Waterfront Market, Dubai’s fish market in Deira, is open 24 hours a day, except for the fish section’s deep clean on Fridays from 12pm to 2pm. The fish, meat, and fruit and vegetable halls never close; the spice and dry goods market runs from 6am to 1am and the restaurants from 12pm to midnight. Parking is free for the first two hours. Go between 6am and 9am for the best choice, have your fish cleaned on site, and take it to one of the market’s restaurants to be grilled or fried.
At a glance
- Fish market
- 24 hours; closed Fridays 12pm to 2pm for cleaning
- Meat, fruit and veg
- 24 hours
- Spices and dry goods
- 6am to 1am
- Restaurants
- 12pm to midnight
- Best time
- 6am to 9am, after the night’s catch and auction
- Parking
- First 2 hours free in the basement
- Where
- Al Khaleej Road and Abu Hail Road junction, Deira Corniche
Last verified: 12 October 2026 against Waterfront Market’s published opening hours and parking tariff.
On this page
Waterfront Market timings by section
| Section | Hours | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Fish market | Open 24 hours | Closed Fridays 12pm to 2pm for deep cleaning |
| Meat and poultry | Open 24 hours | Lamb, goat, beef, camel and chicken |
| Fruit and vegetables | Open 24 hours | Produce from UAE farms and imports |
| Spices and dry goods | 6am to 1am | Middle Eastern spices such as saffron, baharat and za’atar, plus nuts, dates, honey and dried fish |
| Supermarket | 8am to midnight | A Lulu Hypermarket for everything else on your list |
| Bazaar | 10am to 10pm; to midnight at weekends | Clothes, household goods and souvenirs |
| Restaurants | 12pm to midnight | Several will cook fish you buy in the market |
Some older guides give the Friday break as 12:30pm to 2:30pm or 12pm to 1:30pm. The market’s own website currently says 12pm to 2pm; if you are planning a Friday visit, avoid the middle of the day altogether.
Best time to buy fish
- 6am to 9am: the best choice. Boats land their catch at the market’s own docking facility overnight, and the live fish auction runs from about 11pm to 6am, so traders’ counters are fullest at dawn.
- Late morning: still good, with more people and a bit less choice.
- Afternoons: the quietest time, but the best fish have often gone. In the hot months the halls are air-conditioned, but the car park and loading areas are not.
- Evenings and late night: busy with restaurant buyers and people shopping after work; good for an evening visit with dinner at the restaurants.
Fish to look for
More than 260 varieties of fish and seafood pass through the market, and about 70 percent of the seafood comes from UAE waters. These are the names you will hear on the counters:
| Local name | English name | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| Hammour | Orange-spotted grouper | Grilling or frying; the most famous Gulf fish, but heavily fished, so buy it less often |
| Shaari | Spangled emperor | Whole grilled fish |
| Safi | Rabbitfish | Frying; a local favourite |
| Kanaad | Kingfish | Steaks for the grill or curry |
| Jesh | Trevally | Grilling whole |
| Faskar | Two-bar seabream | Baking or grilling |
| Sultan Ibrahim | Red mullet | Frying whole |
| Zubaidi | Pomfret | Pan-frying |
| Prawns, crab and lobster | Including Omani prawns and blue crabs | Grilling, curries and biryani |
Season cue: in past years the UAE banned fishing and trading Safi and Shaari during their spawning season in March and April, so they disappeared from the counters then. In April 2026 Abu Dhabi cancelled some breeding-season restrictions, so check the current year’s rules. Prices for every fish change daily with the catch, the season and the weather at sea.
How to choose fresh fish
- Eyes: clear and slightly bulging, not cloudy or sunken.
- Gills: bright red or pink, not brown.
- Flesh: firm, springing back when pressed.
- Smell: fresh and of the sea, never sour.
- Prawns: firm, shiny shells with heads attached; avoid black spots.
Cleaning and market-to-table cooking
- Buy your fish at a counter. Traders use the market’s own scales, and every stall shows the trader’s name.
- Take it to the cleaning area, where staff scale, gut, fillet or cut it into steaks or curry pieces as you ask. Cleaning is charged by weight, so agree the price before they start.
