Dubai’s marine transport upgrades: New abras, improved stations and routes you can use

Dubai’s latest marine upgrade is on the water. On 6 November 2026, the Roads and Transport Authority announced that four new traditional abras had joined its fleet. Each carries 24 passengers and has an electronic destination board. Earlier in the year, RTA completed a separate set of waiting-area upgrades at five stations. The new boats change the equipment RTA can use. The station work changes where passengers wait. To plan a journey, start with the route and departure that serve the two banks or waterfront stops you need. RTA’s November fleet addition · RTA’s April station upgrades

What the new traditional abras add

RTA calls these boats the fourth generation of its traditional abra. Its release describes updated seating and flooring, designated areas for People of Determination and screens that show operational and safety information. The destination board is a new feature for this model. At a busy boarding point, that can help you confirm the destination before you get on. Still check the station name and the next stop with the operator if several routes leave from nearby berths. RTA’s equipment and design details

The November notice confirms that the four vessels joined the fleet. It does not assign them to named routes or publish a frequency increase. Plan around the service you can see in the route information, and check with station staff if you need to know which vessel is operating. The designated areas on the new boats are a vessel feature. For a particular boarding requirement, confirm the station approach and the boat that will actually serve the trip.

Where waiting areas have changed

On 13 April 2026, RTA confirmed completion of the second phase of its waiting-area project. It names Sheikh Zayed Road, Al Fahidi, Bluewaters, Baniyas and Al Seef. RTA describes changes to the layout and comfort of the waiting spaces and a design that draws on Dubai’s maritime heritage. Its previous phase covered Marina Promenade, Marina Terrace, Marina Walk and the North and South marine stations at Marina Mall. Check the station name carefully in Dubai Marina, where a reference to the mall alone may not identify the berth. RTA’s two waiting-area phases

A separate Creek project finished in September 2025 at Old Dubai Souq and Al Sabkha. RTA says it expanded shaded waiting areas by 50% in that final phase and improved lighting. It had already undertaken work at Bur Dubai and Old Deira Souq in the earlier phase. These are station upgrades along existing crossing corridors. When you choose a boarding point, look at which side of the Creek it serves and the places you can reach at the far end. RTA’s Old Dubai Souq and Al Sabkha completion notice

Crossing the older part of the Creek

For a straightforward crossing, RTA’s timetable lists CR1 between Bur Dubai and Deira Old Souq and CR2 between Dubai Old Souq and Al Sabkha as on-demand services. Its marine guide publishes AED 1 per passenger per trip, paid in cash, for the traditional crossings on those routes. The two souq names are easy to confuse. Look at both endpoints before you head to the water. If someone is waiting for you, tell them the station where you expect to land as well as the district. RTA’s route identifiers · Traditional abra fare and payment

For Al Fahidi, RTA’s Creek guide lists CR4 from Al Sabkha and CR5 from Deira Old Souq. For a connection to Baniyas, it lists CR3 from Dubai Old Souq and CR6 from Al Seef. These services are listed at AED 2. The general timetable also includes CR7 between Al Seef, Al Fahidi and Dubai Old Souq, but the dedicated Creek guide says CR7 is on hold until further notice. If that is the connection you expected to take, check with RTA and have an alternative before you walk to the berth. RTA’s Creek fares and CR7 notice · RTA’s general timetable

Dubai Creek Harbour and the connection at Al Jaddaf

The Creek Harbour links extend beyond the older crossings. RTA introduced two routes in 2024 and still lists them in its network: CR9 between Dubai Festival City and Dubai Creek Harbour, and CR11 between Al Jaddaf and Dubai Creek Harbour. It also lists BM2 between Al Jaddaf and Festival City. The dedicated route guide quotes AED 2 per person per direction for each. Check the day of travel. RTA’s dedicated guide lists CR9 for Saturday and Sunday evenings and gives a different schedule for CR11. The hours from the original launch announcement differ from the newer route guide, so use the current timetable for the planned crossing. RTA’s original Creek Harbour links · RTA’s route fares and service windows

Al Jaddaf Marine Station also gives you a way to connect to Creek Metro Station. Treat the Metro stop and the marine berth as two parts of the journey. Allow for the walk and check the boat schedule before leaving the station. If you are going to Festival City, confirm BM2. If you are going to Creek Harbour, look for CR11. The route code helps when two services start from the same marine station but land in different places. RTA’s Al Jaddaf connection guide

