UAE eases yacht travel between Dubai and Abu Dhabi
The updated UAE Maritime Protocol eases yacht travel between Abu Dhabi and Dubai waters.
In a significant step toward enhancing the UAE’s appeal as a premier maritime destination, foreign yachts in Abu Dhabi and Dubai now enjoy a streamlined administrative process for travelling between the two emirates. The new consolidated protocol includes mutual recognition of sailing permits and the elimination of redundant local entry and exit procedures.
This mutual recognition comes as a result of a series of coordination meetings between Abu Dhabi Maritime, the Dubai Maritime Authority at the Ports, Customs and Free Zone Corporation, and other relevant local and federal entities, including the National Guard, the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security, and Dubai Customs.
In this regard, Sheikh Dr Saeed bin Ahmed bin Khalifa Al Maktoum, CEO of the Dubai Maritime Authority, said, “Dubai is proud to share its successful experience in facilitating yacht visits. We are fully committed to supporting this unified approach, which will undoubtedly strengthen the UAE’s position as a leading world-class maritime destination ”.
For his part, Captain Saif Al Mheiri, CEO of Abu Dhabi Maritime and Chief Sustainability Officer at AD Ports Group, emphasised the importance of this collaboration: “This initiative reflects our shared commitment to simplifying maritime mobility and enhancing our emirates’ competitiveness as global yachting hubs. We are making it easier than ever for visitors to enjoy our waters."
Under the new protocol, sailing permits issued by either Abu Dhabi or Dubai are recognised for travel between the two emirates. The Early Inquiry System Application Programming Interface (API) is used to obtain vessel, crew, and passenger data to avoid duplicate procedures during inter-emirate travel. In addition, local entry and exit procedures are waived for visiting foreign yachts moving between the two Emirates.
The initiative came into force at the beginning of January 2026. This cooperation marks a new chapter in maritime collaboration within the United Arab Emirates and strengthens a more integrated and enabling regulatory environment for foreign yachts.
Photo by Youssef on Unsplash
This mutual recognition comes as a result of a series of coordination meetings between Abu Dhabi Maritime, the Dubai Maritime Authority at the Ports, Customs and Free Zone Corporation, and other relevant local and federal entities, including the National Guard, the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security, and Dubai Customs.
In this regard, Sheikh Dr Saeed bin Ahmed bin Khalifa Al Maktoum, CEO of the Dubai Maritime Authority, said, “Dubai is proud to share its successful experience in facilitating yacht visits. We are fully committed to supporting this unified approach, which will undoubtedly strengthen the UAE’s position as a leading world-class maritime destination ”.
For his part, Captain Saif Al Mheiri, CEO of Abu Dhabi Maritime and Chief Sustainability Officer at AD Ports Group, emphasised the importance of this collaboration: “This initiative reflects our shared commitment to simplifying maritime mobility and enhancing our emirates’ competitiveness as global yachting hubs. We are making it easier than ever for visitors to enjoy our waters."
Under the new protocol, sailing permits issued by either Abu Dhabi or Dubai are recognised for travel between the two emirates. The Early Inquiry System Application Programming Interface (API) is used to obtain vessel, crew, and passenger data to avoid duplicate procedures during inter-emirate travel. In addition, local entry and exit procedures are waived for visiting foreign yachts moving between the two Emirates.
The initiative came into force at the beginning of January 2026. This cooperation marks a new chapter in maritime collaboration within the United Arab Emirates and strengthens a more integrated and enabling regulatory environment for foreign yachts.
Photo by Youssef on Unsplash
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