- Cook it on site if you like: several of the market’s restaurants, including seafood specialists such as Yahya Seafood, will grill, fry or steam fish you bought, for a cooking charge, usually with rice, salad and bread as extras. Restaurants open from 12pm.
- Or take it home: ask for it to be bagged on ice and bring a cool bag for the drive.
Prices, bargaining and paying
- Bargaining: normal for fish and vegetables, which have no fixed prices. Be polite, ask for the price per kilo first, and compare two or three counters.
- Paying: most shops take cards, but some smaller stalls prefer cash and may give a better price for it.
- Bulk buying: many traders give better rates on larger quantities of seafood and vegetables.
- Porters: available to wheel your shopping to the car, at about AED 10 an hour.
Parking
| Time in the basement car park | Fee |
|---|---|
| First 2 hours | Free |
| 3rd and 4th hour | AED 5 an hour |
| After 4 hours | AED 10 an hour |
The basement car park uses number plate recognition, and fees beyond the free period are charged automatically if you do not pay on the day. The outdoor car parks on the external and west sides are free but fill quickly. Valet parking is available, and valet customers do not pay the basement fee. There is also a car wash, handy after a fish run.
Facilities
The market is air-conditioned, ventilated and much cleaner than the old open fish market. Facilities include toilets, prayer rooms, an information desk, ATMs, a currency exchange, a pharmacy, a typing centre, a hypermarket, free wheelchairs, porters and the car wash. Floors in the fish hall are wet, so wear closed shoes with grip and leave the good trainers at home.
About the market
Waterfront Market opened in 2017, replacing the Deira Fish Market that had served Dubai since 1958, when the city’s trade still centred on the dhows of Dubai Creek. It is owned and run by Ithra Dubai, part of the Investment Corporation of Dubai, and with more than 800 traders handling over 800 tonnes of fresh food a day, it is the largest fresh food market in the UAE. It supplies hotels, restaurants and airlines as well as home cooks, and fresh produce comes from more than 80 local farms. The market also runs guided tours and a children’s “Little Explorer’s” passport, and has hosted chefs such as Gordon Ramsay and Nobu Matsuhisa.
Getting there
Waterfront Market is on the Deira Corniche at the junction of Al Khaleej Road and Abu Hail Road, near Al Hamriya Port and opposite Dubai Hospital. By car it is about 15 minutes from Downtown Dubai outside rush hour; by taxi, ask for “Waterfront Market, Deira”.
Combine it with: the Gold and Spice Souks, ten minutes away, for a morning in old Deira, or a beach afternoon at Al Mamzar Beach Park, 15 minutes north.
- Old Dubai souks: gold, spice and textile souks on both sides of the Creek.
- Al Seef: the restored Creek-side district for an evening walk.
- Dubai landmarks: tickets, timings and the best time for each.
- Fishing in Dubai: catch your own instead.
- Mina Zayed markets: Abu Dhabi’s fish market and souks.
- Weekend markets in Dubai: produce and maker markets at weekends.
Waterfront Market FAQs
What are the Waterfront Market fish market timings?
The fish market is open 24 hours a day, except on Fridays, when it closes from 12pm to 2pm for deep cleaning. The meat and fruit and vegetable halls are also open 24 hours.
What is the best time to visit the Dubai fish market?
Between 6am and 9am, after the overnight catch and live auction, when the choice is best and the market is calmer.
Can they clean and cook fish at Waterfront Market?
Yes. Cleaning stations will scale, gut and cut your fish for a small charge by weight, and several restaurants in the market will grill or fry fish you bought for a cooking fee.
Is parking free at Waterfront Market?
The basement car park is free for the first 2 hours, then AED 5 an hour for the 3rd and 4th hours and AED 10 an hour after that. Outdoor spaces are free but limited.
Is the old Deira Fish Market still open?
No. The Deira Fish Market, open since 1958, was replaced in 2017 by Waterfront Market, a few hundred metres away on the Deira Corniche.
Can you bargain at Waterfront Market?
Yes, bargaining is normal for fish and vegetables. Ask the price per kilo, compare a few counters and stay polite.
Do shops at Waterfront Market accept cards?
Most do, but some small stalls prefer cash, so carry some for the best prices.