Dalma Island – Ferry, Beach & Island Escape

📍 About Dalma Island

Some trips are memorable because of the destination.

For me, Dalma Island is memorable because the journey itself is part of the adventure.

Dalma Island is one of the oldest known permanent settlements in the UAE and has a fascinating connection with the country's pearl-trading, fishing and farming heritage.

Located in the Arabian Gulf, Dalma feels very different from Abu Dhabi city. The island has a surprisingly green landscape, with farms, vegetable fields and fruit orchards surrounded by the sea.

What makes the trip even more interesting for us was taking our vehicle on the ferry.

We didn't simply take a passenger boat and leave the car behind.

We drove the vehicle onto the ferry, secured it and watched as the boat slowly moved away from the mainland.

That feeling of seeing your own 4x4 on a ferry, surrounded by the Arabian Gulf, is an experience in itself.

The road trip starts before you even reach the island.

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🚢 Taking the Car Ferry to Dalma

This was probably one of my favourite parts of the trip.

At the ferry point, we drove our vehicle onto the car ferry and prepared for the crossing.

Once the ferry started moving, the driving stopped and the sea journey began.

We could step outside, enjoy the open air and watch the coastline disappear behind us.

For someone who enjoys road trips and overlanding, this is a completely different experience.

Usually, we drive to our destination.

Here, the vehicle travels with us across the water.

📍 Ferry coordinates:
24°12’42.3″N 52°35’30.7″E

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🏝️ Exploring Dalma Island

Once we reached Dalma Island, the atmosphere changed immediately.

The island is peaceful and has a much slower pace compared with the city.

We explored the roads around the island, visited the beaches and enjoyed the local surroundings.

One thing that surprised me was how green parts of the island are.

Dalma has a long connection with farming and freshwater, and today you can still see agricultural activity, vegetable fields and fruit orchards.

It's an interesting contrast:

Sea + desert + farms + history: all on one island.

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🌊 Dalma Beaches

The beaches were one of the places we wanted to spend some time.

The coastline is quiet and offers a nice place to slow down after the ferry journey.

Rather than looking for a busy tourist beach, we enjoyed the peaceful surroundings and the feeling of being away from the city.

If you're visiting with family or friends, the beach can be a good place to relax, take photographs and enjoy the sea.

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🕌 Dalma's Historic Side

Dalma isn't only about beaches.

The island has a strong connection with the history of pearl trading, fishing and traditional Emirati life.

The island's old mosques and traditional buildings give you a glimpse into its past.

One of the important landmarks is the Dalma Museum, located in the former house of Mohammed Bin Jassim Al-Meraikhi, who was associated with the island's pearl-trading history.

For me, visiting places like this makes a road trip more meaningful.

You aren't just driving around an island.

You're exploring a place that was already important long before modern UAE roads existed.