DUBAI: In an effort to reduce the city’s growing traffic woes, Dubai will start water taxi services by the middle of next year, a senior official said yesterday.
“Twenty locations have been approved for establishing water taxi stations during the initial phase of the project, which will contribute to alleviating traffic congestion in Dubai. The project will be important in the foreseeable future, following the completion of giant projects, such as the Palm Deira, the Palm Jumeirah, the Palm Jebel Ali, and The World,” said Khaled Mohammed Al-Zahed, acting CEO of the Marine Agency at the Transport Authority.
Stations ready for construction or modification include Bur Dubai, Dubai Old Souk, Old Deira Souk, Al-Sabkha, Bani Yas, Al-Seef and many others.
In the initial stage 10 boats, costing AED30 million, will be operated as water taxis. The project also covers Al-Khor Lines, the coastal line running along Jumeirah coast to serve tourists in the emirate, and the line linking downtown Dubai with the Palms projects (Jumeirah, Deira and Jebel Ali) and The World.
The water taxi can accommodate 11 passengers in addition to the driver. Speaking on the technical specifications of the project, Al-Zahed said the boats measure 10.8 meters in length, 4.1 meters in width, 1.8 meters in depth and have a draught of 0.6 meters. They have a dual low waves base with a speed up to 35 knots.
