DMCC (formerly Jumeirah Lakes Towers); Dubai Tram stops inside the district
- On the water
- RTA water taxi with four stops around the marina, plus abras from the Marina Mall marine station
- Size
- About 4.9 km², developed by Emaar from 2003
- Beach
- JBR beach is next door, on the seaward side of the towers
- Best for
- Waterfront walks, evening dining, first-time visitors who want metro and tram access
- Best for
- First-time visitors, couples, travellers who want public transport nearby
Top things to do in Dubai Marina
Tours and activities you can book here
Dubai Marina dhow dinner cruise (Alexandra Dhow)
from AED 150
Dubai Marina megayacht dinner cruise (Lotus Royale)
from AED 299
60-minute Marina Skyline speedboat tour (Love Boats)
from AED 119
All 36 things to do in Dubai Marina, grouped by kind and time of day
What Dubai Marina is like
Dubai Marina is a planned district of residential and hotel towers wrapped around a man-made waterway. It sits at Interchange 5 on Sheikh Zayed Road, between Jebel Ali Port and the Dubai Internet City and Dubai Media City business zones. Emaar Properties began developing it in 2003, and it covers about 4.9 km². The towers run along roughly 3 km of Gulf shoreline, and the district has several kilometres of landscaped public walkways.
The feel is urban and busy. Towers such as Cayan Tower, with its twisting shape, and Marina Pinnacle line the water. In the evening the promenade fills with people walking, eating out and watching the boats. If you want a hotel with transport on the doorstep and plenty of places to eat within walking distance, this is one of the most practical bases in the city.
The waterway at the heart of the district is about 3.5 km long and is served by the Dubai Marina Yacht Club. The master plan was drawn up by HOK Canada. About 70,550 people lived in the district in 2024, so away from the promenade it is very much a lived-in neighbourhood. Several of the towers stand between 250 and 300 m tall, and Marina Pinnacle reaches about 366 m.
What to see and do
- Marina Walk: the waterside promenade that follows the canal. It is the simplest way to see the district, and it is free.
- Dubai Marina Mall: a mall on the water that opened in December 2008, with shops, restaurants and a cinema.
- Boat trips: the marina is a common starting point for evening dhow cruises and yacht trips. See our dhow cruise guide.
- The beach: JBR beach and The Walk are next to the marina. Read our JBR guide.
- XLine zipline: a zipline that starts about 170 m above the ground and reaches speeds of around 80 km/h. Check that it is operating before you plan around it.
For tickets to the big sights elsewhere in the city, browse our attractions.
Getting there and around
The Red Line of the Dubai Metro has two stations here. Sobha Realty station was called Dubai Marina until it was renamed, and DMCC station was called Jumeirah Lakes Towers. Station signs and older maps may still show the old names.
The Dubai Tram runs through the district. Its Dubai Marina stop connects with Sobha Realty metro station, and its Jumeirah Lakes Towers stop connects with DMCC station. Other tram stops nearby are Dubai Marina Mall, Marina Towers and the two JBR stops. Further along the line, the Palm Jumeirah stop links to the Palm Monorail at Palm Gateway.
On the water, the RTA runs a water taxi with four stops: Marina Terrace, Marina Walk, Dubai Marina Mall and Marina Promenade. The RTA lists the fare as AED 7 per segment. Abras also run from the Marina Mall marine transport station.
By road, the district is about 33 km from Dubai International Airport. Rome2Rio estimates the taxi ride at around 25 minutes with no traffic; expect longer at busy times on Sheikh Zayed Road.
Where to eat
Restaurants and cafés line much of Marina Walk, and Dubai Marina Mall has its own food outlets. For beachside dining, walk through to The Walk and The Beach at JBR, where dozens of restaurants face the sea. Dinner cruises on the marina are another option if you want to eat on the water.
Practical tips
- Use the tram rather than a taxi for short hops between the marina, JBR and the Palm Jumeirah monorail.
- Evenings are the busiest and most pleasant time on the promenade, especially in the cooler months.
- If you are meeting a boat, confirm which pier or marine station it leaves from; the marina is large and walking round it takes time.
- Look for the new station names Sobha Realty and DMCC on metro maps.
- See hotels in Dubai Marina if you are choosing where to stay.
Where to stay in Dubai Marina
Where to eat in Dubai Marina
Asia Asia Dubai Marina
about AED 178 per person
Papas Dubai Marina
about AED 157 per person
Indego by Vineet
about AED 194 per person
Trèsind
about AED 216 per person
Prime52, Dubai Marriott Harbour
about AED 245 per person
Questions about Dubai Marina
Which metro station is closest to Dubai Marina?
Two Red Line stations serve the district: Sobha Realty (formerly Dubai Marina) and DMCC (formerly Jumeirah Lakes Towers). Both connect to the Dubai Tram.
Is there a beach in Dubai Marina?
The marina itself is a waterway, but JBR beach is right next to it on the seaward side of the Jumeirah Beach Residence towers.
How much is the Dubai Marina water taxi?
The RTA lists the Dubai Marina water taxi fare as AED 7 per segment. It stops at Marina Terrace, Marina Walk, Dubai Marina Mall and Marina Promenade.
How far is Dubai Marina from the airport?
It is about 33 km from Dubai International Airport. Rome2Rio estimates around 25 minutes by taxi with no traffic, and longer at peak times.