Overnight Houseboat Stay in Abu Dhabi: Sleep on the Water

An overnight houseboat stay in Abu Dhabi lets you spend the night on a private boat instead of a hotel room, with the water all around you. Big Panda Yachts offers four boats for overnight stays: House Boat Luxury M1 (66 ft), House Boat Luxury M2 (82 ft), the Princess Yacht and the Butinah Boat (75 ft catamaran). Every boat is AED 1,700 per night, with one master room on board, and the whole boat is yours for the night. It is a new way to stay in Abu Dhabi, and a fresh idea for your next celebration.

What the overnight houseboat stay is

Think of it as a hotel room on the water. Instead of checking into a building, you and your group have the boat to yourselves for the night. There are no other guests on board and nothing is shared, so the evening moves at your own pace.

It is a calm, different way to spend a night in Abu Dhabi. You can enjoy the city lights over the water, sleep away from the city noise and wake up to a quiet morning view. For many guests, the simple feeling of sleeping on the water is the whole point.

The price is a private booking for your group, not per person. Each boat has one master room for the night. Check-in is at 10:00 pm and check-out is at 8:00 am the next morning. The boat stays anchored through the night, so you get a calm, quiet stay on the water. Breakfast is not included, so plan your morning meal before you arrive. Other details, such as bedding and towels, are confirmed on WhatsApp when you book. See the boats, photos and nightly price on our overnight houseboat stay page.

What makes it special: the whole boat is yours

This is not a room in a floating hotel. From 10:00 pm to 8:00 am, the whole boat is yours, with no other guests on board. Here is what your night looks like:

• A master room with glass looking straight onto the water, so you get a stunning view from the bed.
• The gentle rocking of the waves as you fall asleep and wake up on the water.
• The whole boat to yourselves from check-in at 10:00 pm to check-out at 8:00 am.
• A large lounge to relax, talk and spend the evening together.
• A fridge and a microwave on board for your drinks and snacks.
• Electricity and internet on board, so you keep all the comforts you are used to.
• An upper deck where you can sit outside at night and enjoy the city lights.
• A different spot if you like: ask on WhatsApp and the boat can move and anchor at another spot, with cruising at AED 1,000 per hour.

Who the overnight stay suits

• Couples looking for a quiet night away together, an anniversary surprise or a proposal setting that feels private.
• Families who want a memorable night that children will talk about for a long time, without the bustle of a busy resort.
• Small groups of friends who want to spend an evening together somewhere more personal than a restaurant or a hotel lobby.
• Special occasions such as birthdays, honeymoons and family celebrations. If you are planning a bigger event, you can also look at our birthday yacht parties in Abu Dhabi and wedding party cruises.

Because there is one master room on board, tell us your group size on WhatsApp and we will confirm the set-up for your night.

Celebrate a birthday night on the water

Instead of booking a hotel room for a birthday, book a night on the boat. Add a cake for AED 150 and standard decoration for AED 150 (premium decoration from AED 500), sit out on the upper deck under the night sky and wake up to the water the next morning. It is a simple way to turn a birthday into a night to remember.

The four boats for an overnight stay

All four boats have the same nightly price and one master room each.

House Boat Luxury M1 (66 ft)

A 66 ft houseboat for a private, relaxed night on the water. You can also see this boat on its House Boat Luxury M1 day charter page.

House Boat Luxury M2 (82 ft)

The larger houseboat, at 82 ft. See it on the House Boat Luxury M2 day charter page.

Princess Yacht

If you would rather spend the night on a yacht than a houseboat, the Princess Yacht is available for overnight stays at the same price. See it on the Princess Yacht day charter page.

Butinah Boat (75 ft catamaran)

The Butinah Boat is a 75 ft catamaran, a different option for a night on the water. See it on the Butinah Boat day charter page.

For any other details about the boats, message us and we confirm them on WhatsApp for your date. For more background on houseboats, read our houseboat guide for Abu Dhabi.

Overnight houseboat price in Abu Dhabi

The price is the same for all four boats. It is a private booking for your group, not per person, and you do not share the boat with anyone else.

We accept all major payment methods: Visa, Mastercard, Tabby and Tamara. If you would like to spread the cost, payment can be split with Tabby (4 payments) or Tamara.

Extras you can add

Extras can be added when you book, online or on WhatsApp.

How to book your overnight stay

There are two ways to book:

• Online for one night: choose your boat and date on our overnight houseboat stay page and use “Reserve online” to pay by card (Visa or Mastercard) or Tabby.
• On WhatsApp for more nights: message us at +971 56 822 7225 for any number of nights. Tamara is also available at online checkout.

1. Choose your date and boat.
2. Tell us about your group: your group size, and whether it is for a special occasion.
3. Add any extras: dinner, cake, decoration or cruising time.
4. Pay to secure the night: we accept all major payment methods, Visa, Mastercard, Tabby and Tamara, in full or split with Tabby or Tamara.
5. Receive the meeting point: the exact meeting point is shared on WhatsApp after booking.

Every guest needs an original passport or Emirates ID, so please make sure everyone in your group brings theirs.

What to bring

• Original passport or Emirates ID for every guest (required).
• Comfortable clothes for the evening and a light jacket, as it can feel cooler on the water at night.
• Toiletries and any personal items you use every night.
• A plan for your morning meal, as breakfast is not included.
• Sunscreen and sunglasses for the next morning.
• Any medication you need, and a phone charger or power bank.

If you are celebrating, you do not need to bring a cake or decorations yourself: you can add them as extras when you book. We confirm on WhatsApp whether bedding and towels are provided, so you know if you need to pack anything extra.

Day cruise or overnight stay: which to choose

The same boats are also available for daytime cruises, booked by the hour.

Choose a day cruise if you want a few hours on the water, a group outing, a celebration with friends or a sightseeing trip along the Abu Dhabi coastline. You can browse the M1 day charter, the M2 day charter, the Princess Yacht, the Butinah Boat or all of our yachts in Abu Dhabi.

Choose the overnight stay if you want time to slow down, enjoy the evening without watching the clock and wake up on the water.

Want the sunset as well? Book a daytime cruise earlier in the day, and see our sunset yacht cruise guide for ideas.

Frequently asked questions

How much does an overnight houseboat stay in Abu Dhabi cost?

The price is AED 1,700 per night for all four boats: House Boat Luxury M1 (66 ft), House Boat Luxury M2 (82 ft), the Princess Yacht and the Butinah Boat (75 ft catamaran). It is a private booking, not per person.

How many guests can stay overnight?

Each boat 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.

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 boat is yours from 10:00 pm to 8:00 am. On board you have a 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 at night. If you would like to move and anchor at another spot, ask on WhatsApp; cruising is AED 1,000 per hour.

Is breakfast included?

Breakfast is not included, so plan your morning meal before you arrive. We confirm bedding and towels on WhatsApp.

Does the boat cruise at night or stay anchored?

The boat 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.

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 is from AED 500. Extras can be added when you book, online or on WhatsApp.

Book your night on the water

If you are looking for a private, calm and different way to spend a night in Abu Dhabi, an overnight stay on a boat is worth considering. Reserve one night online on our overnight houseboat stay page, or send us your dates and group size on WhatsApp and we will confirm availability and all the details.