The first Water Bus, also termed as the ‘iceberg’ in the Dubai Creek, will start operating from August 16.

The first route will link Al Sabkha and Bur Dubai stations, senior Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) officials said in a Khaleej Times report.

Mattar Al Tayer, chairman of the board of executive directors of the RTA, said other lines would start functioning from September.

Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, had inaugurated the Water Bus service and the Floating Bridge on July 17.

The Water Bus is expected to ferry over two million passengers annually.

Meanwhile, Shaikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, chairman of Dubai Executive Council, has issued an order under which the RTA has been given the authority of licensing, registering, operating and planning the routes of the Water Bus service.

The RTA has also been empowered to outsource the operation of Water Buses to any entity or a company in consideration of an amount as detailed in the conditions and standards prescribed in the Implementation Chart of the Order.

The decision has fixed Dh9,000 as Water Bus registration fees and Dh4 per person one-way trip between two stations.

The tourists fare has been fixed at Dh25 per passenger for a round trip.

The RTA has also tasked with the responsibility of licensing the commuting lines or routes of the Water Buses as well as their drivers.