What’s On announces Dubai Trolley in Downtown Dubai, a new tram in Dubai, which launches in 2015, serving Burj Khalifa, Dubai Mall and more.

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‘Just like London Buses’, as the old saying goes. Dubai waits years for a tram, and then a second one comes along almost immediately afterwards.

With Marina and JBR residents having only just got used to having the state-of-the-art Dubai Tram worming its ways through their streets, now it’s the turn of Downtown following the official announcement of Dubai Trolley.

Tongues were set wagging some time ago following the erection of some very revealing billboards around the Old Town Island terminal, from where the first phase of the ‘hop-on hop-off’ system will launch.

Scheduled to be operational early next year, the new ride will eventually run for 7km along Mohammed Bin Rashid Boulevard and around surrounding areas, servicing Burj Khalifa, Souk Al Bahar, Dubai Fountain, The Dubai Mall and the upcoming Opera District. The first phase will run for just 1km and through three stations – The Dubai Mall, and The Address Downtown Dubai and Vida Downtown Dubai hotels.

Unlike their functional cousins around the Marina, the double-decker trams look significantly more ‘traditional’ with more than a hint of the iconic San Francisco design. According to official information released by Emaar, they are ‘elegantly designed to complement the Arabesque architectural features of Downtown, a polished design, resplendent in bright red with aesthetic gold pin-stripes and green trim colours’.

Being electric and hydrogen powered, the smart and innovative Dubai Trolley has practically zero-emissions, a big step forward for the emirate.

“Dubai Trolley is a smart urban mobility service that further builds on the trolley tram systems that are in use in several cities across the US and Europe,” Emaar, the group behind it, said. “While they were a game-changer in public transport when first invented in the 1880s by introducing a new concept to urban mobility, they are now largely used as tourist attractions.

“We have innovated further on both design and technology, incorporating world-class features for Dubai Trolley. An environmentally sustainable system that supports the development vision of the UAE, Dubai Trolley brings a convenient and user-friendly transit mode to Downtown Dubai. It will add tremendous value to residents and visitors, enabling them to effortlessly access the world-class attractions in the world’s most prestigious square kilometre.”