Giving way on the water in Dubai and Abu Dhabi

This guide does not replace training, current charts, or weather checks.

Steps

The meeting, crossing and overtaking steps below are the Dubai guide. They are not printed on the Abu Dhabi safety map that was checked with them. In Abu Dhabi, apply the speed and distance lines that map does print, and do not pretend the Dubai paragraphs are an Abu Dhabi regulation.

Before the geometry

• The Dubai boating safety guide says it is your responsibility to keep an effective lookout at all times and in all directions. (source, Dubai, checked 2026-10-28)
• The Dubai guide names excessive speed and alcohol as the two main causes of accidents involving recreational marine craft. (source, Dubai, checked 2026-10-28)
• The Dubai guide says that if the operator is not sure of the manoeuvre, stay away and keep a safe distance. (source, Dubai, checked 2026-10-28)

Power boats

• The Dubai guide says a boat that is overtaking must keep out of the way of the boat being overtaken, and keep a safe distance until that boat is clearly astern. (source, Dubai, checked 2026-10-28)
• The Dubai guide says that when two power-driven boats are meeting head-on, or nearly head-on, so as to involve a risk of collision, each alters course to starboard and each passes on the port side of the other. (source, Dubai, checked 2026-10-28)
• The Dubai guide says that when two power-driven boats are crossing so as to involve a risk of collision, the boat which has the other on her own starboard side keeps out of the way and turns to starboard so the other boat passes on her port side. (source, Dubai, checked 2026-10-28)
• The Dubai guide says the give-way boat must act early, changing speed or direction so the change is obvious, and must avoid crossing ahead of a boat that has priority. (source, Dubai, checked 2026-10-28)
• The Dubai guide says the boat that has priority keeps her speed and course, and acts to avoid a collision only when the other boat's action is not enough. (source, Dubai, checked 2026-10-28)
• The Dubai guide says five or more short horn blasts can mean that the other boat has not taken enough action to avoid a collision. (source, Dubai, checked 2026-10-28)
• The Dubai guide says to use a series of short horn blasts to alert other boats and avoid a collision. (source, Dubai, checked 2026-10-28)

Sail, channels, and ships

• When two sailing boats have the wind on different sides, the Dubai guide says the boat with the wind on the port side keeps out of the way of the other. (source, Dubai, checked 2026-10-28)
• When both sailing boats have the wind on the same side, the Dubai guide says the windward boat keeps out of the way of the leeward boat. (source, Dubai, checked 2026-10-28)
• The Dubai guide says motor boats shall give way to sailing and rowing boats, as is safe and practicable. (source, Dubai, checked 2026-10-28)
• The Dubai guide says a boat proceeding along a narrow channel or fairway keeps as near to the outer limit on her starboard side as is safe and practicable. (source, Dubai, checked 2026-10-28)
• The Dubai guide says boats must not impede another boat in a channel or narrow waterway. (source, Dubai, checked 2026-10-28)
• The Dubai guide says not to cross a channel or narrow waterway horizontally if the crossing could impede another boat. (source, Dubai, checked 2026-10-28)
• The Dubai guide says that if you overtake or approach a boat towing people who are water-skiing, stay at least 50 metres from the skiers and the boat together. (source, Dubai, checked 2026-10-28)
• The Dubai guide says power-driven boats avoid the passageway of large ships and of ships restricted by their draft or by their ability to manoeuvre. (source, Dubai, checked 2026-10-28)
• The Dubai guide says a small boat might not be visible to a larger one. (source, Dubai, checked 2026-10-28)
• The Dubai guide says large marine craft are not able to alter course or stop suddenly. (source, Dubai, checked 2026-10-28)

Abu Dhabi

• Abu Dhabi Maritime prints general speed rules for where the speed is not otherwise restricted. A marked zone on the current safety map overrides the general rule. (source, Abu Dhabi, checked 2026-10-28)
• The Abu Dhabi sheet sets a maximum of 15 knots within 50 metres of any other vessel. (source, Abu Dhabi, checked 2026-10-28)
• The Abu Dhabi sheet says you pass a diving operation no closer than 100 metres, and at 5 knots. (source, Abu Dhabi, checked 2026-10-28)

A practical example

This is a decision story. It names no channel, no waypoint and no depth.

Two small power boats are closing in Dubai, each seeing the other slightly to starboard. The skipper who has the other boat on her starboard side turns to starboard early, rather than holding on and hoping. The other skipper holds course and speed while that turn is clearly working, and is ready to act if it is not.

Later, a large ship is in the same water. The small boat does not cut the ship's bow to save a minute. In Abu Dhabi, passing another vessel, the skipper also stays inside the printed speed that applies within 50 metres, unless the current map marks a different limit.

Common mistakes

• Both boats turning the same casual way, or neither turning, because each expects the other to "do something".
• Overtaking and then cutting back in before the other boat is clearly astern.
• Crossing a channel at right angles in front of a boat that is following the channel.
• Treating the Abu Dhabi 15-knot line as a Dubai rule, or treating the Dubai head-on rule as text printed on the Abu Dhabi map.
• The Dubai guide says that if you overtake or approach a boat towing people who are water-skiing, stay at least 50 metres from the skiers and the boat together. (source, Dubai, checked 2026-10-28)

Checklist

• The Dubai boating safety guide says it is your responsibility to keep an effective lookout at all times and in all directions. (source, Dubai, checked 2026-10-28)
• You know whether you are overtaking, meeting, or crossing before you turn.
• The Dubai guide says that when two power-driven boats are meeting head-on, or nearly head-on, so as to involve a risk of collision, each alters course to starboard and each passes on the port side of the other. (source, Dubai, checked 2026-10-28)
• The Dubai guide says that when two power-driven boats are crossing so as to involve a risk of collision, the boat which has the other on her own starboard side keeps out of the way and turns to starboard so the other boat passes on her port side. (source, Dubai, checked 2026-10-28)
• You can reach the horn.
• In Abu Dhabi you know the current map's limit near other vessels and near divers.

When to stop or seek help

If you are not sure who gives way, slow down and give the other boat room. A late turn across a bow is worse than a wide early one. Five short blasts mean the other boat thinks you have not done enough.

The Dubai guide says that if the operator is not sure of the manoeuvre, stay away and keep a safe distance. (source, Dubai, checked 2026-10-28)

The Dubai guide says five or more short horn blasts can mean that the other boat has not taken enough action to avoid a collision. (source, Dubai, checked 2026-10-28)

The Dubai guide says the boat that has priority keeps her speed and course, and acts to avoid a collision only when the other boat's action is not enough. (source, Dubai, checked 2026-10-28)

Sources checked for this guide

• https://pcfc.ae/en/DMA/Marine%20Guides/Boating%20Safety%20Guide.pdf — Dubai, checked 2026-10-28.
• https://www.admaritime.ae/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/abu-dhabi-maritime-safety-maps-general-updated.pdf — Abu Dhabi, checked 2026-10-28.