11 Dolphin Watching Trips in the Middle East to Build a Day Around

1.Dolphin Encounter & Aquaventure Waterpark Ticket

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 1,269 reviews · from $197Our pick

Meet a dolphin at Dolphin Bay with a marine mammal specialist, learn about its behavior, and enjoy 30 minutes of supervised shallow-water interaction. Your ticket also includes same-day Aquaventure access, from Leap of Faith to family splash areas. Guides such as Julia, Warwick, Ryan, and Simiso have been praised for clear instruction and gentle animal care.

“Incredible Experience. We took our 8 & 6 Daughters who absolutely loved the experience. We met Amira and Kai the Dolphins and Julia the Dolphin Trainer, who was very knowledgeable and friendly. Would definitely recommend the experience! We also added on the Sea Lion Encounter on the day which was amazing! The only downside is that the photo prices are quite expensive!”

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2.Swim with Dolphins at Atlantis Waterpark

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 1,184 reviews · from $225

Meet a trained dolphin at Atlantis Dubai’s Dolphin Bay during a 30-minute deep-water session led by a marine mammal specialist. You’ll receive a wetsuit, safety briefing, underwater time, dolphin hugs, kisses, and simple maneuvers, with up to eight people per dolphin. Your ticket also includes same-day Aquaventure access.

“Very interesting and exciting but also very short. It says 90’min but the reality is that the dolphin interaction is only about 20-25’min”

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3.Dubai Dolphinarium Dolphin, Seal & Bird Show Tickets

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 1,020 reviews · from $25Best value

At Dubai Dolphinarium in Creek Park, you’ll watch the UAE’s Dolphin and Seal Show, then add an exotic bird performance if your ticket includes it. Expect trained bottlenose dolphins, seals, sea lions, parrots, falcons, toucans, and more. VIP seating is available, and children under two enter free, but Creek Park charges AED 5 separately.

“Asiff Abbas was our tour, such a lovely man very well taking care of from pick up to drop off. A wonderful afternoon spent with Asiff, the quads, camels and bashing was brilliant highly recommend great value for money”

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4.Half-Day Dhow Cruise, Dolphin Watching, & Snorkeling

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 507 reviews · 3 hours - 210 minutes · from $37

Set sail from Khasab on a decorated Omani dhow for about three to three and a half hours. You’ll cruise past steep fjord walls, look for wild dolphins, swim and snorkel with provided gear, and enjoy water, fruit, tea, coffee, and soft drinks. Guides such as Sohel and Opu have earned praise for attentive service.

“Sohel our guide spoke fantastic English and took care of our every need. He answered our questions and was very knowledgeable. we saw lots of dolphins, a podof about 20 with babies. the views from the boat were beautiful and calm. the only negative was the plastic bottle rubbish on the dockside we had to walk through to get to our boat. also the litter in the sea mostly plastic. by the cruise ship. Oman Khasab need to clean up the area a bit more if they want to break into Tourism.”

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5.Dolphin Watch & Snorkel Excursion

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 388 reviews · 3 hours · from $52

Spend three hours off Muscat watching for dolphins, then snorkel among coral, turtles, and colorful fish. Sidab Sea Tours provides a speedboat, equipment, water, soft drinks, and snacks. Captain Faisal, Masoom, Shakir, and Khalid have all received praise for careful boat handling and patient snorkeling help. Hotel pickup is optional.

“Great communication, well organised transport. Boat was stocked with complimentary refreshments & wasn’t too busy so we had space to sit and relax. We did see dolphins briefly and were then taken across to an excellent snorkeling spot to swim with fish and turtles. All equipment provided, would absolutely recommend!”

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6.Snorkeling at Dimaniyat Islands and Dolphin Watching

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 347 reviews · from $87Top rated

Set out from Al Seeb Port for a 4 to 5-hour boat trip to Oman’s Dimaniyat Islands. Snorkeling gear, water, soft drinks, tea, coffee, and snacks are included. Guides such as Fahad and Captain Yaseen help locate turtles, reef sharks, dolphins, and, with luck, whale sharks. The trip also passes Al Alam Palace.

“We didn't see any dolphins and the captain didn't seem too focused on making it happen. Realistically you should consider this a beach and snorkeling trip. The two spots were nice. The first was the most algae filled water (nearly green Read more”

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7.Dolphin Watching Boat Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 332 reviews · 2 hours · from $28

Set out from Marina Bandar Al Rowdha on a modern boat with an English-speaking guide such as Sufyan or Sabbir. You’ll search for dolphins, enjoy views of Muscat’s coast and Al Hajar Mountains, and receive bottled water and juice. Pickup is optional, and the two-hour trip suits families, couples, and first-time wildlife watchers.

“It was beautiful! It was great to see the dolphins and the coast line”

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8.Half-Day Dhow Cruise with Dolphin Watching

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 189 reviews · 3h 30m · from $37

From Khasab airport, cruise terminal, or Dolphin Khasab Tours, you’ll board a decorated dhow for Musandam’s fjords. Watch for humpback and bottlenose dolphins, pass fishing villages, and stop at Telegraph Island for swimming. Fruit, cold drinks, tea, coffee, towels, and life vests are included. Snorkeling gear is not.

“Super, Tour, wenig Leute auf dem Boot. Getränke und Obst frei, frisch und kalt.”

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9.Dolphin Watching Day Tour with Snorkeling & Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 188 reviews · 6 hours · from $65

Meet your guide at Khasab Port for a six-hour dhow cruise through Khor Sham. You will pass Nadifi, Qanah, and Sham village, watch for wild dolphins, and stop at Telegraph Island and Sibi Island for swimming and snorkeling. Ishmael, Moyath, and Rajak have been praised for attentive service, fresh fruit, drinks, and generous onboard meals.

“Fantastic service. Beautiful relaxing day on the water with amazing scenery. Staff knew the best spots to see dolphins, stop for a swim/snorkelling and their hospitality on board was top notch.”

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10.From UAE: Musandam Khasab Dolphin Watching Trip with Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 173 reviews · 1 day · from $140

Travel from Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, or Ras Al Khaimah to Khasab for a full-day dhow cruise through Khor Sham Fjord. Captain Havshat and the crew guide you past island villages, help spot wild dolphins, and serve lunch, fruit, tea, coffee, and soft drinks. Bring your passport, swimwear, and biodegradable sunscreen.

“The day was amazing. The crew was really nice, the boat is spacious and the food is good. We saw dolphins 4 times and many fish and sea urchins while snorkelling.”

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11.Atlantis Dolphin Kayak Trip & Aquaventure Waterpark

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 92 reviews · from $135

Meet a marine mammal specialist, kayak through Dolphin Bay Lagoon, and watch curious dolphins near your boat. Your package includes equipment, lockers, showers, juice, and same-day entry to Aquaventure Waterpark. The activity is in English, suits all swimming abilities, and is for ages 8 and up.

“the instructor was very helpful, he gave us a full inside into the dolphins habits etc. it's well worth the money”

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