Dubai: Following the success of its soft launch of the Sky Bus service that offers direct connectivity between Dubai airport and a number of hotels, the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has now expanded the service across the city.
Launched in May this year as a pilot project with just 26 hotels covered through four routes, the service has catered to 10,000 visitors monthly on an average.
The service is now expanded to 110 hotels across six zones and 12 routes.
“Dubai has a strategic vision about moving its residents as well as visitors through public transport. Sky Bus is a step towards that strategic goal that will allow us to move 25 million visitors through the city,” said Mohammad Al Ali, Director of Bus Operations at RTA’s Public Transport Agency.
The 12 routes cover most of the major hotels in different areas of Dubai, with RTA planning to further expand the service to 300 hotels by next year.
“Our aim is to provide the option of public transport to all people who come to Dubai. Sky Bus service will certainly help tourists reach their hotels quicker, safer and at an affordable rate,” added Al Ali.
At Dh15 per head per trip, irrespective of the destination, the service is affordable for visitors compared with other options such as taxis.
Available 24/7, the trips are scheduled for every 30 minutes from Terminal One and Three of Dubai airport. However, the shuttle service is also available from hotels to airport.
“The service is scheduled for every 30 minutes, but as soon as we have around 10-12 passengers the drivers are instructed to start the trip without waiting, while the service is available on demand as well,” he said.
He said: “Hotels and tour operators can book the service any time if they have a group of visitors travelling between Dubai airport and a particular hotel, there will be no extra booking fees. Hotels that are not on our list can also ask for the service any time.
“We were surprised recently that a big group of tourists heading from the airport to Burj Al Arab asked for the bus service and we were happy to serve [them].”
Special articulated buses have been deployed with large baggage spaces allocated for passengers, while the vehicles also have free WiFi service on the move.
RTA also plans to offer light snacks and juice on the shuttle service.
In the next phase, the authority plans to provide the shuttle service from Terminal Two of Dubai airport to hotels as well as to areas like Oud Muteena and Al Quoz, catering to labourers and other blue-collar workers.
A Sharjah service is also on the table.
Al Ali said RTA is also in talks with Emirates airline to start a free Sky Bus service for all its passengers.
