Big Bus tour hops onboard Dubai ferry

Dubai has all the right elements to become a ‘marine city’ and tourist agents are aware of this. In a latest series of agreements, the Big Bus Tour Company and Dubai’s Road and Transportation Authority (RTA) have agreed to join hands in making Dubai waters part the transportation cycle of the tourist.

“We have agreed on providing a combo-ticket, which will include a tour on the Big Bus as well as a ride on Dubai Ferry,” said Mike Lees, General Manager of Big Bus Company, on the sidelines of the Arabian Travel Market.

Although details of the ticket are yet to be revealed, Lees told Emirates 24|7 that it would include a ferry ride from the Marina to the Creek and back, with both dock points included in the Big Bus Tour route.

“Through the Big Bus Company, the RTA’s Public Transport Agency will offer incoming tourists a chance to experience the riding of public buses, and marine transit modes including Dubai ferry, water bus, and the water taxi to enjoy a cruise between the two shores of Dubai Creek,” explained Youssef Al Ali, CEO of the Public Transportation Agency.

Indeed, this is not the first incentive offered by both companies to encourage water transportation. A tour on the double-decked tourist bus already includes a free ride on the water bus, at Dubai Marina or at the Creek, and the Big Bus stops at these locations to integrate the water ride in the tour.

The Big Bus service is becoming increasingly popular with a large segment of tourists and visitors flocking to Dubai, and the RTA aims to utilise this factor to promote and upgrade tourist transport services, Al Ali explained.

“Water transport makes traveling in the emirate a lot easier. However, when people come to Dubai, they may not know about these options,” added Lees. “With these incentives, we would like to introduce these options. We want to promote Dubai as a whole,” he said. “I really believe that Dubai will become a marine city.”

“Marine transport is really picking up now,” acknowledges Hussein Khansaheb, Director of Marine Transportation. “We saw a 20 per cent increase last year, and we expect the demand to grow.

According to Khansaheb, there are many benefits of marine transportation, such as the reliability. “A water bus will always come on time and never leave late, because it will not be obstructed by traffic.”

With more waterways to be built in the emirate soon, the accessibility of marine transportation will only increase. The extension of Dubai Canal will lend itself to new opportunities, said Khansaheb.

“Our focus will now be on the electrical abra, which adheres to the heritage of Dubai and is environmental friendly. Abra tours are currently available next to Burj Khalifa and in Global Village, but we would like to expand these services,” he concluded.