The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) will build 12 new marine transport stations at the Business Bay Canal and the Dubai Water Canal, which will boost the country's maritime sector, according to a top RTA official.

Mattar Al Tayer, Director-General and Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), said, "Five of these stations are being built at the Dubai Water Canal project, which is currently underway, and the remaining seven stations will be built at the Business Bay Canal by 2018."

According to him, the total number of marine transport stations in Dubai Creek, Business Bay Canal and Dubai Water Canal will rise to 18 stations, and that the marine transport sector will witness a sharp rise in the number and available transport modes, stations and passengers with the completion of the link of the Business Bay Canal and the Dubai Water Canal with the Arabian Gulf. "This will render marine transit modes the favourite mobility choice of citizens, residents, and visitors who will be ferried from the shores of the Dubai Creek and the two water canals," said Al Tayer.

He explained, "The Marine transport sector is an integral part of the mass transit network in the emirate with an estimated 13 million passengers per annum. In view of the importance of this sector as a vital transit mode, the RTA has developed a master plan for upgrading marine transport systems in the city including the operation of Dubai Creek lines, coastal line alongside the Jumeirah beaches, new islands service lines, in addition to the Business Bay and Dubai Water Canal lines. Over the past few years, the RTA embarked on the operation of a number of electricity-powered traditional abras (water Taxi). These abras are deployed at some tourist destinations such as the Dubai Mall Lake, Global Village, Atlantis Hotel, and Mamzar Beach. It has also launched the Tourist Day package in Dubai, and the One-Day Ticket of the Water Bus at the Dubai Marina."

Al Tayer added that over the past five years, the RTA has achieved several key projects such as retrofitting 149 abra engines, revamping abra dockyards and marinas, and launching the 36-seater water bus.