New bus routes including one to Reem Island for Abu Dhabi commuters

The Department of Transport adds 10 new routes across Abu Dhabi emirate, including new services to Al Reem and Al Maryah islands in the capital.

ABU DHABI // A long awaited bus service to Reem Island is one of 10 new routes introduced this week in Abu Dhabi, Al Ain and Madinat Zayed.

The three new routes in the capital will increase the availability of buses in the city by more than a quarter.

Route 063 will run between Marina Mall and Reem Island. It is expected to stop in at least five places on the island, including Sun and Sky Towers, Marina Square and the Paris-Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi.

The new route 010 connects Ras Al Akhdar at the west of the Corniche to Al Mina in the east, via Al Falah Street and the Tourist Club Area.

Route 040 will link the new commercial district of Sowwah Square on Al Maryah Island with Al Bateen Executive Airport.

Buses will run every 20 minutes from 6am to 11pm, and every hour from 11pm until 1am.

All short trips cost Dh2.

Al Ain will have six new routes and bus availability in the city will increase by a fifth.

Buses will run every hour on Route 495 – from Al Ain souq to the Alia mosque. Route 496 services will run every 30 minutes from Al Saad poultry farm to Al Yaher labour accommodation.

Three new routes with services that will run every two hours will connect Al Ain’s eastern areas to the city centre.

Route 380 covers the journey from the bus station to Al Faqa village souq on the Dubai-Abu Dhabi border along the E66 Al Ain-Dubai motorway.

Route 390 coaches will go from the bus station to the souq in Shwaib, a village east of the E66 road on the Oman border

Route 360 services will go from the bus station to Madinat Nahil West, and route 376 buses will connect Madinat Nahil West Mosque to the Sweihan souq.

Route 202 services will run every hour from Madinat Zayed to Emirates Park Zoo in Al Bahia, about 35 kilometres from Abu Dhabi. Route 218 buses from Shahama Souq to Al Raha Beach and Route 225 from Al Shahama bus station to Al Rahbah Hospital have been redirected to stop at the zoo.

"Bus services are gaining more popularity," said Saeed Al Hameli, general manager of the bus division at the Department of Transport. "They are a quality and sustainable option for commuters,"

[e-mail]