Dubai’s First Low Cost Airline Takes Off

DUBAI, June 16/PRNewswire/ — flydubai Begins Commercial Operations With Flights to Four Destinations
in Nine Days

flydubai, Dubai’s first low cost airline, became a reality on Monday, June 1, 2009, when its first commercial flight took off.

To view the Multimedia News Release, go to: http://www.prnewswire.com/mnr/flydubai/38830/

The first flight, which was to the Lebanese capital, Beirut, was closely followed by flights to Amman, Jordan, on June 2, Damascus, Syria, on June 8 and Alexandria, Egypt, on June 9, giving the new airline a total of four
destinations in just nine days.

Sheikh Ahmed Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman of flydubai said: "This region is very dependant on air transport. It is a great credit to the vision and leadership of Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, that this airline has now taken off, thereby ensuring residents and visitors alike will be able to travel to more places more often."

The flydubai model is simple, with customers only paying for the services they want. The ticket price includes all taxes and one piece of hand baggage, weighing up to 10kg, per passenger.

Passengers have the option to purchase checked-in baggage in advance at just 40AED for the first piece and 100AED for the second, weighing up to 32kgs, subject to availability. Checked baggage is strictly subject to
availability and passengers are advised to book early to secure the space, as only pre-purchased baggage can be guaranteed.

A nominal payment of 5AED allows customers to select their seat and just 50AED secures the extra legroom positions. Tickets are changeable for a small fee, plus any difference in the fare, and food and drink can be purchased on board.

"flydubai aims to make travel a little less complex, a little less stressful and a little less expensive," explained flydubai’s CEO Ghaith Al Ghaith. "Our passengers have the option to customise their travel experience
depending on what services they want and how much they want to pay.

"We plan to stimulate the markets in which we operate and encourage people to travel to more places more often. flydubai’s aim is not to drive traffic away from the other carriers but to help grow these markets. When you
consider that low cost travel in this region could be as little as 2% of all air travel, as opposed to more than 20% in Europe and America, it is clear that there is a lot of untapped potential in these markets.

"In addition, flydubai will fly to airports that are currently underserved by the traditional carriers. In a region which is so dependant on air transport, we are looking forward to providing the reality of accessible, low cost, uncomplicated travel."

flydubai operates from a modernised and enhanced Terminal 2 on the north side of Dubai International Airport. Customers can book their flights via the website, http://www.flydubai.com, the call centre, +9714 3010800, through
travel agents and branches of Emirates Post and Emirates NBD.

RTA Receives the Flag of Hosting 59th UITP World Congress & Exhibition 2011

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, June 16/PRNewswire/ — More Than 1000 Personalities Attend the Event Roads & Transport Authority – Mohammed Al Munji:
Dubai received the flag of hosting the 59th World Congress and Exhibition of the International Association of Public Transport (UITP), which will be hosted by Dubai in 2011, at the closing session of the 58th UITP World Congress held in the Austrian capital Vienna.

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20090616/350639 )

The event was attended by more than 1000 personalities headed by H.E. Mattar Al Tayer, Chairman of the Board and Executive Director of Roads & Transport Authority (RTA), H.E. Mohammed Ahmed Omran, UAE Ambassador
to Austria & Permanent Representative of the UAE to the UN at Vienna, H.E.Roberto Cavalieri, UITP President, H.E. Hans Rat, UITP Secretary General, senior Austrian government officials, executives of transport sector from all
over the world, and representatives of companies specialized in the field of transport.

Al Tayer received the flag of hosting The 59th UITP World Congress and Exhibition from H.E. Roberto Cavalieri and H.E. Hans Rat amid a huge applause from the attendants.

In a speech delivered after taking over of the flag, Al Tayer said: "The United Arab Emirates made massive economic, social and cultural development and grew into a key commercial center, thanks to the wise
leadership of HH Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, and his brother HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai. Accordingly, the UAE has had a vibrant and diverse economy and succeeded in attracting considerable number
of investors, businessmen; thanks to its superb infrastructure, international outlook, free economic policy and emphasis on delivering top-notch services at the least possible costs".

