Abra (boat type)

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Water taxi (Abra), Dubai

Abra ( Arabic عبرة, DMG ʿabra ) is a traditional wooden boat used to transport people across Dubai Creek in Dubai , United Arab Emirates .

Structure and equipment

A medium-sized, single-engine boat has a capacity of 20 passengers and is steered by a single guide from the cockpit in the middle of the ship. The space for the passengers is a small platform around the cockpit, covered by a canopy . There are 10 passengers sitting on each side with a view of the water. The speed can differ from boat to boat, but the steering system is basically the same. The wooden rudder is often connected to a mechanism in the cockpit via ropes and pulleys.

General information

The main purpose of the Abra was to transport it from one side of Dubai Creek to the other before various bridges allowed the crossing or the Al Shindagha Tunnel to allow cars to cross under the waterway. Nowadays it is mostly used by tourists, ordinary people and nostalgics. It is currently an essential and frequently used part of Dubai's transportation system, transporting 15 to 20 million passengers annually and steadily gaining reputation in terms of importance. The journey between the Deira and Bur Dubai districts on the opposite side of the inlet takes five to seven minutes. When crossing, however, you have to be careful of small collisions, as the abrasions meet in narrow spaces, especially in the vicinity of the overcrowded loading bays. For this reason, all passengers are required to remain seated throughout the journey.

The Abra service is regulated by Dubai's Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) . The RTA is responsible for issuing the licenses to operate the Abras and determines fees and capacities. The authorities are currently striving to switch to more environmentally friendly fuels or even solar-powered drives, which, however, is accompanied by an increase in the previous fare.

In the past, the old loading piers were replaced by official loading stations, which were equipped with more spacious entrances designed for crowd control. The Dubai Municipality is responsible for the construction and maintenance of these facilities . There are currently around 150 Abras in service. The boats are in use from five in the morning until midnight, with one of the two routes being used all day. For a direct crossing, a price of 1 dirham per person is required or a rental price of 100 dirhams per hour (as of 2012). Rowing equipped abrasives are also available for 1 dirham per head or 30 dirham per hour.

In January, as part of the Dubai Shopping Festival, there is an Abra race on Dubai Creek, which is endowed with prize money of 6,000 dirhams.

See also

swell

Web links

Commons : Water Transport in Dubai  - Collection of Images, Videos and Audio Files

supporting documents

  1. ↑ Abras, a traditional means of transportation tion English , accessed 12 February 2012