Dubai (United Arab Emirates): The Statistics released by Marine Agency at Roads & Transport Authority (RTA) revealed that the number of passengers using rowing abras across Dubai Creek topped 11,379 passengers served in 569 trips during the period from the beginning of January till the end of September 2008.

Hussain Al-Saffar, Director of Operation & Maintenance Dep’t at RTA Marine Agency said: “The number of passengers served by rowing abras hit 11379 passengers served in 569 trips, at a monthly rate of 1264 passengers ferried in 63 trips per month and a daily rate of 41 passengers ferried in 2 trips per day. March topped the monthly list registering 1352 passengers ferried in 68 trips, followed by May where 1329 passengers were ferried in 66 trips, and at the bottom of the list was the month of February registering 1162 passengers ferried in 58 trips.

“There are 5 rowing abras in service operated by 5 operators. These abras are managed by Deira Travels Co., which owns the franchise rights to operate them. Rowing abras shuttle between two main stations; namely the Creek Park Station; where the service starts at 05.30 am and runs through 12.00 noon, and Public Library Station, where the service starts at 10.00 am and continues until 06.00 pm. The fare is one dirham per passenger per trip and the rowing abra can be chartered at a fee of 30 dirham per passenger per trip” said Al-Saffar.

“Rowing abra is a traditional mode of marine transport and the RTA is keen to upkeep it and encourage people to use it in commuting between the two banks of Dubai Creek or in tourist excursions. Marine Agency promotes maritime tourism in Dubai across Dubai Creek and the rowing abra is the gateway to serve this purpose. The Agency is seeking to lure the public to use traditional mass transit modes; replicating the life of old inhabitants of the area; who heavily relied on the sea as a means of living. From another perspective, it is a symbolic means of sticking to the legacy of ancestors and the need to link past and present generations as well as old marine modes with new ones based on modern technology but with a traditional flavour.

“The Agency is keen to provide a wide spectrum of marine mass transit modes and introduce the latest technologies to various types of marine transport and systems, be it rowing abras or motorized one. Recently the Agency operated three abras powered by compressed natural gas, beside launching the new & pioneer mass transit service mode via the water bus, and embarked on implementation of Dubai Taxi & Ferry Dubai projects.

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