🌴 Introduction: How To Plan The Start Of Your Trip

Sir Bani Yas Island off the western coast of Abu Dhabi is one of the most distinctive places in the UAE, known for its wildlife reserve, archaeological sites, and luxury resorts. The island is reached either by boat from the mainland, by air, or as part of a cruise itinerary. The most important decision is where to begin your trip to Sir Bani Yas Island so that transport, tickets, and timings all line up smoothly.

In 2025, access to the island will still focus on the Jebel Dhanna jetty on the Abu Dhabi coast, along with limited flights and dedicated cruise calls. This guide explains where to start your journey from each emirate, what to expect at the ferry terminal, and how cruise and resort guests fit into the picture. By the end, you will know exactly how to structure your own trip to Sir Bani Yas Island from any starting point in the country.

1️⃣ Start From Abu Dhabi City: The Main Gateway

For most travellers, the easiest beginning for a trip to Sir Bani Yas Island is Abu Dhabi city. The island is about two and a half hours by road from downtown Abu Dhabi to Jebel Dhanna on the E11 highway, followed by a short boat transfer to the island itself.

When you plan your trip to Sir Bani Yas Island from Abu Dhabi, the usual sequence is:

Leave the city via E11 toward Al Ruwais.
Pass Tarif and Al Mirfa, then continue toward Ruwais.
Take Exit 11
Park at Jebel Dhanna jetty and check in for the resort boat or public ferry, depending on your booking.

If you do not drive, a trip to Sir Bani Yas Island can still start in Abu Dhabi using intercity buses toward Ruwais and then a short taxi ride to Jebel Dhanna, although this will take longer and needs careful timing with the ferry schedule.

Because Abu Dhabi is closest to the island and has the most direct road and air links, many visitors from other emirates choose to first reach the capital and then begin the main part of their trip to Sir Bani Yas Island from there.

2️⃣ Start From Dubai: Connect Via E11 Or A Transfer

If you are based in Dubai, your trip to Sir Bani Yas Island usually starts with a highway journey towards Abu Dhabi. The island is around 370 kilometres from Dubai by road. So you should allow about four hours to reach Jebel Dhanna jetty.

There are three common ways to structure a trip to Sir Bani Yas Island from Dubai:

Self drive
- Take E11 from Dubai through Abu Dhabi city, then continue toward Ruwais and Exit 113 for Sir Bani Yas Island.
- This gives the most flexibility with timings, especially if your resort boat transfer requires arrival at a set time before departure.
Private transfer
- Many tour operators and limousine services in Dubai can arrange a door-to-door trip to Sir Bani Yas Island that includes the drive to Jebel Dhanna and coordination with the boat.
- This option suits families or small groups who want a smoother start without managing the driving themselves.
Dubai to Abu Dhabi first
- Use intercity transport or a taxi to Abu Dhabi city.
- From there, follow the same route as an Abu Dhabi-based trip to Sir Bani Yas Island using self-drive, bus plus taxi, or an organised tour.

Whichever method you choose, always check ferry or resort water taxi timings before you leave Dubai so your trip to Sir Bani Yas Island does not involve long waiting times at the jetty.

3️⃣ Start From Other Emirates: Sharjah, Ajman, Ras Al Khaimah, And Beyond

Travellers staying in northern emirates usually funnel their trip to Sir Bani Yas Island through either Dubai or Abu Dhabi. There are no direct public links from Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al Quwain, Ras Al Khaimah, or Fujairah to the Jebel Dhanna jetty.

A realistic plan for a multi-emirate trip to Sir Bani Yas Island in 2025 looks like this:

Travel by road to Dubai or Abu Dhabi using a rental car, intercity bus, or taxi.
Continue to Jebel Dhanna as outlined in the earlier sections.
Take the resort boat or ferry across to the island.

Because the road segment is long, many visitors combine their trip to Sir Bani Yas Island with one or two nights in the capital. This splits the journey, allows time for city sightseeing, and makes the final drive to the jetty much more relaxed.

4️⃣ Jebel Dhanna Jetty: The True Launch Point

Regardless of where you begin, both resort guests and many tour participants converge on the same stretch of mainland coast at Jebel Dhanna. This is the main departure point for a trip to Sir Bani Yas Island by sea.

Key facts about Jebel Dhanna in 2025

It lies around 250 kilometres west of Abu Dhabi city along the Abu Dhabi Ghweifat International Highway, with signage to Sir Bani Yas Island near Exit 113.
The jetty serves water taxis and larger ferries that cross to Sir Bani Yas Island in roughly twenty minutes.
Resorts such as the Anantara properties organise scheduled boat transfers for their guests, which usually need to be booked at least a day in advance as part of your trip to Sir Bani Yas Island.
Parking is available at the jetty, which is helpful if your trip to Sir Bani Yas Island begins with a rental car from Abu Dhabi or Dubai.

A smooth start to your trip to Sir Bani Yas Island depends on arriving early at Jebel Dhanna, completing documentation for the resort boat, and knowing which departure you are booked on. Ferry schedules can vary, so travellers should verify current timings using official resort or ticketing portals rather than relying on older third-party information.

5️⃣ Ferry, Water Taxi, And Public Transport Options

For many visitors, the sea crossing is a highlight of the trip to Sir Bani Yas Island, offering views of the coastline and the sea before the island comes into sight. In 2025, these are the main options.

