You can now catch a traditional abra down the Dubai Water Canal

You can now catch a traditional abra down the Dubai Water Canal – and that’s not the only way you can get around it…

Keen to cruise down the new Dubai Water Canal on a traditional wooden abra? 

Well, you now can, as the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has just launched an abra service along the new waterway. The boats will operate on demand from 4pm to 11.30pm every day. 

How much does it cost? Well, you can pay Dhs25 per person per hour for the tour, or you can charter a whole abra (which fits 20 people) for Dhs300.

Oh, and a heads up, the abras won’t necessarily take off unless there are eight passengers, so if just two of you head down there you’ll have to wait for other folks to join before you can go on the cruise.

The service will run tentatively for the next three months – and it’s likely that if it goes well it will become a permanent fixture.

You can also catch a water taxi along the Canal. Not quite as picturesque, sure, but very pratical.

But remember, there are plenty of other ways to cruise along the Canal. Nine new water ferry and taxi stations have opened along the Dubai Canal meaning you can now zip from Jumeirah to near Safa Park by boat. This also means that a ferry now links Al Ghubaiba to Marina Mall via Dubai Canal. So yes, you’ll be able to catch the ferry from Business Bay to the Marina or Business Bay to Bastakiya.

Five new stations are along the Canal, with those stations called Sheikh Zayed Road, Safa Park, Al Wasl, Jumeirah and Dubai Canal. Four of the new stations are along Business Bay: with these stations called Dubai Design District, Al Wajeha, Al Maeyah, Marasi and Business Bay. The opening of these has raised the number of marine transport stations in the UAE to 42.

Here’s a look at the new station locations:

“The service will be available on demand… from 10 am to 10 pm in all new stations,” explained H.E. Mattar Al Tayer, the Chairman of the RTA.

“There will be three newly scheduled two-way daily services for the Dubai Ferry from Al Jaddaf Station calling at Dubai Design District, Al Wajeha Al Maeyah, and Marasi stations in the Business Bay; and the Sheikh Zayed Road and the Dubai Canal stations in the Dubai Water Canal. The services will start at 10 am, 12 midday and 05:30 pm. The current line of the Dubai Ferry shuttling between Al Ghubaiba Station and Marina Mall Station will be modified to call at the Dubai Canal Station. Thus, the Dubai Canal Station will link between Al Ghubaiba, Marina Mall, Business Bay and Al Jaddaf. Due attention has been given to the integration of other transit modes (buses, trains and taxis) in order to provide a smooth and safe service for commuters,” he explained.

What about the other fares?

The tourist class Dubai Ferry costs Dhs15 to one station, Dhs25 to two stations, Dhs35 to three stations, Dhs45 to 4 stations, and Dhs50 over the entire line. The fare of the gold class will be Dhs25 to one station, Dhs35 to two stations, Dhs50 to three stations, Dhs60 to 4 stations, and Dhs75 over the entire line. The fare of the Water Taxi ranges from Dhs55 to Dhs205, and the cost of charting a whole Water Taxi for one-hour is Dhs400.

And remember, you can also walk along the Dubai Canal – here’s our video guide of the area:

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