Business Bay, Water Canal marine stations

Mattar Al Tayer, Director General and Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), revealed that the RTA will build 12 marine transport stations at the Business Bay Canal and the Dubai Water Canal.

“Five of these stations are being built at the Dubai Water Canal project; which is currently underway, and the remaining seven stations will be built at the Business Bay Canal by 2018,” says Al Tayer.

“Thus the total number of marine transport stations at the Dubai Creek, Business Bay Canal and the Dubai Water Canal will rise to 18 stations.

Layout showing future expansions of marine transport stations. (Supplied)

“The marine transport sector will witness a quantum shift in the number and modes of transport, stations and riders with the completion of the link of the Business Bay Canal and the Dubai Water Canal with the Arabian Gulf,” he said.

 Marine transport sector is an integral part of the mass transit network in the emirate with estimated ridership in the tune of 13 million riders per annum.

The RTA is expanding the manufacturing of traditional petrol-powered abras where the completion rate in the manufacturing of five traditional abras project has exceeded 60 per cent.

 Over the past five years, the RTA has achieved several key projects such as retrofitting 149 abra engines, revamping abra dockyards and marinas, and launching the 36-seater water bus.

 In May 2010, the RTA inaugurated the Water Taxi.

The Water Taxi service is offered on demand through phone booking where the passenger(s) can wait at the agreeable boarding station and the alighting process can be at any location depending on the wish of the passenger at any of the water taxi stops. The water taxi can also be chartered for tourist purposes across Dubai Creek.

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