Abu Dhabi: As part of the Integrated Transport Centre’s (ITC) endeavour to improve the level of public transport services along with creating an integrated and sustainable transport network, ITC in Abu Dhabi announced the implementation of a developmental plan to improve the public bus services in Abu Dhabi starting from Friday, October 11, 2019. The plan will include adding number of new regional bus services in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi and implementing the first phase of the Integrated Fare System (IFS). The IFS is planned to be applied to all bus services in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi later.
In regards to the bus services improvements, Mr. Mohammed Hamad Al Muhairi, Executive Director of the Public Transport Sector at ITC, stated that the changes came as a result of an extensive study of the bus services focused on the available services in comparison to the public demand. The study aimed at offering better public bus services with wider coverage. Al Muhairi added that the new plan fulfils the public demand and follows ITC’s continuous efforts to offer the level of public transport services and implement the Surface Transport Mater Plan objectives and making transporting by buses one of the most convenient travel options at the Emirate of Abu Dhabi.
Al Muhairi said that the latest improvements of the public transport services resulted in an increase of 15% of the use of public transport as 48.2 million trips were registered at the beginning of 2019 until August 31, 2019. That is in comparison to 41.9 million trips during the same period in 2018.
The IFS will benefit passengers who need to take more than one regional bus services to reach his/her final destination. As per the new system, only one boarding fee will be calculated if the passenger transferred between buses two times. This is only applicable if the transfer happened within 120 minutes after the payment of the boarding fee on the first bus as long as the transfer is not be between buses from the same service or on opposite directions.
Whereas there is no change on the current bus fees in Abu Dhabi Island, Al Ain City, Al Dhafra Region and Intercity services.
Ateeq Mohammed Al Mazrouei, Operations Director of the Public Transport Sector at ITC, stated that these improvements support ITC’s plan to enhance the public transport service network just before the implementation of Abu Dhabi toll gate system on October 15, 2019. The improved bus services will cater to the travel demand of Abu Dhabi’s residents by offering them with modern, comfortable, and secured bus services. This will consequently make travelling by public transport easier and help reducing the number of private vehicles entering Abu Dhabi City.
Al Mazrouei stated that ITC will increase the number of daily trips on the main bridges where the Abu Dhabi toll gate system will be implemented. Specifically, 147 additional daily trips will operate according to the following: 43 additional services on Khalifa Bridge, for passengers coming from Al Shahama and Yas Island, 104 additional services on Al Maqta Bridge for passengers coming fom Musaffah, Bani Yas and Al Nahdha.
It is worth to mention that the enhancement of the public transport network in Abu Dhabi follows ITC’s strategy to develop the services offered to the public. This will consequently contribute to the instilling of an integrated and sustainable transport network.
The changes on bus services are:
Al Falah City
A new bus route F01 with a frequency of 60 minutes. This service will connect Al Falah old and new area.
Khalifa City
- Service names have been changed. (e.g.: K1 and K2 became K01 and K02).
- Enhancing connectivity between Khalifa City and Masdar through services K03 and K04.
- Service K01: a loop service from Khalifa City Souq, passes by Al Forsan and Khalifa City Souq.
- Service K02 from Khalifa City Souq to Zayed University
- Service K03 from Al Rayyana to Masdar and passes by Khalifa City Souq.
- Service K04 a direct service from Al Forsan to Abu Dhabi International Airport and passes by Masdar.
- Service K05 from ADNOC School to Etihad Residence and passes by Khalifa City Souq.
- The existing “Express Route X2”: service name will be changed to 161. The service will be extended to Khalifa City Souq in order to provide direct connection between Khalifa City and Abu Dhabi Island. The service will operate every 30 minutes.
- Service A19: route will be changed to pass by Etihad Residence in Khalifa City.
Musaffah
- Service names have been changed. (E.g.: M1 and M2 became M01 and M02).
- Route of services 120 and 121 have been curtailed to end at Mazyad Mall. These services will cover service M01 route.
- Services M01 and M02 will be a direct loop service between Musaffah and Mohammed bin Zayed City. The route will be extended to cover services 120 and 121.
- Service M01 route will start from Dalma Mall.
- Services M04 and M05 routes will end at Mazyed Mall.
Bani Yas
- Service names have been changed. (443 will be changed to B43. Service 445 will be changed to B45. Service 447 will be changed to B47).
- Service B47 will operate every 60 minutes.
- The current buses will be replaced with new buses for service 210, 216, 222, 410, B43, B45, B47, A18, A19.
- Improving the frequency of service 410 which will operate every 30 minutes.
- Service 404 will operate every 90 minutes.
- Enhancing the frequency of services 400 and 405 to operate every 60 minutes.
Other service:
- Enhancing the frequency of service Q03 between bus interchange to operate every 6 minutes during peak hours and 7-14 minutes during off-peak hours.
- Frequency of services (41, 42, 56, 63, 102 and 111) have been improved to:
- Weekdays: 20 minutes.
- Friday: 20 minutes from 10:30 AM to 6:30 PM. The services will operate every 30 minutes for the rest of the day.
To facilitate using Darb Application to learn about public bus services schedules, the following services numbers have been combined:
Previous Combined Route Name | Revised route Name | Route |
101/190 | 101 | Musaffah – Abu Dhabi – Al Reef |
102/180 | 102 | MBZ – Abu Dhabi – Yas Island |
120/192 | 120 | MBZ - Abu Dhabi –Saadiyat Island |
121/193 | 121 | MBZ - Abu Dhabi –Saadiyat Island |
170/198 | 170 | Al Raha Beach - Abu Dhabi –Saadiyat Island |
216/221 | 216 | Khalifa City – Shahama – Al Bahya |
400/202 | 400 | Al Rahba – Abu Dhabi – Mafraq |
401/201 | 401 | Bani Yas – Abu Dhabi – Al Shelaylah |
200/401 | 200 | Bani Yas – Abu Dhabi - Al Sader |
402/204 | 402 | Al Wathba - Abu Dhabi – Al Shelaylah |
403/203 | 403 | Al Wathba - Abu Dhabi – Shahama |
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