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Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority has unveiled an ambitious strategic direction to transform marine transport by studying the launch of new high-speed sea routes connecting Dubai with the Northern Emirates, in coordination with transport authorities across the UAE, aiming to strengthen public transport integration and significantly reduce road congestion.

The authority confirmed that official announcements regarding these routes will follow the completion of technical and operational studies, highlighting strong sector performance, with passenger numbers rising by 2.6% in 2025 compared to 2024, surpassing 18.4 million riders, and projections indicating further growth to 19.3 million passengers in 2026, reflecting increasing reliance on marine mobility solutions.

Dubai’s marine transport ecosystem is built on an integrated network that includes water taxis, ferries, and traditional abras, all supported by advanced infrastructure designed to deliver high-quality services, as part of a broader vision focused on network expansion, increased ridership, technological innovation, operational efficiency, and long-term sustainability.

The sector also recorded a notable 19% growth in services during 2025, with certain routes experiencing exceptional demand, particularly the Al Jaddaf to Dubai Creek Harbour line, which surged by 203%, and the Al Fahidi to Old Deira Souk route, which grew by 33%, underscoring the effectiveness of service enhancements and route optimization strategies.

Fleet expansion remains a key pillar of this transformation, with the total number of marine transport units reaching 210 by the end of 2025, including 62 operated directly by the authority and 148 traditional abras managed by the private sector, with projections to increase RTA-operated units to 66 by early 2026, as part of a long-term plan to reach 258 marine vessels by 2030, boosting capacity, service frequency, and customer satisfaction.