Al Tayer lauded the efforts of the Austrian Government and the UITP in bringing success to the 58th UITP World Congress and delivering it in a fine format. He also praised the work papers discussed during the Congress
and the latest transport technologies displayed by the participating companies. Meanwhile, Al Tayer welcomed all attendants to Dubai during the 59th UITP Congress; which will be hosted by Dubai in 2011.

"When you visit Dubai, you will notice the eye-catching infrastructure, smooth flow of business cycle and world-class service delivery. We view Dubai as a regional hub of integrated transport systems.

The 59th UITP World Congress 2011 will be a milestone in our drive to achieve transport excellence, marking the completion of transport modes spanning the metro, tram, public transport, and marine transport in the emirate such that Dubai will set the example to follow in the region," said Al Tayer.

He added: "I’m proud of the huge success made by the emirate of Dubai in upgrading mass transit system; which has become crucial for the daily mobility of Dubai residents. RTA was established in 2005 to assume
responsibility for transport in Dubai and from inception it set sight on provision of an integrated mass transit network that includes buses, marine modes, metro, and tram; all of which are characterized by top quality,
affordable rates and wide geographical coverage. Additionally, RTA is assigning much attention to safety in all public transport means; including trains and buses.

"This year will witness the operation of the initial phase of Dubai Metro Project; the longest driverless metro project constructed as one project worldwide. It extends 75 km and connects 48 stations; including the biggest metro station in the world i.e. the 25,000 square meter area Union Square Station; a key interchange station between the Red and Green Lines.

Dubai Metro is modeled at the highest global standards and based on state-of-the-art rail technologies to meet the requirements of various community segments. With its air-conditioned stations, and e-ticketing system, the system sets the benchmark of total quality standards. It has a capacity to handle 23,000 passengers per hour per direction, and the metro is set to attract 17% of total person trips in the city by 2020."

During the closing ceremony a film was played to showcase the massive economic process in the emirate of Dubai, the traditions of the UAE society as well as the tourist, cultural and commercial landmarks of the emirate. Al Mazyoodi Band made Yawla dance which was well received by the attendants. Events also included sand drawing of several Dubai tourist attraction landmarks, RTA logo and the logo of the 59th UITP World Congress &
Exhibition "Dubai 2011".

Afterwards, H.E. Mattar Al Tayer, together with H.E. Mohammed Ahmed Omran, UAE Ambassador to Austria, accompanied chief guests of the closing ceremony to RTA stand at the Exhibition; where they were served with
popular UAE cuisine and Arabian coffee. The guests attended a video presentation about the experiment of the RTA in developing mass transit systems covering metro, tram, marine transport and public buses as well as
road projects and modern traffic technologies.

At the end of the event, Al Tayer presented trophies to H.E. Mohammed Ahmed Omran, UAE Ambassador to Austria & Permanent Representative of the UAE to the UN at Vienna, H.E. Roberto Cavalieri, the outgoing UITP
President whose term has ended with the current term, H.E. Hans Rat, UITP Secretary General, H.E Elain Flausch the new President of UITP and the representative of Vienna Government.

Peyman Parham, Director of Marketing and Corporate Communications, Roads and Transport Authority, Tel: +971-42065005, Mobile:+971-50-8889689, peyman.parham@rta.ae; Fiona D’Cunha, Marketing and
Corporate Communications, Roads and Transport Authority, Telephone: +971-4-2065098, Mobile-+971-50-2821969, website: http://www.rta.ae

’O’ Boutique Organizes First In-Store Fashion Show

‘O’ Boutique in Jumeirah, Dubai, which featured outfits, accessories and unique furniture organized last week its first in-store fashion show which was attended by fashion enthusiasts in Dubai.

‘O’ Boutique is the brainchild of Omar Bin Khediya, an Emirati national, and was launched earlier this year. The store is supported by the Mohammed Bin Rashid Establishment for Young Leaders, an organization established by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice President & Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai to encourage projects for young Emiratis.

