Dubai’s Roads & Transport Authority (RTA) has invited companies to bid by 10 December for a contract to build a floating ferry terminal on the creek.

The terminal will be close to Deira City Centre and will connect to the nearby metro station and bus stops.

Another terminal is planned for the area close to the Gold Souk, also on the Deira side of the creek.

UK-based Atkins prepared the designs for the two terminals.

The two ferry terminals on the creek are part of a scheme to develop Dubai’s water-based public transport, which includes the introduction of ferry services between the creek, man-made offshore islands such as the Palm Jumeirah and other coastal areas of the emirate.

There are already public transport services on the creek. There are stations for traditional water buses or abras, adjacent to the Gold Souk and in Bur Dubai. According to the RTA, 43,351 passengers used these services in June.