Journal
Notes from the water.
Practical field notes on life aboard, marina logistics, Gulf weather, and the small details that make a houseboat feel like home. No sales pitches — just the things we wish someone had told us.
Cruising Guides · Marinas, anchorages, routes and itineraries across the UAE & GCC.
Cruising Guides· abu-dhabi · corniche
The Abu Dhabi corniche from the water — why the capital looks different by sea
From the corniche promenade, the city is buildings and traffic. From a houseboat 200m offshore, it's a coherent skyline shaped by the geography. A short cruise.
Cruising Guides· dubai · anchorages
Dubai's hidden lagoons — quiet anchorages within sight of the skyline
Past the obvious Palm and Marina backdrops, Dubai's coast has pockets of sheltered water that feel removed from the city. Where they are, what to expect.
Cruising Guides· ras-al-khaimah · uae
A weekend in Ras Al Khaimah — marina to mangroves to Hajar foothills
RAK rewards owners who treat it as a long weekend rather than a day trip. The route, the highlights, and why it pairs well with a tender for shore exploration.
Cruising Guides· abu-dhabi · anchorages
Anchorages off Saadiyat — where to swim, where to BBQ, where to overnight
A working guide to the anchorages along Saadiyat's coast — coordinates, depths, what's sheltered when the wind shifts, and which spots reward an overnight stay.
Cruising Guides· oman · musandam
The Musandam fjords — what UAE owners need to know
An hour off the UAE's east coast, Oman's Musandam peninsula is the GCC's most dramatic cruising ground. A practical guide to crossing, anchoring, and provisioning.
Cruising Guides· marina-life · ownership
Marinas around the UAE — a quick orientation for new owners
From Yas Island to Mina Rashid: a lay-of-the-land for owners working out where to berth, what each marina offers, and what they cost.
Cruising Guides· beginners · shakedown
The 2-day, 100nm shakedown route — for new owners learning their boat
The first long trip in a new boat is mostly about discovering what you don't know. A working route that gives you everything to test, with shore options if anything goes wrong.
Cruising Guides· bahrain · international-cruising
Bahrain harbours that welcome UAE-flagged vessels
A practical primer on cruising into Bahrain from the UAE — entry harbours, paperwork, what to expect at each marina, and the route across.
Cruising Guides· doha · qatar
Doha's West Bay anchorage — what UAE owners find when they get there
Doha's skyline rivals Dubai's. The anchorage off West Bay is one of the most underrated city-by-water experiences in the GCC. Route, conditions, and what's nearby.
Cruising Guides· qatar · khor-al-adaid
Khor Al Adaid — Qatar's inland sea, by water
Most people reach the inland sea by 4WD. Owners who reach it by boat get a different experience entirely. The route, the conditions, and what to expect.
Cruising Guides· dubai · routes
Day-trip routes from Mina Rashid that finish before sunset
Four 5-to-7-hour cruise loops out of Mina Rashid — distances, timings, anchorages, and the practical notes nobody tells first-time captains.