Omar Bin Khediya said: “Our first fashion show was a grand success and it brought together glamorous designer names from England, France, Portugal, Scandinavia, Australia as well as the UAE. We featured award winning designers and brands such as Gil Carvahlo, Ruth Erotokritou and TMLS Studio.”

“I would like to thank ‘Mohammed Bin Rashid Establishment for Young Business Leaders’ for their support to ‘O’ Boutique.”

Designers and brands that participated in the show also included Lazy Tees, a brand based in London; Westergaard, a Scandinavian furniture designer; RNT Jeans – a new label; the local brand 9714; Art Kids Rebels (AKR); a m James Bond Deck chair; superficial teeshirts; Deri Meya; Bogosse; Nadine Lopes; 90210; Camecira by Razan Massri; Sartori Sartori by Debi Simcox; Marvel; Before I made it Big; Nora and Noel Dugan.

The featured clothes and accessories are available at the boutique and will appeal to men, women and children, aged 7 to 70 years old, and are sold at prices ranging from AED 25 to AED 50,000.

The event was sponsored by Infiniti, Al Rostamani Arabian Automobiles, Purelosophy, the wellness drink from Switzerland which is 100% natural and low calories offered only in 5 stars hotels, spas and now in ‘O’ Boutique. Linda Khalifa, the famous make up artist and hairdresser who worked with international brands and well known starts, as well as the international fashion stylist Aleksandra Pop-Damkova, who worked for years in Milan and moved recently to Dubai especially to provide her support and vision for the ‘O’ Boutique where also among the supporters.

The fashion show was also attended by a number of Omar’s fans and friend’s from all over the world including Jean Paul Dos Santos, Manager of ‘O’ Boutique, and Bin Khediya’s family members including his father Mr. Mohamad Bin Khediya who always believed in his son’s talent and work.

The letter O in ‘O’ boutique represents the infinity sign which reflects continuous success and achievement; it is also the first letter of Omar’s name. The boutique was designed by the British – Iranian designer Pam Oushal.

Following the significant success of ‘O’ Boutique, Omar plans to launch the brand internationally, by opening a branch in France. “I encourage all young business leaders to launch innovative projects that will serve their community and manage their initiatives with good will and determination. They should also set clear goals in order to achieve success.”

Dubai Plays Major Role In Addressing Global Water Sustainability Through Technology

TechnoPark, the Science and Technology Park under Economic Zones World, today announced it will host the biannual International Desalination Association (IDA) World Congress this November under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of UAE and Ruler of Dubai.

The event will be held from 7 – 12 November at the Atlantis Resort – The Palm. Themed ‘Desalination for a Better World’, the conference is expected to gather over 1,800 industry professionals and leaders from the global desalination and water reuse industry.

Seventy companies from over 20 countries have confirmed their participation at the IDA Exhibition covering over 2,000 square meters. The Congress, which has grown exponentially year on year, involves the world’s most prominent industry players, including end-users (utilities), manufacturers and suppliers, government officials, researchers, financiers and members of academia from over 80 countries.

Salma Hareb, Chief Executive Officer – Economic Zones World, said: “As an organization that leads the region in raising awareness and building infrastructure for sustainable initiatives, TechnoPark takes pride in bringing the IDA World Congress to Dubai for the first time. The conference will facilitate the exchange of global innovations and best practice in this highly important sector, and lay a foundation for Dubai to lead the region in research and awareness of sustainable water supplies.

“In the coming years, water sustainability will become as critical an issue as climate change. Only desalination and advanced water reuse offer hope of future supplies for a growing population on our planet. Since the UAE is the second-largest user of desalinated water in the world, provision of adequate water supply is one of the key challenges facing us, and the vision of His Highness in hosting the IDA World Congress highlights the urgency of the issues that need to be tackled in the region.”

