Dubai’s RTA Expands Marine Transport Network
Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) is rapidly expanding its marine transport network to serve new waterfront communities and tourist attractions. In mid-2024 the RTA launched two new ferry lines for Dubai Creek Harbour: one shuttling between Dubai Creek Harbour and Dubai Festival City (operating weekends from 4:00pm–11:55pm) and the other linking Dubai Creek Harbour to Al Jaddaf Marine Station and Al Khail Metro Station on weekdays (7:30–10:50am and 4:00–10:50pm). These routes (just AED 2 per stop) connect fast-growing new developments to established hubs. Earlier, in 2022 RTA had introduced a Bluewaters–Dubai Marina line (weekday service 4:50–11:25pm, weekends 4:10–11:45pm, fare AED 5) as well as a Creek Harbour–Dubai Festival City ferry on weekends.
New Marine Routes and Services
Dubai Creek Harbour – Dubai Festival City: A weekend ferry line (Sat–Sun, 16:00–23:55) at AED 2 per stop.
Dubai Creek Harbour – Al Jaddaf/Al Khail: A weekday water bus line (Mon–Fri, 07:30–10:50 & 16:00–22:50) at AED 2 per stop.
Bluewaters Island – Dubai Marina: A daily water taxi service (weekdays 16:50–23:25; weekends 16:10–23:45) connecting Bluewaters to Marina Mall at AED 5.
Business Bay (Water Canal) Line DC2: A new day-time boat line (8:00am–10:00pm Mon–Sat; 10:00am–10:00pm Sun) linking Waterfront, Marasi, Business Bay, Godolphin and Sheikh Zayed Road marine stations.
Al Jaddaf – Dubai Design District (Line DC3): A weekend evening shuttle (Sat–Sun, 16:00–23:00) between Al Jaddaf and Dubai Design District marinas, providing a direct link to the Metro’s Green Line at Creek metro station.
Souk Al Marfa (Deira Islands): A new abra and ferry station opened in March 2022, with a 25-minute abra route to the Old Souq (Bur Dubai) and a 20-minute ferry to Al Ghubaiba (Dubai Creek) on weekends.
Each of these routes offers a scenic, affordable alternative to road travel and ties into major destinations (Festival City, Marina, Business Bay, etc.). Fares are kept low (AED 2–5) to encourage ridership and relieve traffic pressure.
| Route / Line | Days of Operation | Timings | Fare |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dubai Creek Harbour → Dubai Festival City | Weekends (Sat–Sun) | 16:00 – 23:55 | AED 2 per stop |
| Dubai Creek Harbour → Al Jaddaf / Al Khail Metro | Weekdays (Mon–Fri) | 07:30 – 10:50 & 16:00 – 22:50 | AED 2 per stop |
| Bluewaters Island → Dubai Marina Mall | Weekdays | 16:50 – 23:25 | AED 5 |
| Weekends | 16:10 – 23:45 | AED 5 | |
| Business Bay Canal Line (DC2) – Waterfront, Marasi, Business Bay, Godolphin, SZR Stations | Mon–Sat | 08:00 – 22:00 | AED 2–5 (depending on route) |
| Sun | 10:00 – 22:00 | AED 2–5 | |
| Al Jaddaf → Dubai Design District (DC3) | Weekends (Sat–Sun) | 16:00 – 23:00 | AED 2–5 |
| Souk Al Marfa (Deira Islands) → Old Souq (Bur Dubai) | Weekends | ~25 min abra ride | Standard abra fare |
| Souk Al Marfa (Deira Islands) → Al Ghubaiba (Dubai Creek) | Weekends | ~20 min ferry ride | Standard ferry fare |
Upgraded Ferry Stations and Amenities
In parallel, RTA has upgraded key marine stations. In September 2025, for example, RTA inaugurated the Old Dubai Souq and Al Sabkha Abra stations on Dubai Creek after a full refurbishment. These final-phase upgrades – following earlier work at Bur Dubai and Old Deira Souq – add covered seating, ticket kiosks and even retail outlets for abra passengers. Stations now feature heritage-inspired design elements with expanded shaded waiting areas, mirroring recent enhancements in Dubai Marina that include air-conditioned docks and real-time information systems. The goal is to preserve Dubai’s maritime culture (traditional abras) while modernizing facilities to boost capacity and comfort.
Connectivity, Capacity and Benefits
The expanded marine network significantly improves coastal access in line with Dubai’s master plan. For example, Deira Islands (where Souk Al Marfa sits) alone added some 21 km of new beachfront to the city’s coastline. By linking these new waterside districts with Metro and bus hubs, RTA ensures seamless multimodal travel. Usage of the new services has soared – the Creek Harbour lines saw average monthly ridership jump from ~3,000 to 30,000 in the past year (a 900% increase) – reflecting strong demand. RTA executives note that the initiatives support Dubai’s broader goals of economic growth and quality of life by “enhancing service quality and supporting waterfront development projects”. In short, the new ferry and water-taxi routes offer a comfortable, eco-friendly way to connect Dubai’s landmarks (Marina, Business Bay, Downtown, Creek) and are part of the Marine Transport Master Plan 2020–2030 aimed at boosting marine ridership and relieving road congestion.
For inland travel from waterfront areas (for example, beyond Business Bay), visitors can also rent a car Business Bay Dubai to reach other parts of the city with ease.