Dubai: More than 15,000 visitors to Global Village have used the blue ferries (abras) during the past two months and the rides are very much in demand, officials said.
The Public Transport Agency at the Dubai Transport Authority confirmed that people have been making a beeline for the special ferries for tourists for a sixth year in a row.
Dr Yousuf Al Ali, Executive Director at the Public Transport Agency said that the high public interest for the ferries is in a way contributing to the revival of the traditional means of transport.
He added that the Public Transport Agency is keen on taking part in activities at Global Village every year and leaving a clear imprint. He said the big number of people attracted to the ferries was especially remarkable given that abras are considered the first means of water transport in Dubai right from the time when boat services on the creek used to link Deira and Bur Dubai.
“Deploying traditional abras as an entertainment transit means at the Global Village is a key step through which the RTA is seeking to invite the attention of various community segments of different ages to this transit means in a bid to promote the tourist movement in Dubai, and also showcase the pioneering efforts of the RTA in undertaking a variety of inland and marine transit projects,” Dr Al Ali said.
“The deployment of traditional abras at the Global Village also echoes the close coordination and cooperation between various entities in Dubai as the management of the Global Village has a significant contribution to the success of the project by allocating the appropriate place and line for up to 5 abras. The tourist journey passes through the lake across a host of villages overlooking the water canal; offering much enjoyment to abra riders who can have a panoramic view of key landmarks of the Village. The considerable interest of the public in these abras every season is quite evident as the number of abra riders at the Global Village last year [the fifth year of the service] clocked 121,074 riders.”
