Dubai Water Taxi & Dubai Water Bus Explained

1.2K

Did you think commuting across the city of Dubai was only possible through the roads and rail? If travelling on water is something that floats your boat, you need to know about these couple options offering you traffic-free routes around the city – and a fabulous way to take on some of Dubai’s most unique views!

Marine Transport in Dubai

Recent and ongoing developments around the landscape of Dubai have included various man-made canals and natural waterways. Dubai’s Road and Transport Authority (RTA) has made it possible to travel across these waterways and take a more traffic-free route in order to get to your destination. Not only are there more than one mode of marine transport, but they are all very economical for both residents and tourists.

The traditional wooden Abra boats are most frequently travelled between Dubai Creek, located in the heart of old Dubai, making it a wonderful way to discover the charm of the old city. Also popular with tourists is Dubai Ferry – a modern 100-passenger capacity ferry cruising around the city’s most breathtaking views from the coastline.

Other ways to travel on the tranquil waterways include the Dubai Water Taxi and Dubai Water Bus. Often mistaken for each other, they are, in fact, two different services offered by the RTA operating in different parts of the city.

What is Dubai Water Taxi?

Working just as a normal taxi would on the road, the Dubai Water Taxi is designed to help passengers transit between different locations, except that it travels on the city’s waterways. Although enjoying a bit of sightseeing from these mini air-conditioned water taxis is possible, they are generally used more as a way to commute.

Each Water Taxi can comfortably seat 10 passengers, complete with personal LCD monitors for all.

Routes for the Dubai Water Taxi

Operating between two zones, there are 44 stations spread across the city, from where you can hop on and off. Zone 1 includes the modern skyline of the cosmopolitan city, which includes Dubai Marina and Palm Jumeirah. On the other hand, Zone 2 takes you across a heritage route and includes Dubai Creek and the Dubai Water Canal.

For the complete list of all 44 stations, please check the page on the official RTA website, as shown in the map below.

Dubai Water Taxi Cost

Tickets for a Water Taxi can either be booked online through the RTA website, emailing WtBook@rta.ae or by calling the RTA toll free number – 8009090. The Water taxi will then be available to pick you up from your chosen location.

Depending on how far you wish to travel, tickets can cost between AED 55 – AED 205.

Water Taxis can also be chartered for an hourly rate of AED 400 – a great idea if you have a group and need to get between two points of the city on the water.

Frequency of Dubai Water Taxi

Dubai water taxis are flexible and run on-demand only from 3:00 PM to 11:00 PM.

---

What is a Water Bus in Dubai?

Similar to the Water Taxi, the Dubai Water Bus is also a modern way to commute across the water, but it only operates in Dubai Marina.

With only short distances between each stop, it is an ideal way to enjoy this traffic-free route between towering high-rise buildings of this fast-paced city. There are plenty of modern landscapes to see on the ride, from rows of privately owned yachts to going under bridges.

Make the journey even more memorable and photograph-worthy by sailing at sunset or after dark as you catch lights shimmering from the various buildings and watch cafes along the promenade fill up with people.

Each Water Bus has an enclosed air-conditioned interior and is able to comfortably seat 20 passengers, including people of determination. They are currently updating the fleet from older white and red water buses to modern airconditioned abras.