Double-decker bus service to Salalah soon

The first-ever double-decker bus service to Salalah, Oman, from Sharjah and Dubai will begin on July 8. It will have guides on board to give a commentary on the tourist sites along the route. The service was started because of the huge number of visitors to Oman and Omani tourists to the UAE.

A return ticket costs Dh175. The bus service runs every Saturday, Monday and Wednesday from Dubai, and Friday, Sunday and Tuesday from Salalah. The trip will be 20 per cent cheaper compared with other bus services, which charge Dh 220 for a return.

The journey is about 1400km and the trip to Salalah takes about 16 hours from Dubai and Sharjah, including four stop-overs for rest.

Salem Suleiman Al Amry, chairman of Oman-based Al Taoos Transport Company, said the service will be launched in collaboration with the Sharjah-based Safeenat Al Sahra Group.

The service will initially begin with a fleet of four buses, of which two will be single decks. The two double-decker buses will have three classes, family, couples and economy class. The bottom deck is only for families and couples. The top deck is for single passengers.

Kamel Hassan Mohammed, managing director of Al Taoos Company, said the company will also arrange all travel documents. "The service will save people time."

He said frequent travellers between the two states had earlier asked that trips should be made more frequently throughout the day. "We will look into that once the service picks up."

The company will also launch daily trips on regular single-deck buses from Dubai and Sharjah to Muscat, Oman, on July 8. The return fare is Dh70. The buses leave Dubai daily at 8am and 6pm.