Houseboat Overnight Stay in Abu Dhabi: Price, What’s on Board and Booking
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A houseboat overnight stay is a new way to spend a night in Abu Dhabi. It costs AED 1,700 per night for the whole boat, and the booking is private to your group. You choose one of our two houseboats, message us on WhatsApp with your date, and we confirm the details. This guide covers the price, the booking steps, the extras you can add, and how a night on a houseboat compares with a day charter or an overnight yacht rental.
Not a room in a floating hotel: the whole houseboat is yours
No corridor of other guests and no shared cabins. From check-in to check-out, the entire houseboat belongs to your group, and it is a new way to spend a night in Abu Dhabi. Here is what you get:
- A master room with a view: glass looks straight onto the water, so the view starts from your bed.
- The gentle rocking of the waves to fall asleep to.
- The whole boat from 10:00 pm to 8:00 am: no other guests and no shared spaces.
- A large lounge to relax, talk late into the night or watch the lights on the water.
- A fridge and a microwave for late-night snacks.
- Electricity and internet, so all the everyday comforts come with you.
- An upper deck where you can sit outside under the night sky.
- A change of scene on request: the boat can move and anchor at another spot. Just ask on WhatsApp; cruising is AED 1,000 per hour.
All of this for AED 1,700 per night for the whole houseboat, not per person.
What the overnight houseboat stay is
Think of it as a hotel room that floats. Instead of collecting a key card at a lobby desk, you spend the night on a private houseboat in Abu Dhabi, with water around you rather than a corridor and a lift.
The booking covers the entire houseboat, not a cabin or a shared deck. Nobody outside your group joins you, and the rate is not charged per person. It is simply a different way to spend a night in the capital: quiet, private and on the water.
This page is only about our two houseboats. If you are thinking of sleeping on board a motor yacht instead, read our separate overnight yacht rental guide.
Who the overnight stay suits
- Couples who want a night away without leaving the city, whether for an anniversary, a proposal or a simple change of scene.
- Families looking for something the children will remember long after a standard hotel weekend.
- Small groups of friends who would rather share one private space than split up across hotel rooms.
- Special occasions such as birthdays, a visit from relatives, or the last night of a holiday in the UAE.
Residents often book it as a staycation, while visitors use it to add one unusual night to an Abu Dhabi itinerary.
A birthday night on the water. Skip the usual hotel room and celebrate a birthday on your own houseboat: add a cake and decoration, enjoy the evening on the upper deck, and wake up to the water the next morning.
The two houseboats
House Boat Luxury M1 is the 66 ft houseboat. It is the more compact of the two and a natural fit for couples and smaller groups. Many guests already know it from our M1 birthday package.
House Boat Luxury M2 is the 82 ft houseboat, the larger option with more room to spread out. It is also the boat behind our M2 day trips.
For the night, each houseboat has one master room. Tell us your group size on WhatsApp and we will confirm the set-up for your night before you decide which boat fits your group. For a wider look at both boats, see our houseboat Abu Dhabi guide.
How the night works
Check-in is at 10:00 pm and check-out is at 8:00 am the next morning.
The houseboat stays anchored through the night, so you get a calm, quiet stay on the water. If you would like to cruise as well, cruising can be added at AED 1,000 per hour.
Breakfast is not included, so plan your morning meal before you arrive.
Price per night
The rate is the same for both houseboats and covers the whole boat for your group.
| Houseboat | Length | Price per night |
|---|---|---|
| House Boat Luxury M1 | 66 ft | AED 1,700 |
| House Boat Luxury M2 | 82 ft | AED 1,700 |
We accept all major payment methods: Visa, Mastercard, Tabby and Tamara. Booking is done on WhatsApp, and if you prefer not to pay the full amount at once, you can split it with Tabby (four payments) or Tamara.
Extras you can add
You can make the night more special with these add-ons:
- Dinner: AED 150 per person
- Cake: AED 150
- Standard decoration: AED 150
- Premium decoration: from AED 500
Tell us which extras you would like when you book on WhatsApp, and we will add them to your night.
How to book, step by step
- Pick your date. Weekends and public holidays tend to go first, so keep a second date in mind.
- Choose M1 or M2. If you are unsure, tell us how many people are coming and the occasion, and we will suggest the better match.
- Message us on WhatsApp. Send your date, the houseboat, your group size and any extras to +971 56 671 9900.
- Get the details confirmed. We confirm availability, the set-up for your group and any extras you have chosen.
- Pay. Pay in full by Visa or Mastercard, or split it with Tabby or Tamara.
- Receive the meeting point. The exact meeting point is shared on WhatsApp after booking, along with any arrival notes.
What to bring
Every guest needs an original passport or Emirates ID.
Beyond that, pack as you would for a short city break, with a few extras for being on the water:
- A light jacket or long sleeves, since nights on the water can feel cooler and breezier.
- A change of clothes for the next morning.
- Your own toiletries and any medication you use.
- Sunglasses for the morning on deck.
- Phone chargers and a power bank.
- Breakfast plans for the morning, since breakfast is not included.
Whether bedding and towels are provided is confirmed on WhatsApp when you book.
Day cruise or overnight stay: which to choose
The same houseboats are also available for daytime cruises, which are booked by the hour. The two experiences answer different needs.
Choose a day cruise if you want a few hours on the water for a celebration, a family outing or a get-together, and plan to sleep at home or in your hotel. You pay for the hours you use. See the M2 day trips page for hourly options.
Choose the overnight stay if the point is the night itself: a quiet night at anchor, waking up somewhere unusual, and keeping the whole boat to yourselves until the morning. It replaces a hotel night rather than an afternoon activity.
Choose an overnight yacht if you specifically want a motor yacht rather than a houseboat. That is a different product with its own pricing, explained in our overnight yacht rental guide. For daytime yacht charters, browse yacht rental in Abu Dhabi.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a houseboat overnight stay in Abu Dhabi cost?
AED 1,700 per night for the whole houseboat, either M1 (66 ft) or M2 (82 ft). The price is for your private group, not per person.
What are the check-in and check-out times?
Check-in is at 10:00 pm and check-out is at 8:00 am the next morning.
What is on board for the night?
The whole houseboat is yours from 10:00 pm to 8:00 am: one master room with glass looking straight onto the water, a large lounge, a fridge and a microwave, electricity and internet, and an upper deck to sit outside. Whether bedding and towels are provided is confirmed on WhatsApp when you book.
How many guests can stay overnight?
Each houseboat has one master room for the night. Tell us your group size on WhatsApp and we will confirm the right set-up for your night.
Does the houseboat cruise at night or stay in one place?
The houseboat stays anchored through the night, so you get a calm, quiet stay on the water. If you would like to cruise, cruising can be added at AED 1,000 per hour.
Are meals or breakfast included?
Breakfast is not included, so plan your morning meal before you arrive. Dinner can be added for AED 150 per person. Ask us on WhatsApp what you may bring on board.
Can I add dinner, a cake or decoration?
Yes. Dinner is AED 150 per person, a cake is AED 150, standard decoration is AED 150 and premium decoration starts from AED 500. Tell us what you would like on WhatsApp when you book.
Book your night on the water
Ready to swap a hotel room for a private houseboat in Abu Dhabi? Send your preferred date and group size on WhatsApp and we will confirm availability for M1 or M2. See the houseboats, photos and nightly price on our overnight houseboat stay page. You can also explore everything else we offer from our home page.
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