SHARJAH, 23 July 2007 — Tourists in Dubai can now tour the city in style using newly launched amphibious water buses, which are currently shuttling between Al-Seef Station and Al-Shandaga Station across Dubai Creek.
The shuttle service is available seven days a week from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. and offers marine excursions across Dubai Creek. The bus can accommodate 36 passengers. A single trip takes 45 minutes, with a 15-minute interval between trips. A round trip between Al-Seef Station and Al-Shandaga Station costs 25 dirhams.
Khaled Muhammad Al-Zahid, acting CEO of the Road Transport Agency’s Marine Department, said the water bus had been devised to enhance mass transit modes and serve the areas that witness repeated traffic congestion.
“It helps in creating seamless traffic and mobility and brings about an atmosphere matching tourist requirements of Dubai. It comes as part of an comprehensive and integrated tourism setup linked with all projects, and ushers in an era of marine tourism in emirate,” he said.
Al-Zahid added that the tourist line of the water bus starts from Al-Seef Station, which has been recently opened, and ends up at Al-Shandaga Station in the Heritage Village, which is expected to open mid-August. The return trip will be on the same route. The move aims at activating marine tourism in the emirate, particularly on the banks of Dubai Creek, which commands much attention from tourists and visitors.
“The aim of launching the water bus is to deliver excellent services to commuters,” said Al-Zahid. “Customer opinion polls revealed that there are expectations for a marine transport mode that is both comfortable and air-conditioned. Therefore, the Marine Department embarked upon materializing this mode in the form of the water bus.”
