World's First 3D-Printed Electrical Abra Boat Set Sails in Dubai

The UAE’s Roads and Transportation Authority (RTA) has just launched the world’s first electric abra boat that has been  manufactured using 3D-printing technology. 

Setting sail on a trial basis, the boat can accommodate up to 20 passengers, and has been designed with the traditional abra style in mind. The abra is 11 metres long, 3.1 metres wide, and the hull is the longest single-hull printed using 3D printing technology. It is powered by an electrical propulsion system consisting of two 10-kilowatt motors, which are in turn powered by lithium batteries. 

The manufacturing of the abra was a collaboration between Japanese company Mitsubishi for the materials and printing, the UAE’s Al Seer Marine Company and the Tasneef Company which supervised the production and safety standards, and German companies Siemens and Torqeedo, who supplied the motors and supervised the programming. The 3D-printing technology used to manufacture it reduces production time by 90%, production costs by 30%, and operation and maintenance costs also by 30%. The initiative also aligns with the RTA’s commitment to sustainability, as well as to the Dubai 3D Printing Strategy, aiming to make the city a hub of 3D-technology and innovation by 2030. 

The project also entails the development of four abra stations in Dubai Creek, replacing all the floating moorings with newer ones to ensure better passenger safety. The goal is to increase abra mooring areas by 15%, shaded waiting areas by 100%, commercial spaces by 27%, as well as compliance with Dubai Code requirements by 87%.