Dubai: Commuters can now enjoy air-conditioned abra service across the Creek as the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) launched a new service yesterday.
RTA also opened a new marine station in Al Jaddaf which will provide an easy link from Dubai Creek Metro station. The air-conditioned abras maintain heritage design, combined with modern amenities. The 20-seat boat is equipped with the latest technologies, along with a panoramic roof.
The abra has a single-base low-wash fibreglass body, and two eco-friendly engines powered by high-octane gasoline that produce minimal gas emissions.
Measuring 10 metres in length and 3.4 metres in width, it conforms to the highest standards of security and safety worldwide. It has a robust hull ensuring high safety levels, and easy driving offering 360-degree vision with the possibility of side movement and smooth manoeuvring.
The air-conditioned abra will operate initially from Al Jadaf station to Festival City station
The trip takes about seven minutes, and the service will be operational seven days a week from 7am to 12 midnight.
The service offers 128 trips in both directions at a headway of 10 minutes during peak hours and 20 minutes during off-peak hours. The fare is Dh2 per person.
RTA will also run a service to Ras Al Khor Wildlife Sanctuary on the air-conditioned boats.
The Jaddaf station links the air-conditioned traditional abra service (Al Jaddaf – Dubai Festival City Line) with the public bus service, and the Creek Metro Station.
The station boasts unique heritage-inspired design comprising a two-level building over an area of 1,518 square metres. According to Al Tayer, the Station acts as a link between the Dubai Creek, Business Bay and Dubai Water Canal in future.
It is the first marine mass transport station that has comprehensive premises for serving various marine transit means like the Ferry, Water Bus, Water Taxi, Traditional Abra, and the Air-conditioned Abra.
It is situated just 200 metres away from Creek Metro Station and the public bus station.
13 million riders used marine transport last year and RTA plans to expand the marine network by building 12 new marine stations in the Business Bay and the Dubai Water Canal by 2018, thus raising the number of marine transport stations in Dubai to as much as 77 stations by 2020.
