By Staff www.business24-7.ae
Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) will inaugurate five water taxis on Wednesday.
Mattar Al Tayer, Chairman of the Board and Executive Director of RTA, said the service will be available between 10am and 10pm.
People will have to call the toll free number 8009090 and wait at the station agreed to take the the water taxi.
Water taxis can also be rented for sightseeing purposes at the Dubai Creek and other tourist spots.
“The fares will depend on the length and type of trip. A tourist trip in one water taxi will cost Dh400 per hour. While regular journey will range between Dh50 to the nearest stations namely the Dubai Creek Park (A,B), and up to Dh570for a trip between the two farthest stations namely the stations of Dubai Festival City and the Jebel Ali Hotel and Spa for Boating and Yachting,” said Al Tayer.
“The water taxi service covers 18 locations on the Dubai Creek and tourist spots of the emirate that are linked to hotels, marine clubs and tourist locations including stations of Al Mamzar, Deira Old Souq, Al Sabkha, Bani Yas, Dubai Festival City, Al Shindagha, Bur Dubai, Al Fheidi, Al Seef, Dubai Creek Park (A,B), Al Boom Tourist Village, Open Jumeirah Beach, Jumeirah Beach Park, Jumeirah Beach Hotel, Dubai Marina, Jebel Ali Hotel and Spa, Atlantis Hotel. New stations would added later on such as the Meridian Mina Seyahi Hotel and Royal Mirage Hotel,” he added.
The water taxis made from carbon fibre boasts a sleek design. It is characterised by its structure of ‘catamaran low wash’, and a sleek ceiling; central air-conditioning and comfortable seats similar to the the Business Class seats in aircraft and are equipped with LCD screens on the backside. The seats can be reversed up to 45 degrees.
One taxi can seat 11 passengers in addition to the commander, and 20 per cent of the seats adedicated for people with special needs, with sufficient space to facilitate entry and exit of wheel chairs.
Each water taxi is 11 metres long and four metres in width and weighs nine tonnes.
It has a speed of up to 35 knots. It is charactersed by two eco-friendly engines at 270 horsepower.
It is also equipped with the best navigational devices approved by the IMO, not to mention the application of the world’s highest safety criteria (SOLAS).
