Al Tayer Opens UAE’s First Smart Floating Marine Transport Station
HE Mattar Al Tayer, Director-General and Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), has opened UAE’s first smart floating marine transport station at Dubai Festival City.
The station, which accommodates more than 25 passengers, contributes to the integration of marine transit modes by linking Jadaf-Dubai Festival City line with public buses and Creek Metro Station.
Abra service will be running every 10 minutes between Dubai Festival City and Jadaf Stations daily from 07:00 am up to 00:00 am (midnight) at a fare of two UAE dirhams.
Al Tayer toured Dubai Festival City Station which has witnessed a considerable rise in the number of visitors from 42,863 riders in 2016 to 187,000 riders in 2017.
The numbers continued the upward trend in 2018 recording a 24% increase to hit 245,000 riders.
Featuring a design inspired by marine habitats, the station is in harmony with green buildings standards and is connected with a pier and shaded outdoor areas. It is also open for future expansions and relocatable as well.
The building provides spaces dedicated to people of determination and top security and safety standards. It has ticket sale service facilities and waiting places overlooking Dubai Creek.
The station is capable of accommodating various marine transit means comprising the ferry, water bus, water taxi, traditional abra and air-conditioned abra.
Its location is in close proximity to Jadaf Marine Transport Station, Dubai Metro Creek Station, and the public bus station on the opposite side of Dubai Creek.
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The floating station is one of the first smart stations. The hi-tech devices fitted to the station provide real-time passenger information, timetables of marine transport services and weather condition.
Customers can plan their journeys at the Smart Kiosk in an integrated way with other marine transit modes.
The smart systems provided enable clients to process various transactions related to RTA while staying at the station.
RTA has also provided a Smart Corner onboard Dubai Ferry rendering it the first floating smart marine transport station in the region. It is run in five languages: Arabic, English, Malayalam, Urdu, and Chinese.
WiFi service is provided free of charge at the station to boost the happiness of marine transport riders.
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Al Tayer was delighted with the opening of the floating marine transport station at Dubai Festival City: “The construction of this station is part of RTA master plan for improving Dubai marine transit systems, which are used by more than 14 m riders annually.
“RTA plan envisages the construction of seven new marine transport stations at the Business Bay, Dubai Water Canal and coastal areas over the next couple of years; which will bring the total number of marine transit stations in Dubai to 55 stations by 2020.
“The plan includes operating marine transport services along Dubai Creek and Jumeirah Beaches in addition to the New Islands, Business Bay and Dubai Water Canals services.
Last year, RTA launched Al Garhoud Workshop for Maintenance of Marine Transit Means (abra, ferry and water taxi), the first specialist workshop of marine transit means manufactured of fibreglass.
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