First wave of 'new generation' bus shelters open in Dubai

1,550 bus stops will be constructed across the city over the next four years

Four new bus shelters have been created across Dubai. Courtesy: Dubai Media Office

Four new bus shelters have been placed at some of Dubai’s busiest hotspots to improve the commuter travel experience.

Dubbed as the “new generation of bus shelters”, they boast air conditioning, wheelchair-friendly access, tracks for the visually impaired and bicycle parking racks.

The city’s newest additions have been placed in Satwa, Burj Khalifa Boulevard as well as two along Al Mustaqbal Street near Emirates Towers.

As part of a phased plan approach, Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority said a total of 1,550 bus stops will be opened across the city over the next four years.

In a tweet on Saturday, the RTA said the moves comes as part of a package of projects endorsed by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai.

“Unleashing the new generation of bus shelters at four Dubai hotspots,” the tweet read.

“The new design [will] bolster the image of #Dubai as a perfect city for stable and safe living.”

Mixing practical use with modern architecture, the authority designed four types of shelters to be placed in different districts across Dubai.

The largest is the premium model, which can cater to more than 750 passengers throughout the day and will be placed in busier areas of the city.

The smaller shelters, include the intermediate, basic and minimum boarding models, which can house between 100 to 750 riders between them in any one day.

“The new bus shelters project is part of RTA’s phenomenal projects depicting the gorgeous landscape of Dubai," said Mattar Al Tayer, director general of RTA.

"It encourages community members to use public transit means, which will contribute to realising RTA’s strategic objective of boosting the ridership of mass transit means in Dubai."

All shelters will also have informational screens displaying the bus network, timetable, service frequency and other up-to-date information.