Al Khor Kayak: Prices, Hours & Rules at Al Rafisah Dam
A single kayak at Al Khor Kayak costs AED 40 and carries no time limit, which makes it the cheapest way onto the lake at Al Rafisah Dam in Khorfakkan. Tickets are sold on site only, first come, first served, and the operator is open every day from 7 AM to 9 PM.
The dam sits on the S142 Khorfakkan Road, about 130 km from Dubai, with the Hajar Mountains rising on every side of the water. Besides kayaks, the operator rents pedal boats and a donut boat for families and bigger groups. The sections below cover which boat fits your group, what the rules rule out, and what parking costs.
Al Khor Kayak general information
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Location | Al Rafisah Dam rest area, Khorfakkan, Sharjah |
| Opening hours | Daily, 7 AM to 9 PM |
| Prices | AED 40 (single kayak) to AED 250 (donut boat) |
| Booking | Walk-in tickets; reservation only for groups over 50 |
| Payment | Cash or card on site |
| Parking | Paid municipal bays, from AED 2 for one hour |
| Phone | +971 56 616 2111 |
| Drive from Dubai | About 130 km, roughly 1 hour 30 minutes |
Prices & which boat to choose
Five boat types are available, from AED 40 for a single kayak to AED 250 for the donut boat. Kayaks have no time limit. Pedal boats and the donut boat are each a one-hour ride.
| Boat | Price | Time | Who fits | Cost per rider when full |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single kayak | AED 40 | No limit | 1 adult | AED 40 |
| Double kayak | AED 80 | No limit | 2 adults + 1 child | About AED 27 |
| Pedal boat | AED 100 | 1 hour | 2 adults + 2 children | AED 25 |
| Brown pedal boat | AED 150 | 1 hour | 3 adults + 2 children | AED 30 |
| Donut boat | AED 250 | 1 hour | 4 adults + 2 children | About AED 42 |
The right pick depends on who is in your group:
- One adult, or adults who want their own boats: single kayaks at AED 40 each. Two adults in one double kayak pay the same AED 80 as two singles, so the choice is company versus independence.
- Two adults and one child: the double kayak at AED 80. Children under 16 cannot take a single, so this is the only kayak that works.
- Two adults and two children: the AED 100 pedal boat. The double kayak has room for one child only.
- Five riders: the brown pedal boat at AED 150.
- Six riders: the donut boat at AED 250, the steepest price per head on the list.
- More than an hour on the water: a kayak. Both pedal boats and the donut boat end at the one-hour mark.
Opening hours & night rides
Al Khor Kayak is open daily from 7 AM to 9 PM, with no closing day.
Every boat type stays available after sunset. The operator closes off some parts of the lake for safety once it gets dark, so evening paddlers cover a smaller area than daytime riders.
How booking works
No reservation is needed for individuals or small groups, because the operator keeps enough boats for daily demand and hands out tickets first come, first served. Any group of more than 50 people must reserve ahead by calling +971 56 616 2111.
For a normal visit, the process is:
- Park at the Al Rafisah Dam rest area and pay for your bay.
- Buy your ticket on site with cash or card, choosing the boat that matches your group.
- Put on the life jacket, which stays on for the whole ride, and collect a paddle if you picked a kayak.
- Stay in your boat until you return to the shore, since stepping out mid-trip is not allowed.
Rules & restrictions
Who can ride
- Infants are not allowed on any boat.
- Children under 16 cannot use single kayaks.
- A double kayak carries a maximum of 2 adults and 1 child.
On the water & around the dam
- Swimming is prohibited by law.
- Getting out of the boat during the trip is not allowed, and neither is swapping boats with another rider.
- Private kayaks, paddleboards and other personal water sports equipment cannot be used on the lake.
- No fishing, hunting or killing of wildlife, picking honey, cutting or removing plants, lighting bonfires, littering, or climbing around the dam.
- Lockers are not available, so leave valuables in your car. The operator is not responsible for lost or stolen items.
Getting there & parking
Driving from Dubai & Sharjah
The dam is about 130 km from Dubai, a drive of roughly 1 hour 30 minutes, and around 70 minutes from central Sharjah city. From Emirates Road (E611), take the S142 Khorfakkan Road and drive through the tunnels. After the fifth tunnel, signs point to the Al Rafisah Dam rest area.
Set the Al Rafisah Dam map pin as your destination instead of Khorfakkan city, because the dam comes before the town. All roads to the dam are paved, so an ordinary sedan handles the trip. If you don’t have a car, rent one.
Parking
Parking at the dam is paid. It falls inside a municipal paid zone that also covers Shees Park and the Khorfakkan Corniche, charged from 8 AM every day at AED 2 for one hour, AED 5 for two, AED 8 for three and AED 12 for five.
Pay at the nearby smart machine, or send an SMS to 5566 with your emirate plate code, plate number and number of hours.
Around the lake
Entering the dam area costs nothing; you pay only for a boat and parking. The rest area has toilets, a mosque, children’s play areas and a lounge restaurant with a terrace over the water, plus a coffee shop and an ice cream parlour.
On the water, gazelles roam the mountainside and are easy to spot from a boat, and ducks and herons gather toward the far end of the lake. An artificial waterfall runs down the slope beside the restaurant, and a 730 m walkway called The Walk follows the foot of the mountain.
A marked trail climbs from the dam to Al Suhub Rest House, a hike of 1 to 1.5 hours each way. A relaxed family visit with a kayak hour, playground time and a snack fills 3 to 4 hours.
Best time to go & what to bring
October to April is the comfortable season, when midday temperatures drop enough for a full hour on the water. In summer, aim for the first hours after 7 AM or the late afternoon.
Weekends and public holidays are the busiest days at the dam, and arriving early is the surest way to get a parking bay. Because you can’t leave the boat, you can’t stash anything on the shore, so bring:
- A waterproof phone pouch
- Sunscreen, a hat and drinking water
- Quick-drying clothes and shoes with grip
- A card as well as cash, for both tickets and parking
Nearby stops to add
Shees Park is roughly 15 minutes up the road and pairs well with a morning at the dam. Continue down to Khorfakkan Beach for an afternoon by the sea once the boat session ends.
FAQ
How much does Al Khor Kayak cost?
A single kayak is AED 40, a double kayak AED 80, a pedal boat AED 100, a brown pedal boat AED 150 and a donut boat AED 250. Kayaks have no time limit, while pedal boats and the donut boat run for one hour.
Do you need to book Al Khor Kayak in advance?
No, individuals and small groups buy tickets on site, first come, first served. Only groups of more than 50 people need a reservation.
What time does Al Khor Kayak open & close?
It opens at 7 AM and closes at 9 PM every day of the week.
Can children ride at Al Khor Kayak?
Children can ride in a double kayak, a pedal boat or the donut boat with adults. Infants are not allowed on any ride, and children under 16 cannot use single kayaks.
Can you kayak at Al Rafisah Dam at night?
Yes, all boats are available after sunset, with some parts of the lake closed off for safety.
Do you need a 4×4 to reach Al Khor Kayak?
No. Every road to the dam is paved, and a regular sedan makes the drive without trouble.
Is swimming allowed at Al Rafisah Dam?
No, swimming is prohibited by law, and riders may not leave their boat during the trip.
Next steps
- Match your group to a boat using the price table: single or double kayaks for time on the water, pedal boats for families with two children.
- Carry cash or a card for the ticket and for parking at the dam.
- Arrive early on weekends and public holidays to get a bay.
- Call +971 56 616 2111 if your group has more than 50 people.
