Tag Archives: Roads and Transport Authority

Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has endorsed a three-phase 10-year plan to improve marine transport services on Dubai Water Canal 2020-2030. “The initial phase covers a Short-Term Plan 2019-2020, which already started in April. It includes modifying the current marine transport line on the canal to link Jaddaf, Dubai Design District and Sheikh Zayed road stations. The revised line excludes Marasi station and endorses the deployment of the water bus instead of Dubai ferry to run the service. The water taxi service at these stations remains unchanged,” explained Mohammed Abu Bakr Al Hashimi, Director of Marine Transport at RTA’s Public Transport Agency. “In concurrence with these changes, abra service will be running on two new lines to commute riders between the Al Wajeha Al Maeyah, Marasi and Sheikh Zayed road stations. By 2020, marine transit modes will be beefed up to include two water buses on the revised line, and three abras on the new line.” “The second phase is a Medium-Term Plan 2025. It covers the operation of nine stations in the central sector of the canal over and above the existing stations, which will be served by five new lines. It involves modifying the current line of the water bus to serve two stations, namely Dubai Creek Marina station and Business Bay Promenade station. One water bus and five abras will be added in 2025 and 2026,” shared Al Hashimi. “The Long-Term Plan 2030 covers the addition of four stations on Dubai coastal line namely Jumeirah 2, Al Safa 2, Sheikh Zayed road 2, and Godolphin. The proposed modes here are one waterbus and two ferries that will bring the total number of water transport modes in …

HE Mattar Al Tayer, Director General and Chairman—Board of Executive Directors, Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), received a visiting delegation from Singapore headed by HE Lim Sim Seng, Chairman, Singapore Land Authority. The meeting discussed ways and means of boosting cooperation whilst exchanging expertise between RTA and Singapore Land Authority in the fields of smart mobility, smart services and artificial intelligence (AI) as well as the upcoming roads and infrastructure projects in Dubai. The meeting discussed projects related to smart mobility and Dubai’s Autonomous Transportation Strategy aimed at transforming 25 per cent of total mobility journeys in Dubai into driverless journeys by 2030. Al Tayer briefed the visiting delegation about RTA’s experience in applying AI to projects such as the Dubai Metro, and the Enterprise Command and Control Center; which handles big data besides simulating & forecasting transport & crowds’ movement. RTA also uses AI in the smart testing of drivers and vehicles using robots, and the smart scanning of parking. HE Seng was impressed with RTA’s projects and initiatives for migrating to the Smart City, rendering Dubai a smart technology model. He added that efforts were being made to boost the strategic partnership between RTA and Singaporean entities dealing in the smart mobility field. RTA is currently making trial runs of an electrically powered 10-seater autonomous vehicle featuring high safety standards. Trials are also underway for the Autonomous Air Taxi capable of carrying two persons, autonomous mobility pods, and the first autonomous taxi in the region.

Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has commenced the operation of an exclusive Dubai Ferry route for Emaar’s visitors and residents, linking The Dubai Mall and Dubai Marina Mall. Inaugurated in the presence of senior officials of RTA and Emaar, the new service links two of the most popular lifestyle destinations in the city through an environment-friendly urban transport service. It also builds on an earlier agreement signed between RTA and Emaar’s At the Top, Burj Khalifa to promote the sale of Dubai Ferry tickets to the popular tourist attraction in the iconic tower. The ferry service, for a duration of about 1 hour 20 minutes one-way, will offer majestic views of the cityscape – from The Palm Islands to the skyscrapers along Sheikh Zayed Road and the Dubai Canal. It will ply between the Dubai Marina ferry station, located behind the Dubai Marina Mall, and Al Wajeha Al Maeyah station, from where a complimentary shuttle service will take guests to reach The Dubai Mall and back. Ahmed Bahrozyan, CEO, Public Transport Agency, said, “The marine transport network of Dubai is gaining considerable interest among visitors and residents, especially following the ongoing promotion of the Dubai Ferry service by At the Top, Burj Khalifa. The new service will add to the delight of users, who can cover two of the most popular malls effortlessly while enjoying scenic vistas of the city.” Ahmed Al Falasi, Executive Director — Group Operations, Emaar Properties, said, “The new ferry service is a remarkable addition that will add to the touristic attractions in the city. Following the promotion of Dubai Ferry to visitors and tourist groups touring At the Top, Burj Khalifa, we had seen a …

Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has announced an “e-hail” taxi joint venture with Careem Networks recently at a press conference held under the patronage of His Excellency Mattar Al Tayer; Director General and Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors, RTA; Mudassir Sheikha, Co- founder and CEO, Careem, along with other senior officials and CEOs from the RTA and senior executives of Careem. HE Al Tayer stated that this partnership was the first in the world between a government transport authority and the private sector. “This initiative stems from RTA’s keenness to implement the directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister, the UAE and Ruler, Dubai, to transform Dubai into the smartest city in the world. It also aims to bring happiness to people, deliver classy services to tourists and enrich customer’s experience. This partnership is the first-of-its-kind worldwide between a government transport authority and a private entity specialised in taxi e-hail business. “Through this new company, the RTA intends to leverage the taxi sector in Dubai. It involves raising the efficiency of taxis in Dubai through enhanced accessibility of vehicles and their online booking and reducing the expected waiting time for the vehicle. It also entails a host of advantages to clients such as making a direct online payment via the app, charting the most suitable journey route, sharing the ride with others, displaying details of the vehicle and driver, in addition to an option for providing the service with a chauffeur. Five of the big e-hail taxi companies operating in the global market submitted technical and financial proposals but Careem was selected as it caters to the provision of …

The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), in collaboration with the Chinese EHANG Company, has carried out the first test run of an Autonomous Aerial Vehicle (AAV) capable of carrying a human, branded as EHANG184 in Dubai skies. RTA is set to start the operation of the AAV as early as July this year. The EHANG184 vehicle is fitted with a touchscreen to the front of the passenger seat displaying a map of all destinations in the form of dots. It has preset routes and the rider is to select the intended destination. The vehicle will then start automatic operation, take off and cruise to the set destination before descending and landing in a specific spot. A ground control center will monitor and control the entire operation. Mattar Al Tayer, Director General and Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of RTA said: “The trial run of the first AAV is in implementation of the directives of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to transform Dubai into the smartest city in the world. It is also part of RTA’s endeavors to provide self-driving transport through engaging in the technological tests of self-driving vehicles under Dubai environment. It replicates Dubai Self-driving Transport Strategy aimed at transforming 25 per cent of total individual trips in Dubai into Self-driving trips using various modes of transport by 2030. The step would also enhance the integration between public transport modes and people happiness through the provision of smooth, quick and innovative mobility. The AAV exhibited at the World Government Summit is not just a model; it is a real version that we have already experimented …