Dubai: Tourists can now cut through the waves of the Arabian Gulf, looking out over Jumeirah Beach and cruising by the Palm Islands, all from the comfort of an air conditioned cabin and soft leather reclining seats.
They can now avoid the traffic jammed highways and chaotic roads and enjoy a tour of Dubai through its water ways.
The water taxi, Dubai's latest form of public transport, was launched Wednesday by the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA). Unlike the water bus and the abra, the water taxi is the only marine public transport vessel that is able to leave the creek and navigate the waters of the Arabian Gulf.
The sleek design looks like something out of a Hollywood science fiction movie, with its gold domed roof and hawkish bow. The catamaran hull allows the taxi to cut through rough seas on two 270 horsepower eco-friendly diesel engines.
With a cruising speed of 25 knots and top speed of 35 knots, the taxi can take passengers from and to locations as far away as Jebel Ali and Al Mamzar, with the longest trip taking about an hour and a half.
The RTA sees this as a mostly recreational service catering to tourists who want to see the sites Dubai has to offer from a different angle. The taxi can seat 11 passengers and has 18 stations along Dubai Creek and other tourist spots around the emirate including the top hotels like Jumeirah Beach Hotel, Atlantis and Jebel Ali Hotel and Spa.
The RTA currently has five taxis in operation at this time and will determine if they need to add more by considering the demand for the service.
Fares range from Dh50 to Dh570 for the whole vessel not per passenger. Fares are not based on time or distance as they may vary with trip and weather conditions. The fare is agreed upon when the customer makes a booking.
Customers can book their trips by calling 8009090.
What do you think of them? Would they be useful as an alternative?
