Hormuz Bypass: Yacht Transport by Road Around the Strait
Private yachts cannot safely pass the Strait of Hormuz right now. We move yachts by road from the Gulf coast of the UAE to Khor Fakkan on the Gulf of Oman, then on by sea or by cargo ship. Every move is checked and confirmed for your yacht and your dates before you commit.
Why go around Hormuz by road
Yachts are stuck in Dubai, Sharjah and other Gulf marinas because the Strait of Hormuz is not a safe passage for private boats. The southern entrance of the Red Sea (Bab el-Mandeb and the Gulf of Aden) is also dangerous because of attacks on shipping. A truck can carry a yacht across the UAE in one night and put her back in the water on the other side of the strait, in Khor Fakkan. From there she can sail into the Indian Ocean or go on a cargo ship. It works in both directions: yachts arriving by ship in Khor Fakkan can also be trucked into the Gulf.
The situation changes week by week. We check current official security advice before every quote and again before every move.
Three road routes around Hormuz
Route 1: Sharjah or Dubai → Khor Fakkan (our main route)
The shortest and simplest road route. It stays inside one country, the UAE, and ends on the Gulf of Oman, outside the strait.
• How: crane lift out, low-bed trailer, night movement with escort vehicles, crane lift in at Khor Fakkan or Fujairah.
• Distance: about 130 km by road, one night on the road.
• Size: we have quoted this route for a 17 m motor catamaran with a 5.6 m beam and 21 tonnes. Yachts over 4 m beam need an extra authority permit. A Bavaria 44 (beam 4.2 m) is just over that limit. Wider catamarans like a Bali 4.0 (beam 6.7 m) are checked case by case.
• After: skipper delivery into the Indian Ocean, or a cargo ship from Khor Fakkan.
Routes 2 and 3: Gulf → Aqaba or Jeddah (case by case)
Longer routes across Saudi Arabia to the Red Sea, in the direction of the Mediterranean.
• Route 2: northern Gulf → Aqaba in Jordan. At least two border crossings.
• Route 3: Gulf → Jeddah in Saudi Arabia. Whether permits are granted depends mostly on the size of the yacht. Smaller yachts are easier.
• Onward: from the northern Red Sea through Suez to the Mediterranean, by skipper or by ship.
• Our advice: we only quote these routes after a feasibility check for your yacht. For most owners Route 1 plus a cargo ship is faster and more certain.
What it costs: prices from a real quote
Few companies publish these numbers. Below are indicative prices from a real quote we prepared in August 2026 for a 17 m, 21 tonne motor catamaran (5.6 m beam). Your price depends on the yacht, the ports and the date, and is confirmed in writing before you commit.
- Road transport, Sharjah → Khor Fakkan, low-bed trailer, night movement, route survey and escort vehicles: about AED 24,600 (around USD 6,700).
- Extra escort for a wide load (beam over 4 m): about AED 6,000.
- Road tolls: about AED 565 per truck. Night permission at the destination: about AED 420 per truck.
- Waiting time: 14 hours free for loading and unloading, then about AED 540 per hour.
- Crane lifting, port fees and oversize permits: at cost, quoted for the ports you use.
- Cargo ship Khor Fakkan → Genoa (Italy) for the same yacht: about USD 113,000, including lifting, lashing, cradle, divers and supervision. Not included: customs (about USD 1,200 each way in Genoa), transport insurance (about 0.3% of the yacht value) and a war risk surcharge if one applies.
- Cargo ship Khor Fakkan → Malaysia, 55 ft motor yacht: about USD 76,000.
- UAE VAT of 5% applies to local services.
How long it takes
- Road move: one night.
- Local permits: 2 to 3 working days notice.
- Oversize approval (wide or tall yachts): about 3 to 4 weeks. Plan roughly one month from your yes to the move.
- Size limits: low-bed trailer deck 14.5 m long and 4.0 m wide. The whole load, trailer plus yacht in her cradle, must stay under about 5 m high. A 23.5 m trailer exists for narrow hulls up to 2.5 m. Masts come down where height requires it.
See also: sailing routes between Europe, Asia and East Africa and our yacht shipping service.
What we check before we say yes
Ship traffic waiting around the Strait of Hormuz. Screenshot from marinetraffic.com.
A route is only confirmed when all of these are in place for your yacht and date:
- Security: current official maritime security advice for the region, checked on the day of the quote and again before the move.
- Road: written confirmation from the local haulier of size, weight, trailer, route survey and permits.
- Ports: crane slot, lifting and a place to put the yacht back in the water.
- Papers: registration, ownership and customs documents. Your yacht must be registered and insured.
- Insurance: written confirmation of cover for lifting, road and sea legs.
- Onward passage: a separate decision for the sea leg, made by the captain on current advice.
If one of these is missing, we tell you and suggest another option. We do not start a move on hope.
One Point of Contact
You deal with us from the first question to the handover. We coordinate the haulier, cranes, ports and crew. Your quote names who carries the yacht, who insures each leg and where she changes hands.
Captains Matched to the Route
The captain for your sea leg is chosen for your yacht and the route, with the qualifications listed in your quote. Condition report at loading and a written handover report on arrival.
Conflict Zone Awareness
We follow security advice, insurance conditions and weather windows before committing to any passage. When a route is not safe, we say so.
Ready to Move Your Boat?
Send us your yacht's length, beam, height, weight and where she is now. Partial details are fine. We reply within one working day with the route options and an indicative budget.
REQUEST YOUR PRIORITY QUOTE
We usually respond within one working day.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you handle mast removal?
Yes. We arrange unstepping and re-stepping with a local yard when the road height requires it. Motor yachts and catamarans with low air draught are the simplest.
Is my boat insured during the truck leg?
The haulier's insurance covers its own staff and equipment, not your yacht. Cover for the yacht on the truck comes from your own policy or a separate transport policy (about 0.3% of the yacht value on the cargo ship leg). We confirm it in writing before loading.
How long does the land transport take?
The road move from Sharjah to Khor Fakkan takes one night. Getting there takes longer: local permits need 2 to 3 working days, oversize approval about 3 to 4 weeks. Plan about one month in total.
Who looks after the yacht between the truck and the sea?
Our captain or coordinator makes a condition report when the yacht is lifted out, and again when she is back in the water in Khor Fakkan. Both sides sign before she moves on.
From Khor Fakkan, skipper delivery or cargo ship?
Into the Indian Ocean (Oman, India, Asia, East Africa) a skipper delivery is usually the cheapest option. Towards the Mediterranean the sea route passes Bab el-Mandeb and the Gulf of Aden, so today a cargo ship through Suez is the safer choice. We decide with you on current advice.
What if my boat exceeds the dimension limits?
Send us the full dimensions. The standard low-bed deck is 14.5 m long and 4.0 m wide, and trailer plus yacht must stay under about 5 m high. Wider yachts need an extra permit, and we have quoted a 5.6 m beam catamaran. We confirm what is possible before you commit to anything.