Patricia Burke, Secretary General of the International Desalination Association, said: “Water sustainability is a global issue, and can only be addressed through exchange of information on an international level. The spirit of collaboration that Dubai has shown by hosting the 2009 IDA World Congress will significantly drive progress in achieving adequate water availability for future generations.

“We look forward to the exchange of ideas and collaboration on the critical issue of desalination and advanced water reuse. The industry is constantly evolving and innovating, and our mission is to ensure that desalination is implemented in the most responsible way, from the perspective of cost, energy and environmental considerations.”

Salma Hareb concurred, saying: “The gains from a gathering of top minds in the field will be tremendous, particularly for regional specialists. One of our main interests in hosting the IDA World Congress is the amount of research that is shared, making the congress valuable from a knowledge standpoint. The foundation of our activity at TechnoPark is scientific innovation, which evolves continuously. An event like the IDA World Congress allows that evolution to be equalized across all markets. We believe that this sharing of information and findings is key to a sustainable future as the UAE moves into the 21st century with a strong knowledge economy based on international best practice.”

Burke stated in conclusion: “It will be interesting for global specialists to attend the conference in a location that will rely on their future findings to address their most pressing concerns about sustainability. We understand that the Dubai leadership has embraced sustainability as a core element of its future vision, which is vital to maintaining the enormous growth that Dubai has already achieved. We look forward to November and welcome the new ties and collaboration to come out of the Congress.”

Over 350 papers were received for consideration in the technical programme of the IDA World Congress 2009. There will be 23 sessions on topics such as: Alternative Ideas, Innovative Solutions and Nuclear Technologies for Desalination; Chemicals, Scaling and Cleaning and Mineral Recovery; Energy Recovery: A Dramatic Reduction in Energy Consumption for Desalination; and Environmental Sustainability.

TechnoPark was established to lead innovation with a special focus in water and energy efficiency and is managed by Economic Zones World, the global developer and operator of economic, technology, logistics and industrial parks and part of Dubai World.

The International Desalination Association (www.idadesal.org) is a non-profit organization comprising over 2,000 members from 60 countries, including scientists, end-users, engineers, consultants and researchers from governments, corporations and academia. IDA is associated with the United Nations as part of a growing international network of non-governmental organizations (NGOs).

Mohammed Bin Rashid Establishment For Young Business Leaders Highlights Governmental Support For Small And Medium Enterprises

The Government Purchase Programme at Mohammed Bin Rashid Establishment for Young Business Leaders organized a debate on the role of the government sector in supporting small and medium enterprises (SMEs). The session aimed at clarifying the relation between the government sector and Program’s members and the role of government departments in developing the SME sector.

Mrs Ibtihal Naji, Manager – Government Procurement Programme; Mr Osama Al Muharam, Assistant Manager, Mr Yousef Lootah, Senior Executive, and Mr. Essam Disi, Manager – Policy Formulation attended the session in addition to a number of directors and team members from the purchasing and contracting governmental departments.

Mrs Ibtihal Naji said: “This initiative comes in line with the directions of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice President & Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, focusing on supporting nationals and to enhance their role in the development process through SMEs. This session is the result of several meetings arranged by the institution with government departments. We are looking forward to launch new initiatives aimed at enriching debate about legislations and laws on the relations between government departments and national SMEs.”

The session highlighted the success stories of the national SMEs and also showcased examples and case studies about the relationship between the government and SMEs.

Mr Yousef Lootah said: “Representatives from contracting and purchasing government departments discussed issues on their relations with Mohammed Bin Rashid Establishment for Young Business Leaders. The purchasing law to offer 5 % from the government purchases for the welfare of the Establishment’s members formed a major part of the discussions. The session also presented a clear picture on the support provided by government departments to small and medium businesses.”

Mr. Osama Al Muharam also discussed the purchasing plans of the Mohammed Bin Rashid Establishment for Young Business Leaders for the current year. This will further strengthen the relations with the government sector and enhance productivity and performance of the Establishment members.

