Yesterday, a self-driving traditional wooden abra boat named “Sea Breeze” embarked on its first on-the-water trial on Dubai Creek between the Al Jadaf and Festival City stations.

The initiative, led by the Dubai Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), aims to enhance efficiency for residents and tourists while lowering emissions.

“Dubai’s commitment to pioneering advancements in transportation is evident in the launch of the city’s first self-driving electric abra,” noted His Excellency Mattar Al Tayer, Director-General and Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of the RTA. “This groundbreaking development aligns with our vision to transform Dubai into a smart city and offers an eco-friendly solution that ensures the sustainability of our transportation infrastructure”.

Featuring state-of-the-art automated navigation systems, the Sea Breeze can effortlessly glide along Dubai’s waterways while retaining the iconic shape of the traditional abra. The self-driving abra has plenty of benefits, including an increased passenger capacity of up to 8 people, reduced operational costs, and environmental impact due to its electric propulsion system.

As for the craft’s AI smarts, the self-driving abra can detect oncoming obstacles, notify the control center of system malfunctions and deviate from preset routes if obstacles are detected, or an emergency is announced.

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“The launch of the self-driving electric abra marks a significant milestone in Dubai’s journey towards a sustainable and technologically advanced transportation system,” explained His Excellency Sultan Al Haddad, who is the CEO of the Marine Transport Sector at RTA. “By integrating advanced autonomous technology with an eco-friendly electric propulsion system, we are revolutionizing the way people move across Dubai’s vibrant waterfront areas”.

Dubai revealed a next-generation fleet of high-powered wooden abras back in 2020 as part of a plan to overhaul the emirate’s marine transport sector. The traditional boats were overhauled to cater to improved safety standards and to allow better access for people with disabilities. Changes included designated wheelchair spaces, life jackets stowed under seats and GPS technology, and upgraded digital payment systems.