REVIEW · DUBAI
3Hours Fishing Trip
Book on Viator →Operated by Blue Safari Water Sports · Bookable on Viator
Catching fish in Dubai sounds simple, but this trip is built for real fun on real water. I like that you get a guided setup for sports and deep-sea style fishing without needing experience, and I also like how often the crew turns the trip into a kid-friendly win, with captains who actively help children land fish. One thing to keep in mind: the trip’s success depends on conditions, and good weather matters.
You meet at Blue Safari Water Sports at Fairmont The Palm, and you’re back there after about 3 hours, which makes it an easy block to fit into a day of Dubai sightseeing. The boat choices also matter for comfort and group feel, from smaller groups on a 24ft boat up to bigger groups on a 35ft boat. A possible drawback is that one guest felt the activity ran shorter than expected, so if you want a long, stretched-out day on the water, confirm timing when you book.
In This Review
- Key Highlights You’ll Feel Right Away
- Getting On Board at Fairmont The Palm (And Why It Matters)
- Boat Size and Group Comfort: 24ft vs 35ft
- What You Actually Do During the 3 Hours
- The Fish You Can Expect to Talk About After
- Why This Trip Works for Families (Not Just Anglers)
- Equipment, Comfort, and the Catch Cleaning Question
- Price and Value: $474.47 Per Group Up To 10
- Weather, Timing, and How to Plan Your Dubai Day
- The Crew Effect: Captains Who Keep Trying
- Should You Book Blue Safari’s Dubai Fishing Trip?
- FAQ
- How long is the fishing trip?
- What’s the price and group size?
- Where do I meet for the trip?
- What boats and capacities are used?
- What kinds of fish might we catch?
- Is this suitable for beginners and kids?
- What if the weather is bad?
- Can I cancel and get a refund?
Key Highlights You’ll Feel Right Away

- Guided fishing for all skill levels: Captains focus on getting bites, not just letting you try.
- Family-friendly support on deck: Crew members help kids with bait, lines, and technique.
- Real Gulf fishing variety: You can fish farther out and closer to rocky areas, depending on the spot.
- Strong chance of a memorable catch: Multiple captains are associated with lots of fish and different species.
- Extra options like cleaning and delivery: Ask about getting your catch cleaned and brought home.
- Up to 10 people per 35ft boat: Good for friends and families who want one shared outing.
Getting On Board at Fairmont The Palm (And Why It Matters)
The whole experience starts at Blue Safari Water Sports at Fairmont The Palm, on the Palm side of Dubai. That location is convenient because it sits in a well-known visitor area, and the operator notes it’s near public transportation. In plain terms: you’re not trekking across the city at dawn just to get on the boat.
Logistically, it’s also nice that the trip ends back at the same meeting point. So after your fishing session, you can head straight toward lunch or the next stop without reorganizing your evening.
Timing is shown as operating hours from 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM (daily). You should plan around that and around sea conditions, since the experience explicitly requires good weather. If the weather is rough enough to cancel, you’ll be offered another date or a full refund.
You can also read our reviews of more tours and experiences in Dubai.
Boat Size and Group Comfort: 24ft vs 35ft
One detail that genuinely affects your trip is boat size. You can be on:
- A 24ft boat for up to 5 people
- A 35ft boat for up to 10 people
A smaller boat often means a closer, more hands-on feel. Everyone can hear instructions clearly, and it’s easier for kids to stay engaged with what the captain is doing. A larger boat can be great if you’re traveling with friends or a mixed-age group and you want more people on one charter.
Either way, the key is that this is guided fishing, not just rental gear. The crew’s job is to help you fish and land fish, so group size changes the vibe but it doesn’t remove the support.
If you’re traveling with pets, the trip summary says it’s possible to bring your loving pets. Since the data doesn’t spell out the pet rules in detail, I’d still ask the operator what’s allowed on board and any safety or seating requirements before you go.
What You Actually Do During the 3 Hours

This is the heart of the trip: guided fishing in the Gulf. You’re not expected to figure out everything yourself. The approach is set up for sports fishing and deep-sea style recreation, meaning you’re typically using standard fishing tackle (rod, reel, line, hooks) and lures or bait meant to attract the common Gulf species.
Here’s what to expect in a practical, on-the-water way:
- You’ll get direction from the captain and crew about where to fish.
- You’ll have time to fish in more than one location when conditions make sense.
- You’ll be managing your line and bait while the crew tries to put you on fish.
Several captains are credited with taking groups to multiple locations around Dubai, which is a big reason this trip gets such strong feedback. Fishing is a moving target. Spots that look great in theory might not produce in practice. The crew’s willingness to adjust is what turns a slow start into a full deck of action.
Also, the experience has a catch-and-tell style. In other words, the trip experience is centered on the moment you land fish, not just the time you spend casting. That matters if you’re traveling with kids or if you want a clear goal for the day.
The Fish You Can Expect to Talk About After
The Gulf waters around Dubai have a strong reputation for specific species, and the provided information lists common catches such as:
- Grouper
- Barracuda
- Sultan Ibrahim
- Cherry Sheri
In real-world terms, you should think in categories. Barracuda are often the big, headline fish. Grouper can be a satisfying catch because they’re sturdy and often exciting when they take. Sultan Ibrahim and Cherry Sheri show up in the common list, so you’re not just chasing one species.
One review detail that’s worth taking seriously for expectations: at least one guest reported catching a very large barracuda, described as around 4 feet long. I can’t promise size, but it does show what the crew is aiming for: not just lots of bites, but the kind you’ll remember.
Why This Trip Works for Families (Not Just Anglers)
A lot of fishing tours say they’re family-friendly. This one feels family-friendly because the crew actively manages the experience so kids aren’t stuck watching.