The growth in the value of procurements from the Government Procurement Program (GPP) in Dubai over the last six years reached more AED 728 million till the end of 2008. The value of procurements made by governmental and semi-governmental sectors from members of the GPP for the year 2008 reached to AED 240 million, while it reached around AED 27 million from the private sector.

RTA Receives the Flag of Hosting 59th UITP World Congress and Exhibition 2011

Dubai received the flag of hosting the 59th World Congress and Exhibition of the International Association of Public Transport (UITP), which will be hosted by Dubai in 2011, at the closing session of the 58th UITP World Congress held in the Austrian capital Vienna.The event was attended by more than 1000 personalities headed by H.E. Mattar Al Tayer, Chairman of the Board and Executive Director of Roads & Transport Authority (RTA), H.E. Mohammed Ahmed Omran, UAE Ambassador to Austria & Permanent Representative of the UAE to the UN at Vienna, H.E. Roberto Cavalieri, UITP President, H.E. Hans Rat, UITP Secretary General, senior Austrian government officials, executives of transport sector from all over the world, and representatives of companies specialized in the field of transport.Al Tayer received the flag of hosting The 59th UITP World Congress and Exhibition from H.E. Roberto Cavalieri and H.E. Hans Rat amid a huge applause from the attendants.In a speech delivered after taking over of the flag, Al Tayer said: “The United Arab Emirates made massive economic, social and cultural development and grew into a key commercial center, thanks to the wise leadership of HH Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, and his brother HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai. Accordingly, the UAE has had a vibrant and diverse economy and succeeded in attracting considerable number of investors, businessmen; thanks to its superb infrastructure, international outlook, free economic policy and emphasis on delivering top-notch services at the least possible costs”.Al Tayer lauded the efforts of the Austrian Government and the UITP in bringing success to the 58th UITP World Congress and delivering it in a fine format. He also praised the work papers discussed during the Congress and the latest transport technologies displayed by the participating companies. Meanwhile, Al Tayer welcomed all attendants to Dubai during the 59th UITP Congress; which will be hosted by Dubai in 2011.“When you visit Dubai, you will notice the eye-catching infrastructure, smooth flow of business cycle and world-class service delivery. We view Dubai as a regional hub of integrated transport systems. The 59th UITP World Congress 2011 will be a milestone in our drive to achieve transport excellence, marking the completion of transport modes spanning the metro, tram, public transport, and marine transport in the emirate such that Dubai will set the example to follow in the region” said Al Tayer.He added: “I’m proud of the huge success made by the emirate of Dubai in upgrading mass transit system; which has become crucial for the daily mobility of Dubai residents. RTA was established in 2005 to assume responsibility for transport in Dubai and from inception it set sight on provision of an integrated mass transit network that includes buses, marine modes, metro, and tram; all of which are characterized by top quality, affordable rates and wide geographical coverage. Additionally, RTA is assigning much attention to safety in all public transport means; including trains and buses.“This year will witness the operation of the initial phase of Dubai Metro Project; the longest driverless metro project constructed as one project worldwide. It extends 75 km and connects 48 stations; including the biggest metro station in the world i.e. the 25,000 square meter area Union Square Station; a key interchange station between the Red and Green Lines. Dubai Metro is modeled at the highest global standards and based on state-of-the-art rail technologies to meet the requirements of various community segments. With its air-conditioned stations, and e-ticketing system, the system sets the benchmark of total quality standards. It has a capacity to handle 23,000 passengers per hour per direction, and the metro is set to attract 17% of total person trips in the city by 2020”.During the closing ceremony a film was played to showcase the massive economic process in the emirate of Dubai, the traditions of the UAE society as well as the tourist, cultural and commercial landmarks of the emirate. Al Mazyoodi Band made Yawla dance which was well received by the attendants. Events also included sand drawing of several Dubai tourist attraction landmarks, RTA logo and the logo of the 59th UITP World Congress & Exhibition “Dubai 2011”.Afterwards, H.E. Mattar Al Tayer, together with H.E. Mohammed Ahmed Omran, UAE Ambassador to Austria, accompanied chief guests of the closing ceremony to RTA stand at the Exhibition; where they were served with popular UAE cuisine and Arabian coffee. The guests attended a video presentation about the experiment of the RTA in developing mass transit systems covering metro, tram, marine transport and public buses as well as road projects and modern traffic technologies.At the end of the event, Al Tayer presented trophies to H.E. Mohammed Ahmed Omran, UAE Ambassador to Austria & Permanent Representative of the UAE to the UN at Vienna, H.E. Roberto Cavalieri, the outgoing UITP President whose term has ended with the current term, H.E. Hans Rat, UITP Secretary General, H.E Elain Flausch the new President of UITP and the representative of Vienna Government.

