RTA announces working time of Dubai Metro, paid parking zones during Ramadan

Metro operational hours to extend up to 01.00 am
Al Tayer: Evening session of Paid Parking Zones starts from 07 pm to 12 am


RTA announces working time of Dubai Metro, paid parking zones during Ramadan
Metro operational hours to extend up to 01.00 am
Al Tayer: Evening session of Paid Parking Zones starts from 07 pm to 12 am
Dubai Metro service hours during the holy month of Ramadan will start from 06.00 am and continue until 01.00 am (after midnight) during weekdays, and from 02.00 pm to 01.00 am on Fridays, announced H.E. Mattar Al Tayer, Chairman of the Board & Executive Director of the Roads & Transport Authority (RTA). Al Tayer also announced a revision in the working hours of paid parking zones during Ramadan where the morning session will remain as it is (from 08.00 am to 01.00 pm), and the evening session will start from 07.00 pm to 12.00 am (midnight), thus maintaining the same number of hours set for using parking zones in the evening session without any increase.
RTA Chairman of the Board and Executive Director also announced that RTA was keen on delivering top class services to the users of transport means to meet the needs and expectations of customers. “Fixing the metro service time during the holy month of Ramadan came in response to an opinion poll of the public and metro riders about the operational timing. It also came in response to a comprehensive study of mobility movement in the Emirate during Ramadan and the working hours in the public and private sector organizations. The decision also takes into consideration the movement of people which soars after Iftar and Taraweeh prayers and continues late into the night.

Commenting on the working hours of the of the paid parking zones in Ramadan, Al Tayer said: “Revising the parking timing in the evening session was intended to ease the pressure on parking users in the afternoon up to Iftar time as the parking use will be exempted from 01.00 pm up to 07.00 pm, and the fees will apply from 07.00 pm to 12.00 am (midnight) in order to avail the parking space for users. The movement of the public within markets and business districts during Ramadan shifts from day time to the period after Iftar. Thus it was inevitable to take a decision that goes in parallel line with the commercial activity in the Emirate to ensure the availability of parking space for the public during and after Iftar, streamline the traffic movement in all areas of the Emirate, minimize the negative use of parking, and ensure the availability of parking space during the business peak hours of Ramadan”.
Al Tayer concluded by expressing aspiration to see more cooperation of the public with RTA efforts in streamlining the parking process, particularly in heavily populated areas for the benefit of all users.

RTA inaugurates Water Taxi

Al Tayer: "Fare ranges between AED50 to AED570 for regular trips and AED400 per hour for tourist journey"

Serves 18 stations on Dubai Creek and tourist spots

HE Mattar Al Tayer, Chairman of the Board and Executive Director of the RTA announced the operation of five "Water Taxis" as of today Wednesday. The service will be provided on demand from 10:00 am to 10:00 pm by calling toll free number 8009090, and waiting at the station agreed to ride on board the Water Taxi. As for the alighting process, it will be at the discretion of the rider at any locations of the Water Taxi stations. The Water Taxi can be also rented for sightseeing purposes at Dubai Creek and tourist spots.

"The Water Taxi faring depends on the length and type of trip, as the tourist trip fares at AED 400 per hour for one Water Taxi. While the regular journey ranges between the AED 50 to the nearest stations namely the Dubai Creek Park (A, B), the fare will be up to AED570 for the 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 with the hotels, marine clubs and tourist locations including the 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, pointing out that the number of locations would increase by adding new ones in the next period such as Meridian Mina Seyahi Hotel and Royal Mirage Hotel," he added.

Al Tayer further explained that the Water Taxi is characterized by its sleek design, which combines the traditional form with the modernity represented by the ceiling that is derived from the design of the Dubai Metro stations, and benefit from the latest technology in this area. It is made from carbon fibers, which are characterized by their strength and light weight. The Water Taxi is also characterized by its structure of "Catamaran Low Wash", and a sleek ceiling; central air conditioning and comfortable seats that look like the Business Class seats in aircraft and are equipped with LCD screens on the backside of the seats with the capability of reversing the seat up to 45 degrees as well as a special table. The Water Taxi can seat 11 passengers in addition to the commander, pointing out that taken into account on designing the Water Taxi the requirements fulfillment of persons with special needs, where 20% of the seats has been dedicated for this category; the seats are foldable to provide sufficient space to facilitate entry and exit of the wheelchair smoothly without any obstruction in addition to stability safely in the cabin.

He said that the Water Taxi is 11 meters long and 4 meters wide, while their weight is 9 tons and its speed is up to 35 knots. It is characterized by two eco-friendly engines at 270 horsepower. Its also equipped with the best navigational devices approved by the (IMO), not to mention the application of the world's highest safety criteria (SOLAS).

Al Tayer further stated that the Water Taxi project comes within the overall study and strategic plan stipulated by the RTA to develop the marine transport systems in Dubai so as to meet the needs and wishes of large social cross-sections and cover up new areas, pointing out that the number of marine transport commuters including the Abras and Water Bus, reached last year around 17 millions, as the Abras transit on daily basis around 50 thousand commuters and the Water Bus transits on daily basis around 1500 commuters.