Cross Dubai Creek in new traditional abras
RTA starts formal operation of next gen water taxis with enhanced features
Commuters and tourists can now cross Dubai Creek in a wooden abra for Dh2 with the Roads and Transport Authority starting formal operation of the new generation of traditional abras with enhanced features. A ride on the traditional wooden abras in Dubai Creek for Dh1 was part of the daily commute between Bur Dubai and Deira and also tourism in Dubai for several decades.
Boasting of a design conforming to the highest security, safety and environmental standards, these new abra water taxis were launched in December 2020. The debut of these new gen abras, which retain the traditional shape of abras, is part of RTA’s strategic plan to upgrade marine transport services to fit the needs of people. A fare of Dh2 is fixed for commuting between
Al Fahidi and Old Deira Souq line across Dubai Creek, RTA said yesterday. This is effective from 8am to 10:45pm from Saturday to Thursday. On Friday, the timing is from 10am to 11:45pm.
In the new abras, the driver sits a little away from the passengers sitting in the middle. The driver’s position now is on a raised seat as compared to the middle of the abra where the driver used to sit while steering the traditional abras.
“The design of the new enhanced generation of traditional wooden abras caters to a string of security, safety and environmental standards such as the relocation of the driver’s position to have a better view compared with the low-level location in the normal abras,” said Mohammad Abu Baker Al Hashmi, director of Marine Transport, Public Transport Agency, RTA.