Mohammed bin Rashid Creates Dubai Media Affairs Office ‘Brand Dubai’

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE, and Ruler of Dubai, has established the Dubai Media Affairs Office ‘Brand Dubai’ to coordinate Dubai’s strategic media affairs regionally and internationally.Sheikh Mohammed also appointed Mona Ghanem Al Marri as the new entity’s Chief Executive Officer.The new office will work on preserving and enhancing Dubai’s image as an Arab city of international spirit and sensibility. The Dubai Media Affairs Office (DMAO) will encourage maximum exposure for Dubai’s continuing achievements on economic, cultural and social matters.Under the mandate given by Sheikh Mohammed, the new entity will work closely with Dubai government departments and authorities as well as non-government stakeholders. The DMAO will facilitate greater communication coordination among different organisations that are directly or non-directly responsible for Dubai’s image.Among DMAO’s other objectives are enhancing the media’s accessibility to accurate information on various subjects related to Dubai, and facilitating greater interaction with Dubai government officials. The office will work closely with regional and international media outlets to disseminate Dubai’s key messages of sustainable economic growth and social progress.
 

Board Of Trustees Directs Dubai School Of Government To Expand Scope Of Programmes

The Dubai School of Government, (DSG), a research and teaching institution focusing on public policy in the Arab world, today announced it will build on the existing programmes and expand its scope of work to benefit the wider Arab world.

The announcement follows the first meeting of the Board of Trustees of the Dubai School of Government that was established in 2006 through a decree by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.

The board members attended the meeting that was chaired by His Excellency Dr. Anwar Gargash, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and Federal National Council (FNC) Affairs. The other board members who attended the meeting included Her Excellency Sheikha Lubna Al Qasimi, Minister of State for Foreign Trade and three ministers from the Arab world.

The next board meeting is scheduled to be held in October this year. The board members reviewed the progress made by DSG within a span of four years to emerge as a pioneering teaching and research institution in the Arab world. The institution was also commended for its role in influencing decision-makers in the region and paving the way for creating the next generation of Arab leaders.

His Excellency, Nabil Alyousuf, Vice Chair of DSG board of trustees, said: “With a clear focus on improving the quality of manpower and furthering the cause of governance, DSG has a committed agenda that has enormously benefited countries in the region. As recommended by the Board, we will expand the ambit of our existing initiatives and actively offer more comprehensive training programmes to the rest of the Arab world.

“We are grateful for the support of our board members, other Arab governments and our partner institutions in realising our objectives. We will continue to play a critical role in formulating government policies in the region and we are proud of the great recognition our innovative concepts and intellectual debates have garnered so far.”
The Dubai School of Government has cemented valuable partnerships with leading institutions across the world including the Harvard Kennedy School and Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy. It also implements several executive education programmes in partnership with leading institutions across the world and has tie-ups with key government departments to conduct various courses.

DSG also has tie-ups with global organisations such as the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the World Bank to offer practical hands-on research experience to students. With its faculty of experts, the school has successfully emerged as a regional power-house in guiding policy-makers.

Established in 2005 in cooperation with the Harvard Kennedy School, the Dubai School of Government is committed to the creation of knowledge, dissemination of global best practices, and the training of policy makers in the Arab world. The school is focused on capacity building and conducts various programmes that seek to promote good governance through enhancing the region’s capacity for effective public policy.
For more details, visit www.dsg.ae or call 04 329 3290.