Examples from the guidance style that show up repeatedly:
- Captains like Mahmoud are described as especially helpful with children, including supporting kids on board aged 9 and 12.
- Sidi is repeatedly praised as excellent with families and kids, with one report mentioning the crew provided items like drinks and a towel.
- Seedy is credited as a strong captain who keeps searching for the right spots if the first casts don’t hit.
The same theme shows up in multiple accounts: good captains don’t just point to water and hope. They keep working. If a lure or bait isn’t producing, they adjust. If one spot is quiet, they move. That persistence is exactly what makes families feel taken care of instead of stalled.
One helpful detail in the provided info: the captain and crew promise safety focus plus premium equipment. So your kids are fishing with gear that’s appropriate, and you’re not stuck trying to guess what’s safe or how to handle the tackle.
Equipment, Comfort, and the Catch Cleaning Question
The experience description emphasizes premium equipment and safety. It also describes typical recreational setups: rods, reels, line, hooks, and bait/lures designed for Gulf fishing. That’s important because good equipment isn’t a luxury here; it’s what helps you get bites faster and land fish more reliably.
Comfort-wise, some guides add small upgrades. For example, one captain (Sidi) is noted as having Bluetooth for music, and a report mentions drinks and towel. These touches might sound minor, but on a 3-hour ride in the sun, they change how the time feels.
You can also add a practical service: cleaning and delivery. The tour info specifically says that if you want your catch cleaned and delivered home, you should tell them. That’s a big deal if you don’t want to deal with fish cleaning logistics back in your hotel or apartment.
Price and Value: $474.47 Per Group Up To 10
Let’s talk money like adults. The price is listed as $474.47 per group (up to 10 people). That means the value swings based on how many people you put on the boat.
A quick way to think about it:
- If you fill the boat with 10 people, you’re effectively looking at about $47 per person.
- If you go with a small group, the per-person cost can climb fast.
So who benefits most? Families and friend groups. This is one of those activities where splitting the boat cost can make it feel like a bargain compared with paying per person.
That said, there’s a caution flag from one piece of feedback: one guest felt it was overpriced for a 2-hour activity. Even if the schedule is listed around 3 hours, you may want to confirm what you’ll be doing hour-by-hour on the day you book. If you’re the type who counts minutes tightly, ask the operator to clarify departure and return timing.
Also, fishing is never 100% guaranteed. The crew can be excellent and you can still have a quiet day. The best “value” comes from hiring a team that keeps moving and trying different locations, which is a pattern shown in the feedback you provided.
Weather, Timing, and How to Plan Your Dubai Day
Dubai water days live and die by the weather. The operator explicitly states the experience requires good weather, and if it’s canceled due to poor conditions, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.
So how should you plan?
- Pick a day where you can be flexible with timing.
- Avoid stacking a tight schedule immediately after your fishing slot.
- If you’re doing other Dubai highlights the same day, treat the fishing trip as a cornerstone block.
The trip window is between 7:00 AM and 5:00 PM. If you can choose, you’ll generally want to plan for comfortable conditions and keep an eye on the forecast, because delays and cancellations are tied to weather.
The Crew Effect: Captains Who Keep Trying
Fishing success is often less about luck and more about effort. The feedback you shared repeatedly points to captains who:
- Help kids and beginners stay engaged.
- Find productive spots by moving around.
- Make sure the boat operation runs smoothly.
Names showing up with strong praise include Seedy, Sidi, Mahmoud, Sandra, Anthony, and Eben (noted for boat handling alongside the captain). When you see multiple accounts crediting the captain for persistence and the crew for support, that’s a sign the experience is run like a real guided outing rather than a basic rental.
One more detail to notice: there’s mention of fishing both far out in open sea and near rocks closer to shore. That’s useful for your expectations. It suggests the crew doesn’t lock you into one style of fishing the entire time. They choose locations based on where fish are biting.
Should You Book Blue Safari’s Dubai Fishing Trip?
I think this is a smart booking if you fit one of these boxes:
- You’re traveling with family, especially if you want kids to actually participate.
- You’re a beginner who wants guidance and gear handling without stress.
- You’re a small-to-mid group (up to 10) looking to split the boat cost.
- You want a Dubai activity that mixes being on the water with a realistic chance of a memorable catch.
I’d hesitate if:
- You need a guaranteed catch, every time. Fishing isn’t that kind of sport.
- You’re extremely schedule-sensitive and can’t tolerate weather-based changes.
- You’re expecting something longer than the typical trip duration; at least one guest felt theirs ran closer to 2 hours.
If you decide to book, do it with a simple mindset: bring patience, listen to the captain, and ask questions. The trip seems built around the captain keeping the session productive, and that’s where your odds of a great day come from.
FAQ
How long is the fishing trip?
The experience is listed as approximately 3 hours.
What’s the price and group size?
It’s $474.47 per group, up to 10 people.
Where do I meet for the trip?
You meet at Blue Safari Water sports at Fairmont The Palm (Palm Jumeirah), Dubai. The activity ends back at the same meeting point.
What boats and capacities are used?
A 24ft boat carries up to 5 people, and a 35ft boat carries up to 10 people.
What kinds of fish might we catch?
Commonly listed catches include Grouper, Barracuda, Sultan Ibrahim, and Cherry Sheri.
Is this suitable for beginners and kids?
Yes. The trip is described as guided for any skill level, and the crew is repeatedly praised for helping children onboard.
What if the weather is bad?
The experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.
Can I cancel and get a refund?
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. If you cancel less than 24 hours before the start time, the amount you paid won’t be refunded.


















