Soon you will be able to take a water taxi between Louvre Abu Dhabi and some of the city's top attractions.
Abu Dhabi Ports and ferry company Jalboot Marine on Tuesday signed a deal to begin trips to the museum that is opening on November 11.
Residents will be able to get on at one of the existing stops such as Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, Yas Island and Etihad Towers, while a special jetty is being built for cruise ship passengers at the terminal in Mina Zayed.
More details have yet to be revealed but the service is expected to start within the next few months.
The agreement also includes building a 20-metre long jetty at Mina Zayed with wheelchair access.
“We are pleased to partner with Jalboot Marine for the first time to continue supporting Abu Dhabi’s tourism," said Abdulkareem Al Masabi executive vice president, Abu Dhabi Ports.
"With the new Louvre Museum opening its doors in November, there is no doubt there will be a wave of sightseers coming into the city. We are happy to facilitate the new luxurious water shuttle service through our fast-growing terminal which aims to further enhance the tourism sector in the emirate," he said.
"Our partnership with Jalboot will open new gateways for Abu Dhabi’s tourism and leisure as well as offer a unique sight-seeing experience around the city’s touristic attractions.”
The news comes in the same week that saw the launch of the new cruise season. The cruise business started in Abu Dhabi in 2006 with 32,000 passengers - last year a staggering 346,000 passengers visited.
Etihad Airways also signed an agreement with the Louvre Abu Dhabi this week that will see the two companies work together to promote the museum at home and abroad.
The airline will offer bespoke tour packages to Abu Dhabi and the museum, along with a host of other support.
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Read more:
All aboard: cruise season launches with arrival of Seabourn Encore to Abu Dhabi
Etihad and Louvre Abu Dhabi sign major agreement to promote landmark museum
If you go
Where to stay: Courtyard by Marriott Titusville Kennedy Space Centre has unparalleled views of the Indian River. Alligators can be spotted from hotel room balconies, as can several rocket launch sites. The hotel also boasts cool space-themed decor.
When to go: Florida is best experienced during the winter months, from November to May, before the humidity kicks in.
How to get there: Emirates currently flies from Dubai to Orlando five times a week.
The Sand Castle
Director: Matty Brown
Stars: Nadine Labaki, Ziad Bakri, Zain Al Rafeea, Riman Al Rafeea
Rating: 2.5/5
If you go
Flying
Despite the extreme distance, flying to Fairbanks is relatively simple, requiring just one transfer in Seattle, which can be reached directly from Dubai with Emirates for Dh6,800 return.
Touring
Gondwana Ecotours’ seven-day Polar Bear Adventure starts in Fairbanks in central Alaska before visiting Kaktovik and Utqiarvik on the North Slope. Polar bear viewing is highly likely in Kaktovik, with up to five two-hour boat tours included. Prices start from Dh11,500 per person, with all local flights, meals and accommodation included; gondwanaecotours.com
Game Changer
Director: Shankar
Stars: Ram Charan, Kiara Advani, Anjali, S J Suryah, Jayaram
Rating: 2/5
Formula Middle East Calendar (Formula Regional and Formula 4)
Round 1: January 17-19, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 2: January 22-23, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 3: February 7-9, Dubai Autodrome – Dubai
Round 4: February 14-16, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 5: February 25-27, Jeddah Corniche Circuit – Saudi Arabia
Why it pays to compare
A comparison of sending Dh20,000 from the UAE using two different routes at the same time - the first direct from a UAE bank to a bank in Germany, and the second from the same UAE bank via an online platform to Germany - found key differences in cost and speed. The transfers were both initiated on January 30.
Route 1: bank transfer
The UAE bank charged Dh152.25 for the Dh20,000 transfer. On top of that, their exchange rate margin added a difference of around Dh415, compared with the mid-market rate.
Total cost: Dh567.25 - around 2.9 per cent of the total amount
Total received: €4,670.30
Route 2: online platform
The UAE bank’s charge for sending Dh20,000 to a UK dirham-denominated account was Dh2.10. The exchange rate margin cost was Dh60, plus a Dh12 fee.
Total cost: Dh74.10, around 0.4 per cent of the transaction
Total received: €4,756
The UAE bank transfer was far quicker – around two to three working days, while the online platform took around four to five days, but was considerably cheaper. In the online platform transfer, the funds were also exposed to currency risk during the period it took for them to arrive.
