12 of 14 places fit
A commuter ferry from Dubai Creek to the Sharjah Aquarium station in Al Khan, which skips the Al Ittihad Road traffic entirely.
A 45-minute loop on the Dubai Water Canal past the waterfalls bridge and Business Bay, for AED 25.
See the Marina towers from water level for AED 7 a hop, a fraction of a yacht tour.
A private abra for up to ten round Khalid Lagoon, past the Al Majaz fountain and mosque, priced per boat rather than per head.
A two-hour private sunset boat for up to ten people for AED 500 total, far cheaper than a Dubai yacht.
A coastal ride past the Palm, Burj Al Arab and Jumeirah to the old Creek, the length of Dubai by sea for the price of a taxi.
Private yachts and shared yacht tours out of Dubai Marina and Dubai Harbour, the standard way residents do a birthday on the water.
A quiet electric boat lets non-paddlers see the same mangrove channels the kayakers do.
The flamingo and mangrove boats go looking for the birds that feed on Saadiyat's mudflats.
A short, cheap boat out across Khor Fakkan bay to a rocky island, with the Hajar mountains behind the town.
You drive the electric boat yourself at a walking pace, no boat licence needed.
You can rent anything from a two-person zodiac to a yacht by the half hour, right off the Corniche.