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These wooden boats are the oldest means of transportation in the emirate, and residents still ride them to this day.
Flying taxis may soon hover over Dubai, but for Aboobackar Naduvattom, nothing can beat his old Abra. Water taxis have witnessed the rise of the city he calls home.
Naduvattom, an Indian expatriate, felt lucky that he was able to make a living in Dubai Creek, and the hustle and bustle of the emirate began.
“History tells us that the city has developed on the shore of the waterway. It is a stream in Dubai,” said Naduwatoum. Since coming to Dubai in the early 1990s, he has been crossing the stream and moving people from one side. Take it to the other side.
“At that time, the Dubai we saw was a small town with settlements on both sides of the water. Now, it has become a big city that tourists from all over the world like to visit.”
Dubai’s trusted abras-wooden boats with open sides and roof-have been around since the 19th century.
At some point in the middle of the 19th century, about 20,000 to 30,000 people lived in Dubai, but it attracted several businessmen from different parts of the world. In order to sell their goods in the markets on both sides of the river, traders rely on abras day after day.
These wooden boats are the oldest means of transportation in the emirate, and to this day, residents still ride them, whenever they have to cross the creek from Deira to Bur Dubai, and vice versa. These water taxis are managed by the Road and Transportation Authority (RTA) of the Emirates.
“These ships are strong and sturdy. They have been used to transport people and goods for more than 30 years,” said another long-time Abra driver Abdul Kalam (Abdul Kalam). Bangladesh arrived in Dubai.
The majority of Abra drivers in the emirate are from India, Pakistan, Iran, Bangladesh and Nepal. In the evening, whenever they gather for tea, the elderly will recall their early days in the city-sharing precious moments and giving them a glimpse of the history of Dubai.
“I saw a rowing boat when I came here,” Karam said. “Many experienced Abra drivers have told us about the paddle boats that were used before they were replaced by diesel crank engines.”
Naduvattom said that some people have moved abras for a long time, so much so that they have seen creeks being dug and widened to accommodate large cargo ships in Dubai’s fast-growing trade center.
“We heard that the Indian rupee used to be a currency previously accepted by the Emirates League. At the time, a one-way abra ride only cost 10 paisa,” he added.
Earlier, the abra fare was 50 fils, now it is 1 dirham. An hour’s drive used to cost Dh60, now it is Dh120.
Over the years, Abra Transport has evolved from transporting goods and people across small rivers to showing tourists the charm of old Dubai.
“I met people from all over the world. That is the best place in Dubai. Some people even called me after they left,” Karam said.
When Covid hit the travel and tourism industry, the income of abra drivers was also hit. But they hope that better and brighter days are coming.
“The pandemic has caused a setback. His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, will definitely find a solution. We believe in his leadership. More tourists will come again. Visiting Dubai, it will definitely increase our income,” Naduvattom added.
When they started their day at 6:00 in the morning, Naduvattom and Kalam were still grateful for every sunrise they captured in the abras sitting by the river-the beginning of the Dubai story.
do you know?
> Abra is derived from the Arabic “Abaara”, which means to cross.
> In a report by a British naval surveyor in 1822, the earliest Dubai Creek can be found, where traditional ships can be seen carrying passengers.
> Since the middle of the 19th century, Abras has served Dubai’s earliest traders, who buy and sell goods in the markets on both sides of the river
ayaz@khaleejtimes.com
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