In 2008, the Ruler of Dubai Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, endorsed the design of Ferry Dubai, costing Dh178 million. The plan for Ferry Dubai was to reduce traffic congestion on the roads. The obvious use of the waters around Dubai is being exploited to help reduce road traffic, which is becoming more congested every day.

The 32 meter long 20 ton ferries are dual base Catamaran Low Wash vessels, with a passenger capacity of 100, Comprising of 84 economy class, 14 business class and 2 seats for people with special needs. This will initially start off as a fleet of two, increasing later up to ten, as the demand exceeds for more ferries, which are  scheduled for the end of 2011.

The ferry service operated by Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), will sail in the Dubai Creek and link Jumeirah Beach, Dubai Marina and the major waterfront developments. The initial service will be a tourist route. Eventually the ferry service will operate between four custom designed stations strategically located along the creek:  The Gold Souk, Union Square, City Centre and Al Ghubaiba.

Once full service is in operation the ferry service will provide a link with the Dubai Maritime City, the emirate of Sharjah, The Palm islands, The World and The Waterfront.

The ferries are capable of 24 knots an hour which will ensure that they are on time and never run late, Estimates suggest that the ferries will transport around 3 million passengers during the first year.

Fitted on all of the ferries are the latest in entertainment to amuse the passengers for the hour journey, as well as having the necessary safety equipment in case of an emergency, with the ferry fleet all complying with all international and safety requirements. Each ferry is fitted with four LCD and DVD monitors, three toilets and a kiosk for selling gift items and snacks.

The Dubai Metro opened on 09/09/09 with ten stations operational under its red line, the idea of the metro was conceived due to the need to get around various parts of the city in an environmentally friendly way, due to the city being so vast in size that it would be impossible to walk the area, as well as the hot weather that would make this both uncomfortable and impractical. This was considered a “must do” “can do” project to help bring the city infrastructure into the 21st century and what a fantastic addition it has proved to be, making a very pleasant addition to the transport issues previously experienced in Dubai.

The local people tend to use this as a far more efficient, cleaner  and effective way of getting around the city now.  To keep the underground clean and pristine the complete ban of food and drink on the Metro is enforced to make it a pleasant way to enjoy the experience, whilst some people may see this as unfair, the immaculate standards are achieved by this practise. The metro was obviously designed with both the local people and the tourist in mind and is a cheaper and cleaner way than taxi, bus or hire cars.

The Dubai metro is the longest automated metro system in the world to be built in one go. It is unique with having a driverless system. Wi-fi access throughout the network and complete mobile phone coverage available. The trains are equipped with Automatic Train Protection (ATP) system, Wayside Obstacle Detection and front and rear cameras keep the train under constant surveillance. This makes the Dubai Metro one of the safest train systems in the world.

The Dubai Metro has a Dedicated Police force on its network. There are over 3000 CCTV cameras the trains and around the stations, to monitor any breaching of security infringements or breaking of the law. There is an integrated radio system giving direct contact between Metro cars and emergency services, with an emergency Call Box in each train and station.

The normal practise in Dubai of being able to provide a better than first class travel that the country deserves, the Dubai Metro has masterminded “Gold Class” where a gold class cabin is provided on each train. The Gold Class cabins comprise of the following “extras”

Wide leather seats. Carpet Flooring, Exclusive Lighting and Design, and a panoramic view from the front of the train. There are also women & children only cabins on each train.

Train layout (courtesy of Dubaimetro.eu)

Dubai Metro map (courtesy of Dubaimetro.eu)

Besides these differences, there will also be four themes to be used in the interiors of all stations: earth, water, fire and air. Earth stations will have a tan-brown colour effects; water will have blue-white colour effects; fire will get orange-red colour effects; and the air will have green colour effects.

Key: Orange = Station open White = Stations due to be opened in 2010-11

Red Line.

Rashidiya, Emirates, Airport Terminal 3, Airport Terminal 1, GGICO, Deira City Centre, Al Rigga, Union Square, Khalid Bin Al Waleed, Al Karama, Al Jafiliya, World Trade Centre, Emirates Towers, Financial Centre, Burj Khalifa, Business Bay, Al Quoz, First Gulf Bank, Mall of the Emirates, Sharaf DG, Dubai Internet City, Nakheel, Dubai Marina, Jumeirah Lake Towers, Nakheel Harbour and Towers, Ibn Battuta, Energy, Jebel Ali Industrial and Jebel Ali

On the Dubai Metro the following grades are used to explain the metro ticket system, elevated Type 1, Type 2 and Type 3 (Named T1, T2 and T3, respectively), underground stations (U) and underground transfer station types (UT). Type 1 is the regular at-grade concourse station, Type 2 will be a standard elevated concourse station, and Type 3 will be an elevated special track station. Underground transfer stations will be accommodate the Red and Green lines for easy transfers.