RTA Transition Towards Mass Transit Presented To The 58th UITP Congress

Roads & Transport Authority – Mohammed Al Munji:H.E. Mattar Al Tayer, Chairman of the Board and Executive Director of Roads & Transport Authority (RTA), headed RTA delegation taking part in 58th International Union of Public Transport (UITP) Congress and the accompanying City Transport Exhibition held at the Austrian capital Vienna under the theme “Public Transport: Making the Right Mobility Choices. The Congress attracted participation from around 4000 exhibitors/participants hailing from 35 countries. RTA has a large stand to share with the participants and visitors its experiment in developing mass transit systems spanning metro, tram, marine transport, public transport buses, road projects, and modern traffic technologies.
In a press conference held yesterday attended by a considerable numbers of media representatives and executives of companies taking part in the Exhibition, H.E. Mattar Al Tayer said: “The sharp vision of HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, enabled Dubai to thrive at a rate higher than any city in the region. It turned Dubai into a creative city with innovative investment projects spanning airports, ports, and rail & transport systems in addition to landmark property projects such The Palm islands, The World, and Burj Dubai; all of which boast a stunning & magnificent design. Over the last decade, Dubai made unprecedented development strides across the region as demonstrated in the complete overhaul of the infrastructure, building of modern roads across the city, constructing high rises, uplifting Dubai International Airport to world-class standards, and constructing free industrial zones in addition to the provision of communication, internet & media services.
Al Tayer added: “The huge progress made by Dubai was paralleled with an equal growth in the number of vehicles used; triggering traffic bottlenecks. RTA prepared legislations and developed integrated solutions for road systems as well as surface & marine transport network; which are safe to use, and in line with the economic development plans of the emirate of Dubai and the highest global standards. Implementation of this plan contributed to a host of achievements such as the drop in traffic mortality rates from 24 cases per 100,000 of population to 17 cases (26%), drop in the worth of time wasted as a result of traffic congestion from 5.9 billion dirham to 4 billion dirham (32%), an increase in the number of lanes crossing Dubai Creek from 19 to 48 lanes (153%), an increase in the number of lanes of key roads from 36 lanes to 66 lanes (83%), and improved traffic flow on major roads by 30%.
Al Tayer went further to say: “The main challenge facing RTA is the limited use of mass transit modes which is as low as 6%, whereas the share of public transport modes in advanced countries ranges from 40% to 80%. Therefore RTA worked out a comprehensive plan to upgrade mass transit sector with a view to pushing its share in person trips made up to 30% through extensive expansion of public transport systems. Projects undertaken to achieve this objective include Dubai Metro; which expands 75 km and comprises 47 stations, Sufouh Tram Project extending 14 km and covering 19 stations, beefing-up public transport bus fleet to 2100 by mid of 2010 covering a network of 3000 km long. The plan also envisages construction of 1000 air-conditioned bus shelters for public transport users offering them comfort to lure them toward the use of public buses. RTA also launched several initiatives to boost the transition towards public transport such as Sharekni and Awselni, in addition to introducing Journey Planner program (Wojhati), provision of maps showing route path at stations as well as internal & external bus display monitors, and re-routing bus lines to serve the major spots and provide feeder services to Dubai Metro Stations”.
In his speech Mattar Al Tayer spoke about RTA plan to upgrade marine transport mode and threw some light on Creek lines operation, the Coastal Line along Jumeirah Beach and the vital line linking with man-made island projects. “Marine transport network is set to expand from 20 km to more than 450 km to serve waterfront projects, and property islands which have a coastal line stretching more than 1700 km. RTA operated the Water Bus, improved abra services, and embarked on a trial run of natural gas-powered abras. Additionally, RTA is currently undertaking two vital marine projects; operation of about 20 ferries with a capacity to load 120 passengers each, and 10 Water Taxis with a capacity of 7 passengers each”. Al Tayer commented on the environment conservation through public transport by saying: “All the new public transport buses are fitted with Euro 4 environment-friendly technologies, and we kicked off the trial run of gas-powered abras as part of the drive to make marine transport modes, including the water taxi and Ferry Dubai, environment-friendly. Work is up and running in the trial run of hybrid taxis and introducing green building concepts in transport stations and buildings”.
Exhibition Tour
The Chairman of the Board and Executive Director of RTA H.E. Mattar Al Tayer made a tour of the exhibition accompanied with Roberto Cavalier Chairman of the International Union of Public Transport (UITP), Mohammed Obaid Al Mulla, CEO of Marine Agency, Essa Al Dossari, CEO of Public Transport Agency, Abdul Aziz Malik CEO of Dubai Taxi Corporation, Naser Hamad Bu Shihab Director of Strategic Planning Dep’t, and Peyman Younes Parham Director of Marketing & Corporate Communication Dep’t.
During the tour of the specialized companies and factories participating in the exhibition accompanying the Congress, Al Tayer reviewed the latest technologies used in the driverless trains and trams, and checked the latest trends in constructing, manufacturing, operating and maintaining rail systems, and also reviewed the new generation of public buses fitted with environment-friendly engines. In one of the stands Al Tayer viewed a modern system, which is being introduced by Public Transport Agency on several buses enabling the Agency to track bus movements, measure driver efficiency and fix bus maintenance schedules, and the system is set to be generalized to all public buses by the mid of 2010. Al Tayer also viewed high-tech unified fare collections cards used for buses, trains, and marine transport modes as well as paid parking zones. At the sidelines of the tour, Al Tayer met with several key executives of companies operating in rail and transport system industry.

