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Gulf News
  • 2/11/2025
Take a ride on an Abra - Dubai's traditional water taxi.
Transcript
00:00The bustling waterways of Dubai's creek.
00:09It's not as busy as the city's congested roads, but these traditional water taxis, or abras,
00:15have been ferrying people between Bur Dubai and Dera for decades.
00:19It's a popular way to get around, but it's also the quickest and cheapest.
00:23One dirham will get you from one side to the other in just a few minutes.
00:27The abra is a simple, medium-sized boat made of wood.
00:31They're powered by a single engine chugging away at the top of its voice,
00:35and carry up to 20 passengers.
00:37Driving styles are also pretty unorthodox.
00:40Most of the drivers are from the subcontinent, and have been driving abras for years.
00:58And you'll find people from all walks of life riding them.
01:02I brought my son out to Dubai to have a visit, and it's his first time on the abras out here on the creek.
01:08It's a wonderful way to get across to the other side.
01:10I always use this abra when I'm going to my office.
01:14This is accessible for... it's easy to use than the bus.
01:22It's a must for tourists who want a taste of the Dubai of old.
01:26The journey gives you a glimpse of the city from a unique perspective.
01:30Dubai's shimmering skyscrapers are a world away from these small wooden boats.
01:35And you'll also get a chance to see traditional Daos stocking up on supplies
01:39before their long voyages to India and Iran.
01:42But the journey is hard, and it's not easy.
01:46The government says the abras carry around 20 million passengers every year.
01:50Moves for reducing their carbon footprint are currently being discussed,
01:54which include a switch to solar energy.
01:56But this historic way of getting around the city is still hugely popular.
02:00And as one abra docks, another sets off, on its way to the abras.
02:05It's a long journey, but it's worth it.
02:08Moves for reducing their carbon footprint are currently being discussed,
02:11which include a switch to solar energy.
02:13Moves for reducing their carbon footprint are currently being discussed,
02:16which include a switch to solar energy.

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