From deep sea fishing to partying on a stylish yacht for the day…

There’s nothing quite like the exhilaration of a boat day – getting together with a group of pals and taking to the waters surrounding Dubai’s epic skylines or exploring coral reefs in Oman.

With the UAE summer well and truly on its way, there’s no better time to make the most of the various boat days on offer before it really does get too hot.

Here are our top picks…

See the Dubai sights

If you’re new to the city or you live here and have relatives visiting, taking to the waters and doing a tour around Dubai is always a great way to see it. With Splash Tours, you’ll fly along the water in this fun rigid inflatable speedboat. Take the 90-minute tour where you’ll see iconic Dubai landmarks including Dubai Marina, Atlantis The Palm, Palm Jumeirah and the Burj Al Arab.

Splash Tours, Dubai Marina, Al Seba Street, Dubai, UAE, daily 9am to 9pm, 90min tour Dhs210 per adult, Dhs 157.5 per child. Tel: (04) 362 6277. splashtours.ae

Feel like royalty on a yacht day

Let’s face it, we all love a yacht day. It’s an awesome way to spend a special birthday party or just if you’re in need of a break from all the brunches on-land. You can get some stellar yachts, like this 53 foot one for Dhs1000 per hour, with a capacity of up to fifteen people. Sizes go up to 145 foot (if you have Dhs10,000 per hour to spend).

XClusive Yachts Rental Dubai, Marina Plaza Building, Dubai, daily 9am to 10pm, 53ft yacht Dhs1000 per hour. Tel: (04) 432 7233. xclusiveyachts.com

Go deep sea fishing

Prepare yourself for an early start but this trip is totally worth it. Setting off from JBR at 6am or 7am (or later in the afternoon at 4pm or 5pm), and head out for three, four or five hours where you’ll spend the morning attempting your best catch, with equipment and bait provided by the team.

Water Adventure Dubai, operates from JBR, and Rixos The Palm, daily 9am to 6pm, from Dhs2000 for 3hrs, max 8 people. Tel: (50) 911 4559. wateradventure.ae

Captain your own vessel

Drive your own vessel as you tour the Dubai seas with this self-drive boat tour where you’ll reach speeds over over 50 kilometres per hour. It’ll be lead by a professional guide and you’ll get some incredible sights of Dubai from the blue waters.

Dubai Hero Odysea, Fishing Harbor 2 in Umm Suqeim, Dhs690 single rider, Dhs790 double rider for 2hours. Tel: (04) 440 9827. hero-dubai.com

Take a private boat tour

Get serious James Bond feels as you zip through the waves in this private speedboat tour. Lasting two hours and available for up to ten people at a time, you’ll be driven around by your personal captain. Bring your own drinks and food to have a picnic at sea and don’t forget to bring your passport or emirates id on the day of travel.

Royal Blue Coast Yachts, The Walk, Dubai Marina, Dubai, Majesty 31ft walkaround from Dhs805, maximum 10 people. Tel: (056) 380 3666. royalbluecoastyachts.com

Meander around the mangroves of Abu Dhabi

If you want a relaxing and rather idyllic experience, then try Seahawk’s Mangrove Boat Cruise in Abu Dhabi. It’s best to go out in the early morning where you’ll meander along the beautiful mangroves and you can also try your hand at kayaking or canoeing.

Seahawk, Eastern Mangrove Promenade, Abu Dhabi, from Dhs300 per hour for small boat (7 people). Tel: (02) 673 6688. sea-hawk.ae/mangrove-boat-cruise

Or go further and get up close with dolphins in Oman

There are some amazing boat tours available in Oman, if you fancy getting out of the UAE for the day (or weekend). Oman also has some stunning coral reefs and sea life to see with tropical fish, turtles and dolphins. Take the Dolphin Watching and Snorkelling tour where you’ll (hopefully) see acrobatic spinners, bottle nose and the common dolphin and snorkel amongst the coral.

Dolphin Watching & Snorkelling Tour, Ocean Tours Oman, daily 10am to 1pm, 20 OMR (Dhs198) per person. Tel: (+968) 9116 2534. oceantoursoman.com

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Images: Supplied/Facebook