Resort water taxis and ferries
- Guests staying at Anantara Desert Islands Resort and Spa, Anantara Al Sahel, or Anantara Al Yamm villas typically use dedicated resort boats that link Jebel Dhanna with the island several times per day.
- For many packages, the crossing is included in the room rate, making it an integral part of the trip to Sir Bani Yas Island.
Public ferries and water taxis
- Abu Dhabi Maritime runs ferries and water taxis in the emirate, with online ticketing and timetable information through its platform and app.
- Services from Dalma Island also connect to Sir Bani Yas, mainly used by residents and workers; visitors sometimes use these when combining several islands in one trip to Sir Bani Yas Island and its surroundings.
Bus plus ferry combinations
- Some itineraries published by information services show that it is possible to combine intercity buses from Abu Dhabi to Ruwais with taxis onward to the ferry terminal as a lower-cost way to begin a trip to Sir Bani Yas Island, though this involves more time and changes.

Because the resort controls many aspects of access, travellers planning a trip to Sir Bani Yas Island should always confirm their exact boat type, departure time, and inclusion or exclusion of charges at the time of booking.

6️⃣ Flights And Seaplanes: Starting Your Trip In The Air

Not every trip to Sir Bani Yas Island begins by road. The island has an airport, which has been operating since 2008 and is used for small aircraft and private air services.

In recent years, some operators have also promoted seaplane flights that link Abu Dhabi with Sir Bani Yas Island, usually taking around forty-five minutes and landing near the resort areas. These scenic flights add an aerial perspective to your trip to Sir Bani Yas Island, showing the coastline, desert, and island wildlife habitats from above.

Availability of scheduled flights can change season by season. For 2025 travellers who want their trip to Sir Bani Yas Island to start in the air should check:

The island airport section on the Abu Dhabi Airports site for any current scheduled or charter operators.
Seaplane or air taxi companies listed on Abu Dhabi tourism sites that specifically mention Sir Bani Yas Island.

Because seats on small aircraft are limited and weather can affect operations, air-based options for a trip to Sir Bani Yas Island should be reserved well in advance and always backed up with a road plan if timings are critical.

7️⃣ Cruise Passengers: When The Island Becomes Your First Stop

For many international visitors, their entire trip to Sir Bani Yas Island is part of a Gulf cruise. The island is a regular call for cruise lines that use tender boats to bring guests from the ship to Sir Bani Yas Cruise Beach, a dedicated beach club area with loungers, food stations, and activity hubs.

If you arrive on a cruise ship, your trip to Sir Bani Yas Island usually begins directly from the vessel:

You board a tender arranged by the cruise line.
The tender lands at the cruise beach, where you can join excursions such as wildlife drives or monastery visits booked through the ship.
You return to the ship by tender later the same day.

In this case, the cruise port rather than Jebel Dhanna is the starting point of your trip to Sir Bani Yas Island. Independent movement away from cruise-organised areas can be limited, so travellers should read their cruise documentation carefully when planning specific activities.

8️⃣ Practical Planning Tips Before You Set Off

To make sure every trip to Sir Bani Yas Island in 2025 runs smoothly, there are several practical points to confirm before leaving home:

Accommodation booking
- Many sources indicate that, in most cases, you should be a guest at one of the island resorts to use their ferries and facilities, and that independent day trips to the wildlife areas are difficult to arrange without a booking.
- If your trip to Sir Bani Yas Island relies on resort transport, do not travel to Jebel Dhanna without confirmed times.
Season and weather
- The island welcomes visitors all year, but outdoor activities are more comfortable from late autumn to early spring when temperatures are lower. Factor this into the timing of your trip to Sir Bani Yas Island.
Documents and timing
- Have booking confirmations ready for resort or ferry staff at Jebel Dhanna.
- Plan to be at the jetty well before departure to avoid delays that could disrupt your trip to Sir Bani Yas Island.
Combining destinations
- Many visitors combine a city break on Yas Island or in downtown Abu Dhabi with a longer trip to Sir Bani Yas Island, enjoying theme parks and shopping before switching to wildlife and beach experiences.

With these details prepared, every stage of your trip to Sir Bani Yas Island becomes easier, from the first highway kilometres to the final boat ride.

✅ Conclusion: Choose The Best Starting Point For Your Journey

The most straightforward way to begin a trip to Sir Bani Yas Island is from Abu Dhabi, driving along E11 to Jebel Dhanna and taking a resort boat or ferry across to the island. Visitors from Dubai and the northern emirates usually route their trip to Sir Bani Yas Island through the capital, while some travellers choose flights or seaplanes when available. Cruise guests start their trip to Sir Bani Yas Island straight from the ship, stepping ashore at the dedicated cruise beach.

Whichever path you choose, the key is to treat Jebel Dhanna, the resort boat schedule, or your ship’s tender timetable as the fixed centre of planning. Once those timings are confirmed and your accommodation is booked, your entire trip to Sir Bani Yas Island will unfold as a connected route rather than a series of separate legs. With a clear understanding of where to start, travellers in 2025 can focus on the experiences waiting on the island itself, from wildlife drives to quiet beaches and historic sites.

🔗 External Reference Links

Also Read: Ultimate Guide: Do You Really Need Tickets for Sir Bani Yas Island in 2025

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