NYE 2026 Dubai Dhow Cruise Burj Khalifa Fireworks Live on Water

EMAAR New Year's Eve 2026 at Burj Park, Downtown Dubai – Extremely Disappointing (Tickets via Platinumlist App & Platfor

Zero star experience. Paid a fortnight’s wage (AUD $1,878.30) for a family of four, only to face overpriced food and drinks, dull entertainment (felt like celebrating NYE in India), and chaotic entry and exit. Our online tickets weren’t accepted, and we had to locate an area in Dubai Mall just to get wristbands before being allowed in—an extra hassle and cost. On the night, to get to the event, staff repeatedly sent us in circles, and there was no shuttle service to help guests get to and from the venue. While waiting for the fireworks, many other attendees expressed the same frustration. Overall, not worth the cost or the hype.

via Tripadvisor

Never again

This was an extremely miserable experience. I would not advise anyone to go on that cruise even if it were free. We paid $700.00 for 2 people to go on a dinner cruise in Dubai on 12/31/2025 to witness the famous Dubai Burj Khalifa fire works. After running from one boat to the next to identify our boat “7 stars”, met at every boat by some unprofessional and unhelpful staff, we finally found the boat but they did not have our names on their list, they found our names on a different boat called Cleopatra 2. Finally, on the boat we found our selves seated at a shabby, wobbly table with very uncomfortable seats, inches away from the food service station. Staff were extremely obnoxious unhelpful. When it came to dinner time, we were told we had to wait until guests from the other end of the boat get their fill; we had to content with tens of people squees by our table, their buts literally brushing against our shoulders. The food was of horrible quality and we did not eat, especially with a server who insisted on serving the every person the meat or the fish, we did not have either since she was loud and spitting all over the food. All this misery would have been forgiven if we were given a good show, but that did not happen either. We were taken to some spot on the Dubai Creek, bout far enough from Burj Khalifa that we would have had a better view from our hotel balcony. We and other guests kept turning around to catch a glimpse of fireworks show but were never able to see something that resembles a show. We believe we were victims of false in advertising and believe we are entitled to a refund of our money. We have travelled from the USA to DUBAI, specifically to witness the famous fire works at Burj Khalifa. Awaiting a response, Gamal Diab 1(973) 219-2532

Response from the operator: We’re very sorry that your New Year’s Eve experience did not meet your expectations, especially given your long trip to Dubai. Our 4‑hour Dubai Creek cruise includes a distant panoramic view of the Burj Khalifa fireworks and Emaar Drone Show, countdown on the water, non‑alcoholic champagne on the table, New Year cake, dinner and unlimited soft drinks, all of which operated as scheduled that night. Although our records show you as a **no‑show** at boarding and our policy normally does not allow refunds in such cases, we have **processed a full refund** for your booking as a gesture of goodwill. If you have not yet received it, please check with your booking agent or contact us with your reference number so we can help you track it.

via Viator

Very bad tour

Very dirty cruise . Overbooked. Old dirty broken table with mosquito. Bad indian spicy food . View of fireworks very far . Very expensive.food served in plastic plates

Response from the operator: Thank you for sharing your feedback. Our dinner cruise offers a standard international buffet—it's designed to be tasty, plentiful and served efficiently on the water, not a five-star plated experience. The fireworks and Emaar drone displays are scheduled by the festival authority; our captain positions the vessel to give guests a clear, simultaneous view of both shows, and last night they were visible directly off the stern. We use light, unbreakable dishware for safety on board, and the cruise is capacity-controlled to the seating limit set by Dubai Maritime Authority. Your comments help us keep every detail under review.

via Tripadvisor

Very bad

Very bad cruise.dirty overbooked unorganised bad food spicy broken tables with mosquito not recommended very expensive

Response from the operator: Appreciate the direct feedback. The buffet is a standard international spread, not haute cuisine, and we serve on light, unbreakable tableware for on-water safety. Capacity is fixed by Dubai Maritime Authority, identical for every sailing, and the vessel is cleaned before each departure; we’ll still forward your notes to the maintenance team. Fireworks positioning is set by festival authorities and was visible simultaneously with the Emaar drone show off the stern last night. Your comments are logged and will guide our next quality check.

via Viator

Disappointing New Year’s Eve Boat Tour – Description Did Not Match Reality

We booked a New Year’s Eve boat tour to the Burj Khalifa to watch the midnight fireworks from the water. Unfortunately, the experience did not match the tour description in several important aspects. According to the booking information, elegant attire was required. We followed this guideline; however, once on board, the dress code appeared to be unenforced. Guests were dressed very differently, ranging from tuxedos to jeans and flip-flops, making the dress requirement seem misleading in hindsight. The overall condition and atmosphere on board the Cleopatra also did not meet expectations. The seating consisted of plastic chairs, older tables, and plastic cups, and the boat had a rather basic appearance. This did not align with the stated dress code or the premium price level. Additionally, the boat was very crowded. We were asked to sit as a couple at an already occupied four-person table. Throughout the evening, guests were repeatedly asked to move to different areas of the boat, apparently to redistribute weight. This created an unsettled atmosphere. Later in the evening, we were assigned a table in the middle of the boat after it became clear that six people could not dine at one table at the same time. At this central table, all passengers seated in the bow area had to pass directly by us on their way to and from the buffet, frequently squeezing through the narrow space around the table. This significantly reduced comfort during the evening. Another issue concerned the beverages. According to our TripAdvisor voucher (approximately €300 per person), all non-alcoholic drinks were included. In reality, only water, cola, and Sprite were available. Juices and non-alcoholic cocktails were offered at an additional charge, which did not match the booking description. The fireworks themselves were very nice; however, they could also be enjoyed from many other locations in Dubai. As such, the added value of this boat tour was limited for us.

via Tripadvisor