Release date: October 9, 2002
 
London’s award-winning The Big Bus Company, whose double-decker, open-topped buses are a familiar sight in the British capital, has confirmed its presence in Dubai following a summer-long trial of a hop-on, hop-off city tour service. Dubai is the company’s first operation outside the UK.
 
“We chose Dubai because of its growing tourism base,” said Gibb Barron, Commercial Manager, The Big Bus Company – Dubai LLC. “We have now run through the Dubai summer and feel ready for the new tourist season starting in October.”
 
Based in Wafi City, Dubai’s leading shopping and leisure destination, The Big Bus Company has brought six open-topped buses to the emirate to operate the daily service, which takes in many of the city’s landmarks including Al Fahidi Fort, Jumeira Mosque and the Gold Souk.
 
The buses are sponsored by Visa International, the world’s leading payment card brand.
 
Premal Patel, Visa’s Head of Marketing in the Middle East, said: “Visa-branded tour buses in partnership with The Big Bus Company are another way in which we can visibly demonstrate just how viable a Visa card can be – it can be used to pay for almost anything – whether it’s a bus ride, a cultural tour or shopping at one of Dubai’s premier shopping malls.”
 
The full Big Bus tour, with live English commentary by fully-trained guides and which begins at Wafi City, will take 90 minutes in total, though passengers can hop-on and off the bus at any of the eight different stops.
 
“Visitors and locals now have the chance to see Dubai from a very different perspective, from the top of a Big Bus. The tour takes in many landmarks and provides breathtaking views, a fun atmosphere and is easy to use,” said Barron.
 
Licensed by the Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing, Government of Dubai, The Big Bus Tour is seen as a major boost to the emirate’s tourism infrastructure.
 
“Dubai has established itself as a premier tourist destination and the decision by The Big Bus Company to open an office in the emirate and offer tours of the city using their double-decker buses will add to Dubai’s credentials as a multi-faceted tourist destination appealing to a wider variety of tourists,” said DTCM Director General, Khalid A. Bin Sulayem.
 
Big Bus – 3
 
Big Buses will run from Wafi City between 10am until 8pm from Saturdays to Thursdays. There will be a bus every 30 minutes until 1pm when, until 4pm, the frequency is every 45 minutes.  On Fridays, the service runs from Wafi City from 3pm until 7pm.
 
Tickets for The Big Bus Tour, which are valid for 24 hours, are Dhs 75 for adults, Dhs45 for children and Dhs195 for a family of two adults and two children.
 
Tickets for The Big Bus Tour can be bought from Dubai hotels, on the bus, via the Internet at info@bigbus.co.uk, or by calling The Big Bus Company in Dubai on +9714 324 4187. Payment is by cash or credit card with passengers booking with a Visa card entitled to a 10% discount.
 
Tickets also entitle passengers to free entry to Dubai Museum, to the Sheikh Saeed Al Maktoum House and a free Wafi City Advantage Card, which provides discounts of up to 20% at various Wafi retailers and food and beverage outlets, including those in The Pyramids leisure complex.
 
The Big Bus Company is running a regular courtesy service from most of Dubai’s beach-front hotels to Wafi City to connect with the tour.
 
“As a leading brand name in Dubai, Wafi believes the quality of service offered by The Big Bus company has considerable synergy with its own offering, and hence we are committed to providing this initiative our utmost support,” said Moira Billington, Group Marketing Manager, Wafi City.
 
Family-owned The Big Bus Company has been operating for 10 years. The company operates a fleet of 80 traditional London double-decked, open-top sightseeing buses in the British capital and employs 350 staff.
 
  “An innovation we are considering to better serve the Dubai market is the importing of a number of fully-closed double-decker buses with air-conditioning, to allow the service to operate all year round.
 
In a gesture to our Arab clients, we are shortly to include details of our Dubai and UK services on our website in Arabic,” said Barron.
 
 
 
- Ends -
 
 
 
For more information: Barbara Saunders, MCS/Action, PO box 20970, Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Tel: +9714 3902961; fax: +9714 3908161
Email: barbara@mcsaction.com

© Press Release 2002