Abu Dhabi on Monday, May 06, 2013 - In response to growing needs of bus services amongst commuters, the Department of Transport in Abu Dhabi (DoT) announced today that ten operating bus routes in Abu Dhabi and five in Al Ain experienced some expansions and changes in their routes.

According to the DoT, these bus services that have witnessed some changes are:

Route number (005): linking Marina Area with Al Sowwah Square-Mariah Island, whereas the bus stop at the Municipality Building is now cancelled.

Route number (007): will reach Sun Tower-Al Reem Island from Marina Area.

Route number (008): has been expanded to reach Fish Market-Al Mina from Al Bateen West with the service arriving at the Marina is now cancelled and replaced by service number 9 and 11.

Route number (009): will stop at the Abu Dhabi Municipality Building.

Route number (032): has been widened, providing a direct service to Al Khabairah area, Al Khaldiyah, and Al Muroor from Al Maqta West.

Route number (034): connecting Ladies Club, Al Ras Al Akhdar with Abu Dhabi Court will experience direct services to Al Ras Al Akhdar, Al Khaldiyah, and Al Muroor.

Route number (044): starting from Officers Club, will expand to the Iranian Market through Al Mina with travel time in Al Mushrif reduced.

Route number (052): will reach Al Sowwah Square-Al Mariah, from Abu Dhabi Courts.

Route number (054): has been expanded to reach Fish Market, Mina from Petroleum Institute, Umm Al Naar.

Route number (56): will have a better reach to Khalifa Park from Mina Souq.

In Al Ain, bus routes that have experienced expansions or changes are:

Route number (350): linking Bus Station with Police School-Sweihan, has canceled its stop at Salamat and Al Yahar North Interchange. The service now reaches the Police School in Sweihan.

Route number (440): that connects Al Ain Bus Station with Al Musaffah Bus Station in Abu Dhabi, has canceled the service between Twam Hospital and Al Ain Airport. The route now starts from Al Ain Bus Station, stopping at Al Yahar North Interchange and Al Saad Police Station, changing the route from Al Khatim, to stop inside Musaffah Bus Station in Abu Dhabi.

Route number (490): connecting Abu Dhabi International Airport with Al Ain Bus Station. It will stop at Al Yahar North Interchange and Al Saad Police Station, then have its route changed in Al Khatim with stop service cancelled at both Abu Dhabi University and Al Mafraq Hospital.  Service extends to Abu Dhabi Airport Terminal 2.

Route (491): linking Al Ain Souq with Al Yahar North, now reaches Alf Maskan Area and stops at Al Yahar North Exchange.

Route (X90): linking Al Ain Bus Station with Abu Dhabi Bus Station, now stops at Al Yahar North Interchange.

Stressing the commitment of the DoT to providing a wider geographic coverage through bus services, Mr. Saeed Mohammed Fadel Al Hameli, General Manager of the Bus Office at the DoT, said, "These route modifications have been implemented following a comprehensive study conducted by the Dot on all existing route services with an aim to address commuters' needs of world-class, convenient and almost around-the-clock bus transportation options."

"With the bus users being the most prioritised segment of this service, the DoT is committed to fulfilling their various needs. We would like to pay tribute to the public for their welcoming responses for the DoT's various services by communicating inputs and suggestions on how to optimise public transport services. Such valuable interactions are highly cherished by the DoT, which endeavors to study them carefully and adopt many of them", Al Hameli added.

Recently, the DoT embarked on an expansion of bus services by operating 9 new routes: three in Abu Dhabi and six in Al Ain. Providing services for commuters in both cities, the new services have increased the number of total daily bus trips in Abu Dhabi and al Ain by 27% and 20% respectively.

The DoT's bus service fleet encompasses more than 800 of world-class buses, providing transportation service to more than 170,000 commuters every day. More than 500 buses operate in Abu Dhabi, around 200 in Al Ain whilst more than 80 buses provide intercity services.  

-Ends- 

The Department of Transport (DoT) was established pursuant to Law No. 4 of year 2006, amended by Law No. 5 of year 2008 to cover the entire value chain and ensure fully coordinated planning in all aspects of transport policy and development in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi in cooperation with all relevant local, regional and international stakeholders and partners. 

For more information or inquiries, please contact:
Mahmoud Ahmed Elasheri
Public Relations & Communications Consultant
Department of Transport
T: +971-2-656-6327
Email: mahmoud.elasheri@dot.abudhabi.ae  

Zainab Al Zubaidi
PR & Communications Officer
Department of Transport
T: +971-2-656-6425
Email: zainab.alzubaidi@dot.abudhabi.ae

© Press Release 2013