Marina and Bluewaters: Pick the berth by route code

RTA’s timetable lists BM1, the Marina water taxi service, through Marina Promenade, Dubai Marina Mall North, Marina Walk and Marina Terrace. The route page lists AED 7 for a single section and AED 7 to AED 21 on the full route, depending on the stops travelled. If you are going from Marina Walk to another point on the waterfront, confirm the direction and how many stops are involved before boarding. The April completion announcement identifies those Marina waiting areas as part of the preceding upgrade phase. RTA’s BM1 station list · RTA’s Marina fares

For Bluewaters, check BM3, which RTA’s timetable identifies as the water taxi connection from Dubai Marina Mall South. RTA’s route promotion lists AED 7 and different service windows by day. Bluewaters’ waiting area was part of the April 2026 work. The timetable also shows an FR2 ferry option connecting Marina Mall and Bluewaters. Choose the mode and route code before checking the time and price. A water taxi fare for BM3 should not be used to price the ferry. RTA water taxi and ferry listings · BM3 fare and operating windows

Check the return before you take the outward boat. If you go to Bluewaters for an evening appointment, the relevant detail is the departure that gets you back to the side of the Marina you need. You might use the water taxi one way and a different connection on the return. Save the full berth name rather than the nearest landmark. This helps when there is a North and South station and when an app lists the mall by itself.

What changed inside the waiting areas

RTA’s April completion notice describes air-conditioning, more seating, expanded waiting space and screens with marine service information. It also lists announcements and free Wi-Fi in the upgraded facilities. Those are practical changes when you need to wait through a gap between boats. Use the screen or station staff to check the departure for your direction. At Al Fahidi or Al Seef, the improved waiting space does not tell you whether a specific route is running. Check the service status separately, especially if your original plan depended on CR7. RTA’s waiting-area features · Dedicated Creek route status

For passengers with mobility needs, the waiting area and the vessel are two things to confirm. RTA says the waiting-area design takes the Dubai Universal Design Code into account and the November abra design includes designated areas. Ask about your actual berth and the vessel serving it. A station can have improved facilities while the next departure uses another model or boards at a different point. If you are travelling with a companion, agree where to meet before proceeding to the berth. RTA station design information · RTA’s new boat features

Seasonal electric abras at Global Village

RTA’s October notice says two electric tourist abras returned for Global Village’s 31st season. Global Village identifies its Al-Abra Tour at Dragon Lake. This is a ride within the venue. If you are going there specifically for the boat, check the attraction’s operating details and price separately from entry and from any transport you use to reach Global Village. The seasonal boats are a different announcement from the four traditional abras added in November. RTA’s seasonal service notice · Global Village’s Dragon Lake ride

Check payment and boarding for the trip you choose

RTA’s marine service guide lets you search by area, vessel type and route. For bookings made online, it says the ticket is emailed and must be presented for validation. Its station instructions also describe using a ticket or nol where applicable. The AED 1 traditional crossings have their own cash guidance. Check the exact route before assuming that a payment method or ticket from another boat will apply. RTA’s marine ticket and boarding procedures · RTA’s route-specific traditional fare

If you are connecting to a bus, the Metro or a timed event, allow for the walk between stops and the time to board. RTA’s marine guide asks passengers to arrive five minutes early for abras and water taxis and 15 minutes early for the ferry. Its route pages may give more conservative guidance. Check the timetable again close to departure because weather or operational changes can affect sailings. For a return late in the evening, identify another way back if the last useful boat is cancelled or has already left. Marine boarding and service conditions

Match the water crossing to the place you need to reach

If you need to cross the Creek to meet someone in Deira, choose the arrival station before deciding which upgraded berth to use. Deira Old Souq, Al Sabkha and Baniyas are different landing points. Confirm how far the person will need to walk from their side and whether that crossing runs when you need it. In the Marina, do the same with North and South at the mall. A precise berth name is more helpful than a meeting message that simply says to wait by the water.

When you reach the station, confirm the route code and destination before paying. The waiting-area improvements make the time before boarding more comfortable, and the new destination boards can help when an upgraded abra is assigned. The operator’s route listing, station information and actual departure are still the details that get you to the right bank.

For a connection at Al Jaddaf, save the route and the berth as well as the Metro stop. If the first boat you see is going to Festival City and you need Creek Harbour, wait for the correct service or check another way there. When planning the trip in the opposite direction, look up the return stop and schedule from that side. The same fare can apply to both directions while the next available departure differs.