Wakeboarding and Wakesurfing in Dubai

Wakeboarding in Dubai is one of the most fun ways to see the city's coastline from the water. A boat pulls you, and you ride a board behind it, facing Burj Al Arab, the Marina towers or the Ain Dubai giant wheel. This page has two options: a 45-minute wakeboarding lesson with an instructor near Burj Al Arab, and a private boat at Dubai Harbour, for wakesurfing and wakeboarding.

What's the difference between wakeboarding and wakesurfing? In wakeboarding the board is shorter, your feet are strapped in with boots, and you hold the rope the whole time you're riding. It's the sport of jumps and tricks over the wake. In wakesurfing the board is longer and looks like a surfboard. You get up using the rope, then let it go and ride free on the wake the boat creates behind it.

The first option departs from the Burj Al Arab area, from Umm Suqeim Fishing Harbour, near Jumeirah Beach Hotel. It's a 45-minute lesson with an instructor, adapted to your level, beginner or experienced. Before heading out there's a safety briefing, and you get a life jacket and full gear. Also included: a locker, a changing room with an open shower, water, Wi-Fi, and photos and videos of your ride.

The second option is a private boat just for your group, at Dubai Harbour. The boats are the Nautique S21 and the Nautique G23, boats built for riding behind, that create a high, clean wake. Each boat holds up to 6 people. On board there's a captain and a helper who explains the basics of wakeboarding and wakesurfing and helps with the board. A professional coach can be added for an extra fee, and there are coaches who speak English and Russian.

On the private boat you can choose an hour or an hour and a half, on a weekday or a weekend. There are boards for wakeboarding and wakesurfing, and also boards with LED lighting for sunset. On board there's water, cookies and towels. Time is counted from when the first rider starts riding, not from when you board the boat.

Do you need experience? No. Most beginners manage to stand up on the board and ride in their very first session. Children can try it from about age 6, provided they feel comfortable in the water. Riding at Dubai Harbour takes place in protected waters inside the marina, which helps anyone just starting out.

The private boats at Dubai Harbour go out every day between 6:00 and 18:00. There are sunrise sessions and sunset sessions, when you can ride with a lit board. In summer it is better to go out early in the morning or towards sunset, when the sun is less strong. At Umm Suqeim harbour the activity runs between 9:00 and 18:30. Wind and waves affect every water activity, and a session is sometimes postponed.