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Abras in Dubai, water taxis on Dubai Creek

Abra routes in Dubai

• AS = Abra Station, BS = Bus Station, MS = Metro Station. AC = air-conditioned.

Abra type	Route	Origin	Destination	Fare	Timings	Notes
Motor, no AC	CR1	Bur Dubai AS	Deira Old Souk AS	AED 1 cash	0600-2400
Motor, no AC	CR2	Dubai Old Souk AS	Al Sabkha	AED 1 cash	24 hrs
Motor, no AC	Charter	Dubai Creek	Dubai Creek	AED 120/hr		Private charter
Petrol, no AC	CR3	Al Seef	Al Ghubaiba	AED 2 Nol card	0700-2200*	Stops at Baniyas, Dubai Old Souq. *Fri, hols, 1000-2400.
		Al Sabkha Deira	Al Fahidi Bur Dubai	AED 2?		New route Apr 2019
		Al Sabkha	Al Gubaiba	AED 2?		New route Apr 2019
AC	CR5	Dubai Marina Terrace	Dubai Marina Promenade	AED 11*	1000-2300*	*Fri, hols, 1200-2400. *4 stops, fare AED 3, 5, or 11.
AC	CR6	Al Jadaf Marine Station	Dubai Festival City	AED 2	0700*-2400	*Fri 0900. Short walk from Creek MS.
Petrol, no AC		Dubai Water Canal	Dubai Water Canal	AED 25	1600-2330	"Petrol Heritage Abra", 45 min trip.
Petrol, no AC	Charter	Dubai Water Canal	Dubai Water Canal	AED 300/hr		"Petrol Heritage Abra", private charter.
Electric, no AC		Burj Khalifa Lake	Burj Khalifa Lake	AED 65	1800-2300	View Dubai Fountains, 25 min trip.
Electric, no AC		Global Village (GV)	Global Village	AED 50	1600-2400	During GV season, 15 min trip.
Electric, no AC		Al Mamzar	Al Mamzar	AED 60	1600-2400	30 min trip, or AED 120 for 60 min.
Hybrid Abra, no AC	Trial	Al Seef	Al Ghubaiba	AED 2		2018 Dec reports, also said Solar Power.
Solar Power, no AC		Al Mamzar	Al Mamzar			2016 Dec reports
Solar Power, no AC		Al Jaddaf				2016 Dec reports, 1 month trial.

• Dubai Marina abra stops at Marina Terrace, Marina Walk, Dubai Marina Mall, Marina Promenade. Fare for one stop journey is AED 3 or 5, for two stops ??, for Promenade <> Terrace is AED 11.
• Prices, routes valid Mar 2019. Reference RTA Dubai, except for solar powered abras.

08 Apr 2019: Dubai marine transport routes updated

[Table above not updated with prices and timings] Press release from Dubai RTA:

• Dubai Creek marine transport stations and routes being restructured.
• Al Fahidi and Al Sabkha Stations added to existing stations (Al Seef, Baniyas, Dubai Old Souq, Al Ghubaiba) with two new routes added.
  1. Al Sabkha (Deira) to Al Fahidi (Bur Dubai), servicing tourist attractions including Al Fahidi Museum (Dubai Museum), Textiles Souq, Spices Souq, Baniyas Square.
  2. Al Sabkha to Al Ghubaiba Station.
• Other changes: Number of abras in service increased from 4 to 7. Al Seef to Baniyas service frequency increased.

[Not updated] Abra information

Abras (or water taxis) are one of the absolute bargains of Dubai. Forget the luxury yachts heading to Dubai Marina, hop on an abra and enjoy the stunning Dubai Creek scenery for the grand sum of only 1 dirham. Fares doubled to 1 dh per trip on 22 January 2007 (fares were 10 fils in 1981, 25 fils in 1990, and 50 fils from 1992 until 2007 according to Emirates Today newspaper, but another source said the 50 fil fare was introduced in 1986). Abras are not the same as the dhows you see on Dubai creek. An abra is a small commuter boat intended to travel across Dubai Creek, while a dhow is a larger ocean going cargo carrying boat. There are many dhows traveling between Dubai and Asia transporting all manner of goods between the two regions. There are also a few dhows that take tourists up and down the creek for dinner cruises. You can see a selection parked along the side of the creek on the Bur Dubai side near Al Seef Road.

• Tourist abras powered by motors cost 100 dhs per hour (were 50 dhs per hour until January 2007), tourist abras running on oar power cost 30 dhs per hour. Same price even if you offer to paddle yourself.
• Abras run on diesel but in 2006 the RTA (Roads and Transport Authority) was considering CNG or solar power as an alternative.
• An RTA press release 19 July 2010 said about 50,000 people per day use the abra service, and a total of 17 million passengers used public marine transport in 2009.
• By 2008, smart card system expected to be in place - integrated with buses and parking, and the Dubai Metro in 2009.
• In 2006, it is expected that over 21 million passenger trips will be made.
• In 2005, 20 million passengers used the Abras to cross between Deira and Bur Dubai on Dubai Creek. During 2006, 60,000 people used abras every day during the week and up to 100,000 people per day on Fridays and holidays. There are 149 Abras with 300 operators from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Iran on 3 routes across Dubai Creek.
• Maximum capacity is supposed to be 20 passengers per Abra.

Routes and times of operation

• Deira Old Souq Station to Bur Dubai Station (0530-2330)
• Route 2: Al Sabkha Station to Dubai / Deira Old Souq (Souk) Station (24 hours announced 09 October 2006)
• Baniyas Station to Al Seef Station (0530-2330)

Abra news, history, timeline

13 January 2008 update - life jackets for passengers

• From February 2008, abras should have lifejackets, lifebuoys, first-aid kit, and fire extinguishers. What? they didn't have that stuff already?
• There are air-conditioned water taxis also operating on Dubai Creek by the RTA. They follow the same routes as the traditional abras but cost 4 dhs per ticket.

10 October 2006 update

• Route No 2 from Dubai Old Souk station to Al Sabkha Station will have 15 abras allocated for service from midnight to 0600. Approved by RTA, see in Emirates Today newspaper. But this must be the same as the Deira Old Souk to Al Sabkha which is 24 hours already?

Solar Powered Abras or Water Taxis

• Pilot project launched in August 2007 with two Abras converted to solar power and compressed natural gas (CNG).
• Solar-powered Abra trials conducted in conjunction with Swiss MW-LINE Company.

Categories

• Parent category: Public Transport in Dubai.
• Child pages:
• Related pages or categories: RTA Dubai, Dubai Ferry, Water Taxi, Dubai Creek, Dubai Water Canal, Dubai Marina, Dubai Waterbus (Water Bus), Dubai Cruise Ship Terminal.

References

• See also the Abras Dubai - discussion, comments, latest news.

Last update Tuesday 09-Apr-2019

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