Cherie Blair Visits DIHAD Office And Receives A Trophy Of Appreciation

Cherie Blair, head of Foundation for Women, Visited Dubai International Humanitarian Aid and Development Conference and Exhibition (DIHAD) office in Dubai yesterday to discuss various humanitarian aid and development related issues. Mrs. Blair received DIHAD trophy as a sign of appreciation from DIHAD Conference and Exhibition organization committee.

The trophy was handed over to Mrs. Blair by Mr. Abdul Salam Al Madani, Executive chairman of DIHAD Conference and Exhibition and President of Index Holding at DIHAD office in Dubai.

Dubai International Humanitarian Aid and Development Conference and Exhibition (DIHAD) is an annual event being held under the patronage of H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates and Ruler of Dubai in collaboration with Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Charity and Humanitarian Foundation. DIHAD is officially supported by the United Nations Organization and the Red Crescent Society for United Arab Emirates in addition to many other humanitarian and aid organizations in the world.

Blair expressed her intention to participate as a key note speaker in Dubai International Humanitarian Aid and Development Conference 2010 scheduled to be held from 4 to 6 April 2010. She praised Dubai vital role in enhancing the efforts to promote humanitarian and aid development projects and charities regionally and internationally.

“I’m so much hoping that we will have a session next year here in Dubai, we will discuss women and their contribution in business and economical life of their countries and I will be delighted to be involved in that. It is really admirable that Dubai is taking the lead in humanitarian and aid development issues, it’s a marvelous place to visit, and has all the required facilities to develop this sector”.

“DIHAD is one of the largest international humanitarian aid and development events in the world and we look forward to a more successful edition next year. We are delighted by the participation of Mrs. Blair in Dubai International Humanitarian Aid and Development Conference 2010 and we would like to express our appreciation for her continuous efforts in supporting different humanitarian issues. ” said Abdul Salam Al Madani during the meeting.

DIHAD is an ideal platform for local, regional and global governmental and non governmental organizations concerned in humanitarian and aid development sector, the United Nations Organization, charities, aid materials manufacturers and humanitarian work funding entities to meet and discuss the latest developments. It is an opportunity for knowledge exchange and exploration of global experiences in humanitarian aid and development sector.