Green Line.

Al Qusais 2 Station (T3), Al Qusais 1 Station (T2), Airport Free Zone Station (T2), Al Nahda Station (T2), Stadium Station (T2), Al Quiadah Station (T2), Abu Hail Station (T2), Abu Baker Al Siddique Station (T2), Salahuddin Station (U), Union Square Station (UT, connecting to Red Line), Baniyas Square Station (U), Palm Deira Station (U), Al Ras Station (U), Al Ghubaiba Station (U), Saeediya Station (U), Khalid Bin Waleed Station (UT, connecting to Red Line), Oud Metha Station (T2), Health Care City Station (T2), Jeddaf 1 Station (T2), Jeddaf 2 Station (T2)

Some other facts of the Metro taken from the Dubai Metro website

•The Dubai Metro is also the world’s longest automated driverless train system

•It had been launched in a record time of four years

•The total cost of the Dubai Metro is estimated at 15 billion dirhams

•There are two metro lines covering the city – The Red Line and The Green Line

•The Red Line has 29 stations covering 52 kms which will be fully operational by Feb 2010

•The Green Line has 18 stations over 23 kms and will be opened in 2010

•Anyone with a valid ticket/Nol card is eligible to use the Metro – residents or tourists

•There are four types of Nol cards – Silver, Gold, Red and Blue each serving customers as per their requirement

•Train run from 6am to 11pm, Saturday to Thursday and from 2pm to midnight on Fridays. During Ramadan, train times are from 6am to midnight, Saturday to Thursday and 2pm to midnight on Fridays.

•The waiting time between trains during rush hours is 3 minutes 45 seconds and during off peak times is 7 minutes 30 seconds

•First aid crew, security crew in the train cars and station staff will help passengers have a smooth ride

A statistic compiled by Rail Agency of Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) indicated that Dubai Metro had lifted 7,592,066 passengers from the date it was launched on 9 September.

If you want a private boat trip to the destination of your choice, rather than a designated journey shared with others on the Ferry Dubai, then the Water Taxis will satisfy your needs. The taxis are 11 meters long and 4meters wide and conform to the maritime regulations, with all required safety equipment on board. The facility to accommodate wheelchairs, maintain privacy, safety and comfort is a high priority for the RTA. There are 5 of these boats in operation with the potential and capacity to increase these numbers, dependant on how popular and successful they are.

Dubai’s fleet of water taxis are reminiscent of being in an aeroplane, with the passenger seats similar to the ones on a business class flight, as well as having LCD screens and a fold down food tray to eat while on the move. The modern design looks like something you would see in the latest action films, such as James Bond. The taxis have the facility to provide you with the ultimate in comfort, as you travel across the water at speeds of up to 25 knots.

The RTA operates the taxi service from 18 stations in Dubai, between the hours of 10am and 10pm, at a set cost of Dhs400 (£67.00) per hour to the destination of your choice to end at the station of your choice. If you simply want set routes then one stop will cost Dhs50 (£8.50), whilst to travel the full length of the station route will cost you Dhs570 (£96.00). The chart below from the RTA website shows the designated stations, and shows how water transport continues to grow, with the gradual increase of taxi stations needed to accommodate the needs of the passengers, particularly holiday makers.

In 2009 the amount of marine transport commuters for all movements on the waters around Dubai reached 17m, so the need to satisfy demand is crucial, and with the new concepts continually being investigated to ease traffic congestion, any additional water transport is beneficial to the community, by keeping further traffic from the road network. Although the water taxis are primarily designed for tourists, it is hoped that by taking a lot of tourist traffic from the roads to the water, will ease the conditions for everyday commuters.

Unlike other forms of water transport, the water taxi’s are the only marine public transport vessels, that are able to navigate the waters of the Arabian Gulf. The other water faring transport such as the Abras and Waterbus are confined to the creek.

The RTA’s water taxi tariff and the taxi station locations.

Courtesy of Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority.