Together we can accomplitsh, excel & translate the vision Together ...

Al Masar 23-E-May 2010 4/26/10 12:29 PM Page 1Issue No. 23, May 2010The official Monthly Magazine of Dubai's Roads and Transport Authority10 Medals adorn our heartsTogether we can accomplitsh,excel & translate the vision

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Al Masar 23-E-May 2010 4/26/10 12:29 PM Page 3Roads and Transport AuthorityDubaiChairman of BoardandExecutive DirectorMattar Al TayerAlongthewayyour supportOurachievementsGeneral SupervisorAysha Al BusmaitDirector of Customer ServiceEditor in ChiefAl Moatasem Belah MohammedEditorial ConsultantMaher Al KayyaliManaging DirectorMohammed Al MunjiEditing ManagerKhulood Al - SharafArt DirectorSara Al MudharrebEditursFahad Al MamariNashwan M. Al TaeeLayoutMohd Hassan Al HafizPhotographySyed Zaheer HaidarRTA AddressP.O.Box 118899United Arab EmiratesTel: +971 4 2844444Fax: +971 4 2065555www.rta.aeContact Us:Tel: +971 4 2903989Fax: +971 4 2903933Email: magazine@rta.aeI’m honoured to offer sincere thanks and appreciation to His Highness SheikhMohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE andRuler of Dubai, for patronizing the excellent and pioneer drive with the aim of boostingthe performance of the government sector. This is illustrated at best in the directive ofHH to establish the Dubai Government Excellence Program (DGEP) in 1997 as an integratedgovernment excellence program at the global level, with the aim of upgrading thegovernment performance in Dubai; which had set an example to be emulated acrossthe region that had been culminated by the winning of the UN Public Service Award in2007.We are thankful to HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, DubaiCrown Prince and Chairman of the Executive Council, for the ongoing follow-up of theperformance of various government authorities and departments in the Emirate.Since inception in November 2005, RTA adopted the criteria of the DGEP as a frameworkand was keen on drawing up a comprehensive strategic plan to deliver an array of excellentprojects. RTA efforts paid dividends in sweeping 10 prizes of the coveted DGEPAwards 2009; a tally putting the RTA ahead of any other government body. What thrilledus in particular was the Special Recognition accorded to the RTA with the Award of theGovernment Entity with the Most Advanced Performance, and the Award of the ElectronicallyDistinguished Government Entity. In so doing, RTA succeeded in beating the daringchallenge of offering the best-in-class e-services to the public despite the numberand quality of services offered which topped 160 services.We were particularly happy with the winning of the Distinguished Team Award by the090909 Team; which has delivered Dubai Metro Project on time. The galaxy of RTA individualwinners include Dr. Khalid Al Zahid who won the Distinguished GovernmentEmployee Award, engineer Ramadan Abdullah who won the Distinguished AdministrativeEmployee Award, Hussain Al Banna who won the Creative Employee Award, Dr. OthmanMetex who won the Distinguished Technical/ Engineering Employee Award, MsSarah Ishaq who won the Distinguished New Employees Award, and Ismail Juma andQaid Mohammed Al Halaqbi who were honoured in the Unsung Hero Award category.This resounding success is testament to the soundness of the approach adopted by theRTA in developing its human resources & young leader potentials, adoption of the bestglobal administrative practices, dedication of employees to their jobs and fostering ofteamwork spirit.In conclusion I would like to reiterate that the application of quality & excellence standardsas well as winning these awards is not an end in its own right, it is rather a toolto leverage the administrative & technical development, and a medium for showcasingRTA achievements in various fields. We, at the RTA, reaffirm our pledge to HH SheikhMohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE andRuler of Dubai, to drive down the path of excellence set by HH for making endless successesand countless achievements.Mattar Al Tayer

Al Masar 23-E-May 2010 4/26/10 12:29 PM Page 4contentCover StoryRTA scoops 10 DGEP Awards6His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler ofDubai, has patronized the award-giving ceremony of Dubai Government Excellence Program (DGEP) 2009 Awards whichwas held at Madinat Jumeirah .Laptop Service Clinic curestechnical patientsResults of “Laptop Service Clinic” campaign,which was conducted by Information TechnologyDepartment of Corporate Technical Support ServicesSector at Roads & Transport Authority inDubai had shown clearly that campaign assumptionswere correct that laptop users requiresawareness about the importance of periodic maintenanceof their laptops to ensure smooth & effectiveoperation levels.1619 Al Tayer: Completion rate hits 85% in AlKhawaneej Bus DepotIssue 23 - May 2010 . www.rta.ae4

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Al Masar 23-E-May 2010 4/26/10 12:29 PM Page 6Cover StoryAl Tayer and the CEOsreceiving the DistinguishedWork Team AwardHonoured winners of DGEP AwardsMohammed bin Rashid: Achievementsillustrate UAE’s pioneering roleMohammed Al Munji:His Highness the Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai confirmed: “Excellenceand innovation are a culture that should prevail across the community organizations, segments and members,because we are living in a state that has pledged to be a leader in every respect. This requires us tobuild creative & intellectual people capable of making the required change and equipped with resolution,determination, self-confidence and belief in God and our beloved nation for the sake of which we ought tomake every sacrifice.”His Highness commended the efforts of the Dubai GovernmentExcellence Program team who have dedicatedtheir sincere efforts to reach this good result and arenow harvesting the fruits of their continuing contributiontaking our departments, agencies and citizens tothe highest levels of innovation and effective communityparticipation.His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum,congratulated the departments and individualswho won the program awards, and considered theirachievement they had made for their departments andthe community as a contribution towards uplifting theprofile of the UAE at the international level that reaffirmsthe UAE’s pioneering role in various spheres.His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum,has patronized the award-giving ceremony ofDubai Government Excellence Program (DGEP) 2009Awards which was held at Madinat Jumeirah andattended by His Highness Sheikh Hamdan binMohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Dubai CrownPrince; His Highness Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammedbin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai; HisHighness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairmanof the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority and Chief Executiveof Emirates Airline Group; His Highness SheikhMajid bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairmanof Dubai Culture and Arts Authority; His HighnessSheikh Hasher bin Maktoum Al Maktoum, Director Generalof the Department of Information; His HighnessSheikh Mansour bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Mak-Issue 23 - May 2010 . www.rta.ae6

Al Masar 23-E-May 2010 4/26/10 12:29 PM Page 7toum; and other Sheikhs, ministers, dignitariesand heads of local departments and authorities.The ceremony began with the arrival of His HighnessSheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoumat Arena Ballroom of Madinat Jumeirah by playingthe national anthem, followed by a documentaryfilm showcasing Dubai’s achievements and developmentstages of Dubai Government ExcellenceProgram. Then, His Highness Sheikh Hamdan binMohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Princeof Dubai, addressed the ceremony expressing loyaltyand gratitude to the founder of Dubai moderndevelopment, stating: “Excellence is not a job, it’sa recipe for each job.”HH Sheikh Hamdan pledged before His HighnessMohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the powerhouseof the culture of excellence, innovation andknowledge, to exert further efforts in order toboost the pioneering & innovative spirit, promotecorporate excellence, and improve the efficiencyof government spending and management ofpublic funds.His Highness the Crown Prince of Dubaiannounced in his address that as of the currentedition of the DGEP two categories of FinancialExcellence and Joint Government Project will beadded to the program.His Highness referred to the performance level ofgovernment agencies in Dubai and the extent ofcustomer satisfaction that rose to 83% this year.List of departments that won this category (customersatisfaction with government services)included Dubai Chamber of Commerce & Industry,General Directorate of Residency and ForeignersAffairs and Dubai Municipality.Following the address, His Highness SheikhMohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-Presidentand Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler ofDubai, ascended the decoration platform standingto his side His Highness Sheikh Hamdan binMohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum; His HighnessSheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid AlMaktoum; and His Excellency Abdullah AbdulRahman Al Shaibani, Secretary-General of DubaiExecutive Council and Chairman of Dubai GovernmentExcellence Program, where awards and certificatesof appreciation were distributed to thewinning departments, agencies, government entities,innovators and unsung heroes.Al Tayer, Abdul-Mohsin and Al Hamadi receiving the Government Entity with the Most Advanced Performance AwardKhalid Al Zahid receiving the Distinguished Government Employee AwardRamadan Abdullah receiving the Distinguished Administrative Employee Award10 AwardsRTA has swept the lion share of the Awards in this competitioninvolving local authorities, departments and entities.H.E. Mattar Al Tayer, Chairman of the Board and ExecutiveDirector of RTA, along with RTA's honourees, received the tenAwards given to the RTA. RTA won the Electronically DistinguishedGovernment Entity Award, and got a Special Recognitionas the Government Entity with the Most Advanced Performance.It also won the Distinguished Team Award(090909 Team which delivered Dubai Metro Project on time).7Issue 23 - May 2010 . www.rta.ae

Al Masar 23-E-May 2010 4/26/10 12:29 PM Page 8Cover StoryHamdan binMohammed:Excellence is nota job, it’s a recipefor each jobHussain Al Banna, receiving the Creative Employee AwardOthman Metex receiving the Distinguished Technical/ Engineering Employee AwardDr. Khalid Al Zahid won the Distinguished GovernmentEmployee Award in recognition of his efforts in planning,implementing and operating the water bus for the first timein the region, planning and commissioning Ferry Dubai andthe Water Taxi for the first time in the region, delivering variousinitiatives that led to saving more than AED260 million,and raising revenues in excess of AED10 million.Ramadan Abdullah won the Distinguished AdministrativeEmployee Award for contributing to theoperation of Dubai Metro at the highest globalstandards and operating the Unified Card spanningvarious mass transit modes in the Emirate.Dr. Othman Metex won the Distinguished Technical/Engineering Employee Award for his excellentcontribution to the introduction of the new implementationmethods and using new materials inthe building of bridges and tunnels in Dubai witha view to minimizing costs, time and traffic diversions,besides compiling technical studies for theconstruction of bridges at world-class designssuch as Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Bridge andDubai Smile Bridge. Hussain Al Banna, Director ofTraffic won the Creative Employee Award for MadinatiScheme; which contributed to raising trafficsafety levels, and maintaining the urbanized andaesthetic excellent appearance of Dubai Citythrough involving individuals and communityentities in the program. Ms Sarah Ishaq won theDistinguished New Employees Award in recognitionof the several initiatives and excellent achievements, andtwo other employees were also honoured in the Unsung HeroAward category; namely Ismail Juma and Qaid Mohammed AlHalaqbi.Dubai Electricity and Water Authority, represented by itsIsmail Juma and Qaid Mohammed Al Halaqbi honoured in the Unsung Hero CategoryIssue 23 - May 2010 . www.rta.ae8

Al Masar 23-E-May 2010 4/26/10 12:29 PM Page 9Chairman of the Board His Excellency Saeed Mohammed AlTayer and the concerned staff, were decorated with 10awards. Dubai Municipality took the third place in terms ofthe number of awards with its Director General His Excellencyengineer Hussein Lootah and the concerned staff receiving8 awards. Dubai Police General Headquarters rankedfourth in the number of awards where its Commander-in-Chief Lieutenant General Dhahi Khalfan, his Deputy Commander-In-Chief Major General Khamis Mattar Al Mazeinaand the innovative policemen collected seven awards.Among the winning authorities and agencies, the HealthAuthority represented by its Director General His ExcellencyQadhi Saeed Al Murooshid, Directorate General of Residencyand Foreigners Affairs, the Centre of Ambulance Services,Chamber of Commerce & Industry, Dubai Airports, Culture &Arts Authority, Statistics Center, Dubai Customs, DubaiDepartment of Tourism, Department of Islamic Affairs andCharitable Activities, Endowment Department & MinorsAffairs, Dubai Civil Aviation Authority, Dubai Civil DefenceDepartment, Mohammed bin Rashid Housing Establishment,Dubai Public Prosecution, Knowledge and Human DevelopmentAuthority and Dubai Media Inc.Al Tayer: Winning the awards is a motivation for administrative &technical development, pursuing the drive of excellenceThe Roads & Transport Authority (RTA) offered deepestthanks and appreciation to HH Sheikh Mohammed binRashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister ofthe UAE and Ruler of Dubai for patronizing the excellenceand pioneering drive to boost the performance of the governmentsector, as illustrated in the establishment ofDubai Government Excellence Program (DGEP) in 1997.The Program was intended to be an integrated governmentexcellence program at the global level, and a driving forceto leverage the government performance and bring abouta qualitative shift in the performance of government institutionsbased on sound and reliable international standards.HH has always made it clear that whoever takes agovernment post assumes a huge responsibility to work byheart and mind, continue to make progressive successesand take pioneering role in keeping with the practices setby our ancestors and our expectations from the new generations.RTA is also appreciative and grateful to HH Sheikh Hamdanbin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Dubai CrownPrince and Chairman of the Executive Council, for theongoing follow-up of the performance of various governmentauthorities and departments in the Emirate.“Thanks to the astute directives of HH Sheikh Mohammedbin Rashid Al Maktoum, the ongoing follow-up of HHSheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum,dedication of RTA's employees & fostering of team spirit,the continuous efforts made to keep pace with the latestdevelopments at all fields, the introduction of modernadministrative concepts, the substantial improvement ofthe performance level & attention made to humanresources, and diffusing the spirit of creativity & innovationthrough motivating employees and nurturing a positiveworking environment, RTA has managed to realize severalachievements and projects; which had contributedheavily to the advancement of the infrastructure of theEmirate,” said Mattar Al Tayer, Chairman of the Board andExecutive Director of the RTA.Al Tayer commended the efforts made by the winners andhonourees and their willpower to achieve excellence intheir respective jobs; which had been culminated byclinching the awards. He added that RTA's winning ofthese awards would be a huge impetus to do better at theadministrative & technical levels, and keep up with theexcellence drive.9Issue 23 - May 2010 . www.rta.ae

Al Masar 23-E-May 2010 4/26/10 12:29 PM Page 10Our NewsRTA signs strategic partnership agreement with Ajman MunicipalityThe Dubai Roads & Transport Authority(RTA) has signed a PartnershipAgreement with the Municipality &Planning Department of Ajman toboost the existing partnership relationsbetween the two entities in aneffective and an institutional mannerthat serves the interest of all communitysegments and adds to the ongoingeconomic & social drive in bothemirates.The Agreement was signed on behalfof the Municipality & PlanningDepartment of Ajman by SheikhRashid Bin Humaid Al Nuaimi, Chairmanof the Municipality & PlanningDept-Ajman, and H.E. Mattar Al Tayer,Chairman of the Board and ExecutiveDirector of the RTA. The Agreementwas signed on the sidelines of the 4th Ajman InternationalUrban Planning Conference held under the theme "Waterfront:New Trends in Architecture and Planning”.The Agreement calls for the partners to make concertedefforts to realize the visions of Dubai Emirate and AjmanEmirate through materializing the visions of the two respectiveparties and meeting customer satisfaction as it hasstrong bearing on the economic & social spheres of the twoemirates and the whole country. The Agreement also calls forcementing the joint cooperative links in keeping with theobjectives of the two parties to have a solid, reputable, professionaland pioneering corporate profile that sets sightson achieving higher rates of customer satisfaction, buildingeffective mutual partnership relations that meet their strategicobjectives and step up their joint coordination in variousbusiness fields. Such steps would contribute to improvingthe performance, simplifying procedures, enhancing customerservices, and stepping up coordination, businesscooperation and technical & administrative skills of bothparties.The Agreement provides for exchanging of knowledge,expertise and corporate practices at all levels, sharing ofinformation and studies relevant to the scope of both partiesbusiness, and developing mechanisms for implementing anintegrated communication system between the two partiesto pave the way for exchanging knowledge, expertise, specializedstudies and researches capable of boosting modernizationand corporate development of the two entities.They will also lead to promoting the creative skills and motivatinginnovation, and creating a consolidated database forinformation and documents related to the subject matter ofthe Agreement, as well as ensuring easy access & timelyupdate thereof.According to the Agreement, the two parties have toexchange expertise & best practices, cooperate in urbanplanning & development affairs, share traffic studies & solutions,upgrade roads & public transport modes, and cooperatein customer service and means of raising customer satisfactionwith the services rendered. They also have to step uptheir legal, administrative and financial corporate organization,boost the relationship of each party with the strategicpartners of the other, and cooperate with the other party inholding conferences, seminars, lectures, courses workshopsand other joint events.Sheikh Rashid Bin Humaid Al Nuaimi, Chairman of Municipality& Planning Dept-Ajman, expressed his delight with thesigning of the partnership agreement with the RTA, whichwould “boost the cooperation and exchange of expertisebetween the two parties in a way that serves the cause ofdevelopment and growth in the country,” he said. He hailedthe huge successes made by the RTA in completing megaroad projects and mass transit networks, such as DubaiMetro, which are a source of pride not only for the UAE butthe whole region.For his part Mattar Al Tayer, Chairman of the Board and ExecutiveDirector of the RTA, said that he would be looking forwardfor more cooperation and exchange of expertisebetween the RTA and Ajman Municipality. He said: “ThisAgreement is testament to the strategic partnership establishedby the RTA since inception with various organizationsinside and outside the UAE.”Signing of the Agreement was attended from the RTA by theCEO of RTA Marine Agency Mohammed Obaid Al Mulla, CEOof Strategy & Corporate Governance Abdul Mohsin Ibrahim,CEO of Public Transport Agency Eisa Abdul-Rahman AlIssue 23 - May 2010 . www.rta.ae10

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Al Masar 23-E-May 2010 4/26/10 12:29 PM Page 12Our NewssRTA explores means of upgrading Dubai Award for Sustainable TransportRTA has recently held a meeting with the Committee of Dubai Awardfor Sustainable Transport (DAST) attended by the Chairman andmembers of the Committee in which they discussed means of cooperationand upgrading the profile of the Award.The Chairman of the Supreme DAST Committee Khaled MohammedAl Zahed said that the purpose of the meeting had been to reviewthe huge success made by the Award over its short life span notexceeding two years, the lessons learned from the previous editions,and how to upgrade the Award in future, particularly the thirdedition of 2010.Al Zahed said: “In the presence of RTA's concerned officials andmembers of the Award judging panels, we discussed means ofuploading the excellent initiatives, including non-Award winners, onDAST portal and publishing them in the media in order to raise thepublic awareness of the best practices in this field, and offer morenews items at the disposal of the media.“The meeting had also discussed the need to upgrade and regularlyupdate DAST portal, and to start receiving the applications online asof the next edition of the Award. Discussions also included developinga Guide for the Best Academic Research, and holding press conferencesand workshops to stimulate companies & individuals toplay a bigger role in this field starting from the third edition. TheJudges Panel is an independent circuit comprising experts and specialistsfrom the RTA, which is the competent body authorized toscreen submissions and identify the winners based on sound andaccurate technical standards,” added Al Zahed.DAST, which is in line with the sustained development principleadopted by the RTA, was inaugurated in 2008 with a view to educatingand encouraging various community organizations to play anactive and constructive role in support of RTA's objectives in thefield of sustained transport. The second edition of the Award waslaunched in 2009 to showcase the importance of the Award and theneed to place sustained transport among the overriding concerns ofthe public & private entities as well as the local media.In the first edition, the Award comprised 3 categories: Mobility Management,Conserving the Environment, and Transport Safety. In thesecond edition a fourth category was added: Special Needs TransportRequirements and two additional categories were also added inthe Special Recognition categories: Best Media Coverage with theaim of boosting the awareness of the Award, and Best AcademicResearch in the field of Sustainable Transport. The targeted four keysectors in Dubai Emirate are: government entities (local & federal),private sector entities, public interest groups, and individuals.The meeting was attended by Dr. Salim Al Shaafi, Development &Planning Consultant at Abu Dhabi’s Department of Transport, andH.E. Major General Mohammad Saif Al Zafeen, Director of DubaiPolice’s Traffic Department and Head , in addition to members ofJudges Panels and the Supreme Committee of the Award.Al Tayer Receives the Kuwaiti Consul in DubaiH.E. Mattar Al Tayer, Chairman of the Board and Executive Director ofRoads & Transport Authority (RTA), has recently received at his officeH.E. Ambassador Tariq Khalid Al Hamad, the Kuwaiti Consul inDubai, where he explored ways & means of boosting cooperationand exchanging expertise between the RTA and its Kuwaiti counterpart.The visit comes in the context of RTA's endeavors to enhancethe cooperative relationships with various entities at the local,regional and global levels.At the start of the meeting Al Tayer welcomed the Kuwaiti Consul andwished him a pleasant stay in the UAE and hailed the cooperativelinks between the UAE and Kuwait.RTA Chairman of the Board and Executive Director briefed theKuwaiti Consul on the key projects currently undertaken by the RTAincluding roads & bridges network, the Dubai Metro project; the firstphase of which was opened in September 2009 and Phase II is setfor opening this April, and Al Safouh Tram Project.“RTA is committed to adopt the highest practices in each phase inorder to achieve the intended objectives of providing Safe & SmoothTransport for All, and showcase the profile of Dubai across theworld. The UAE in general and Dubai in particular is witnessing ahuge influx of people and businesses; which warrants preparing allsorts of roads and transportation infrastructure such as DubaiMetro, water transport, buses, taxis and others in order to cope withthe rising number of projects & population and cope with the urbanizationdrive.For his part H.E. Ambassador Tariq Khalid Al Hamad stated that hewas impressed with the sweeping development witnessed by DubaiEmirate in a record time which contributed to making Dubai a focalpoint for investors, businessmen and tourists, thanks to the wiseleadership of HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai. Hemade a special mention to the Dubai Metro project; which hasbrought about a quality shift in the mobility systems in the region,and added a beautiful dimension to the fabulous array of projectsseen by Dubai, besides contributing to passenger transport andreducing traffic congestion.Issue 23 - May 2010 . www.rta.ae12

Al Masar 23-E-May 2010 4/26/10 12:29 PM Page 13Qatari delegation reviews RTA expertise in delivering Dubai Metro ProjectH.E. Mattar Al Tayer, Chairman of the Board and Executive Directorof Roads & Transport Authority (RTA) recently received H.E.Dr. Hassan bin Eisa Al Fadhala, Executive Vice-President forOperations, Qatari Diar Real Estate Investment Company, in thepresence of H.E. Faris Al Nuaimi, Qatari Consul General inDubai; Ghanim Hassan Al Ibrahim, Director of the Group’s Projects;and Sultan Bakheet Al Azzi, Director of Qatar RailwaysProject. The meeting explored ways and means of boostingcooperation in railways networks.In the outset of the meeting Al Tayer hailed the fraternal relationsbetween the UAE and the State of Qatar under the wiseleadership of the two sister countries. “Visits of GCC delegationsare good opportunities for sharing expertise, boostingcooperation in various fields and benefiting from the practicesof GCC countries. In keeping with the directives of HH SheikhMohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and PrimeMinister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, RTA offers all its expertiseand potentials in the service of sisterly and friendly countries,”he said.During the meeting Al Tayer spoke about the key instrumentalfactors that helped RTA complete Dubai Metro on time; namelythe unlimited support & follow-up of HH Sheikh Mohammed binRashid Al Maktoum, clear vision, mission & objectives, ongoingfollow-up of work progress at various phases of the project,teamwork spirit, the cooperation & communication with all relevantinternal & external parties, proper management of risksand challenges, developing an integrated work program for allkey stakeholders & subcontractors, and documenting & learninglessons.He further elaborated: “Dubai Metro Project was confrontedwith several challenges such as the integrating various masstransport systems in the Emirate, reviewing the important projectdetails, tackling technical issues such as tunnel ventilation,taking strategic decisions such as the phased opening of theRed Line stations, commitment to open the project on time i.e.09.09.09, and cooperating with various stakeholders of theproject, dealing with engineers and workers of almost 200 hundrednationalities. The leadership team coped with these challengesout of its commitment to carry out the directives of HHSheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum; which were communicatedto all personnel working in the project, be it employeesof the RTA or employees of the Consortium constructing theproject. It was reiterated to all personnel that the decision ofopening the Dubai Metro Project on the time preset at the signingof the contract in 2005 is an irreversible decision and everyonehas to work accordingly. RTA succeeded in mobilizing allpotentials & resources of all affiliated agencies & sectors toensure the project delivery on time”.The Qatari delegation watched a documentary film about theDubai Metro; which comprises two lines; the Red Line and theGreen Line. It is considered the longest driverless metro lineundertaken in a single project in the world. The Red Lineextends 52 km and includes 29 stations (4 underground and 25elevated stations with two stations at Dubai International Airport).The Green Line extends 22 km and comprises 18 stations(including 6 underground stations), and extends 10 km underthe ground.H.E. Dr. Hassan bin Eisa Al Fadhala, Executive Vice-President forOperations, Qatari Diar Real Estate Investment Company, statedthat he was impressed with the projects undertaken by theRTA, particularly in the field of mass transportation such asDubai Metro, and Public Transport means. He also hailed thefast speed of constructing RTA's projects in a record time.Afterwards, the delegation was accompanied by the Acting CEOof Rail Agency Adnan Al Hamadi, Director of Rail OperationDep’t Ramadan Abdullah, and Director of Rail Planning & DevelopmentDep’t Abdul Rida Abu Al Hassan in a tour of DubaiMetro.RTA reviews latest technologies in use in security & surveillance systems for key facilities in the UKAbdul-Mohsin Ibrahim Younes, CEO of RTA's Strategy &Corporate Governance Sector visited the annual specializedexhibition, showcasing the latest technologiesdeveloped by leading British companies in the field ofsecurity & surveillance systems & equipment organizedby The Home Office Scientific Development Branch incooperation with the UKTI Defence & Security Organization,which was held in the British capital London on 16 –18 March 2010.“The purpose of the visit was to review the best practicesand latest technologies in the field of security surveillancesystems & devices for facilities and infrastructures,such as public buses, metro, and marine transit modes inaddition to buildings, assets & properties,” said AbdulMohsin.As RTA has extensive systems & devices controlling &monitoring traffic flow on Dubai roads & parking zonesover and above the operational systems of the metro,metro stations, public buses and various transportmodes, it has become imperative to benefit from theexpertise of the advanced countries in upgrading &broadening the scope of security systems & equipment,and integrate & enhance their operational efficiency toensure the fulfillment of their original purposes,” he continued.“RTA is always keen on adopting the latest transport technologiesand upgrading all systems, including security &safety systems, with the aim of delivering the best servicesto all segments of the community in keeping with RTA'svision of providing Safe & Smooth Transport for All,”added Younes.It is note-worthy that this Exhibition, which is held annually,features participation of leading British companiesspecialized in Defence systems & devices through establishingspecific inter-government relationships; lay thefoundation for building confidence between clients &suppliers, these systems & devices. The participatingBritish companies exhibit specialized systems & devicesin the fields of combating crimes, policing practices, generalsecurity, counter terrorism, identity management,and border security.13Issue 23 - May 2010 . www.rta.ae

Al Masar 23-E-May 2010 4/26/10 12:29 PM Page 15ing to the Bridge and the approach to the Bridge at UmmHarir Road from two to three lanes; which added to thecapacity eased the flow of traffic inbound from Sheikh ZayedRoad towards Deira. It also included the improvement ofKhalid bin Al Waleed Road to ease the pressure on this vitalroad in order to improve its traffic flow towards Deira. Bridgeimprovement and widening works also included increasingthe number of lanes from Deira heading to Bur Dubai from 4to 6 lanes spanning the total length of the Bridge.Al Tayer stressed that RTA would carry on with the improvementof key roads in the city of Dubai as part of the vital projectsundertaken to upgrade and improve roads, and provideadvanced services at residential areas; which is part of thestrategy and ongoing endeavours of the RTA to keep paceurbanization drive, and meet the requirements of growth anddemographic expansion in the Emirate.RTA opens bridge linkingDubai Media City & the GreensThe Roads & Transport Authority (RTA) has opened thebridge linking Dubai Media City and the Greens for traffic,providing a direct link between the two sides ofSheikh Zayed Road in that area.Engineer Maitha Mohammed bin Adai, CEO of RTA'sTraffic & Roads Agency, said: “The Bridge, whosedesigns and construction phases have been endorsedand supervised by the RTA as per the applicable specificationsin Dubai Emirate, serves road users on bothsides of Sheikh Zayed Road; namely Dubai Internet City,Dubai Media City and Knowledge Village on one hand,and the Greens, TECOM, and Emirates Hills on the other.“The Bridge, which is being constructed at the cost ofDubai Technology and Media Free Zone Authority(TECOM), comprises two lanes in each direction and twosurface signalized intersections at both ends of theBridge. Opening the Bridge would ease the traffic congestionon Sheikh Zayed Road, particularly in the sectorfrom Street 331 (4.5 Interchange) and the 5th Interchange."“RTA is keen on linking the two sides of Sheikh ZayedRoad with roads & bridges network serving the inhabitantsof those areas, Dubai Internet City, Dubai MediaCity and the residential blocks at the opposite side ofthe road to ease the mobility between the two sides ofSheikh Zayed Road; which contributes to the fulfillmentof RTA's vision of providing Safe & Smooth Transport forAll."“In future, the new Bridge will provide a link betweenthe Parallel Roads and Al Wasl Road through capitalizingon Al Safouh Tunnel linking the neighbourhood ofthe Knowledge Village and Jumeirah up to Al Wasl Road.It will also open up more options to motorists travellingfrom areas in the vicinity of Emirates Hills to Jumeirahand Al Wasl Road."“Opening the Bridge coincides with the construction ofa series of road projects in the area such as the ParallelRoads Project which, upon completion, wouldmovementand flow across the15Issue 23 - May 2010 . www.rta.ae

Al Masar 23-E-May 2010 4/26/10 12:29 PM Page 16Our ProjectsAl Tayer: Completion rate hits 90% inAl Khawaneej Bus DepotH.E. Mattar Al Tayer, Chairman of the Board and ExecutiveDirector of Roads & Transport Authority (RTA), announcedthe completion of 90% of construction works of Al KhawaneejBus Depot and revealed that the station will start operationduring the first half of this year. Al Tayer also expressedhis delight with the operation of Al Rowaya Bus Depot; thelatest bus depot completed and operated by the RTA inAugust 2009. Al Tayer made this statement during a site tourthat took him to the two depots accompanied by the CEO ofPublic Transport Agency Essa Abdul Rahman Al Dossari, CEOof Corporate Technical Support Services Sector Abdullah AlMadani, and several RTA's directors.Al Tayer set off his tour by inspecting the Bus Depot at AlRowaya, comprising a bus parking yard capable of housing295 buses (144 standard buses and 151 articulated buses) inaddition to an electromechanical maintenance workshopwith a capacity to accommodate 20 buses at a time, a supplyline for 12 buses, a washing unit for 20 buses at a time,and an administrative office for about 40 employees. AlTayer was briefed by Essa Al Dossari and Abdullah Yousef AlAli (Director of Buses) to the progress at the Depot includingbus operation & maintenance and drivers training programs.The number of bus drivers at the station is estimated as 691drivers, and the number of buses about 227 sophisticatedbuses of Mercedes brand and SITA manufactured by theDutch VDL company. Buses are deployed over 29 routes andthe rate of bus compliance with the planned entry & exit timeschedules is as high as 99 per cent.Al Tayer stated that he was delighted with the operationalresults of the station, which was fitted with the latest equipmentand technical tools for carrying out all maintenanceworks and electromechanical repairs, in addition to the latesttesting systems, spare part warehouses, and offices foradministrative & technical staff. RTA's bus maintenanceworkshops are operated at the highest global safety standards,and maintenance is done in air-conditioned hallsequipped with the latest tools and machinery.Afterwards, Al Tayer moved on to inspect the work progressat Al Khawaneej Bus Depot where the contracting companyis putting the final touches as the whole works are expectedto be completed during the first half of this year. Designs andinfrastructure works completed included road networks, andparking & sewage systems whereas building completion ratereached 85% in the project. The station includes construc-Issue 23 - May 2010 . www.rta.ae16

Al Masar 23-E-May 2010 4/26/10 12:29 PM Page 17tion of a bus parking yard capable of housing 284 buses(comprising 146 standard buses and 138 articulated buses)in addition to an electromechanical maintenance workshopwith a capacity to accommodate 20 buses at a time, a supplyline for 12 buses, a washing unit for 20 buses at a time,and an administrative office for about 40 employees.Al Tayer stated that the project is part of RTA's master plan toupgrade mass transportation on buses with the aim ofattracting new commuters and hence contribute to easingroads congestions. These highly sophisticated buses featuretop quality specifications, affordable fare and wide geographicalcoverage and as such provide a big boost to theintegration of mass transit modes that include public buses,Dubai Metro and marine modes. The plan also consideredthe construction of air-conditioned bus shelters, introductionof electronic systems such as the journey planner“Wojhati”, Automated Vehicle Management, Unified FaringSystem, and Real Time Passenger Information system, inaddition to “Sharekni” and “Awselni” programs.At the end of the tour, Al Tayer hailed the efforts of employeeswho are working tirelessly to complete the project, andcalled on the contracting company to do more efforts to completethe project on time.17Issue 23 - May 2010 . www.rta.ae

Al Masar 23-E-May 2010 4/26/10 12:29 PM Page 18Our Services10 touch screens for public use ofWojhati ProgramRTA's Public Transport Agency announced that its workteams have recently completed setting up of 10 touch screenplatforms; reflecting the latest technology in use in the fieldof passenger information service under Worjahti program(Journey Planner) at several public locations and outlets ofthe Agency.It was confirmed by Essa Abdul-Rahman Al Dosari, CEO ofRTA Public Transport Agency, that the work teams of Planning& Business Development Dep’t of the Agency had coordinatedwith Emirates Integrated Telecommunications Co.(Du) the installation of these intelligent screens at: GoldSouk Bus Station, Main Customer Service Center at RTA's oldpremises in Umm Al Ramool, Rashidiya Metro Station, Al IttihadMetro Station (2 screens), Khalid bin Al Waleed MetroStation, Burj Khalifa Metro Station, Mall of the EmiratesMetro Station, Dubai International Airport (Terminal 3) MetroStation, and Deira City Center Metro Station.“These screens are powered by high-speed internet (Wi Fi)connectivity and offered as complimentary service from theRTA to all segments of the community. These screen platformsenable public transport users to access Wojhati programand make prior planning of their journeys and identifythe public transport means available in Dubai such that theycan access their destinations swiftly and travel safely,” saidAl Dosari.These screens are easy to use and so is Wojhati program.The user can either access the website in Arabic or English,then follow three simple steps: firstly enter the name of theplace where the user is in along with the intended destination;which are obtainable from the options automaticallyoffered by the system. The second step calls for the user toselect the date and timing of the journey, and in the thirdand final step the user presses “Map” where he or she willget within a few seconds a list of journeys using various publictransport modes includinginformation such as the journeytime, and a detailed routemap including the names ofareas en route of the concernedpublic transport modealong with the referencepoints and other GIS that helpthe user access the requireddestination in an accurate,speedy and effective manner.Al Dosari expected that thenumber of Wojhati users todouble with the launch ofthese screens which do notrequire more than a few minutesto use, and yet are considereda great addition,which will undoubtedlyimprove the culture of usingpublic transport among a widespectrum in Dubai Emirate.“This step underscores RTA'scontinued attention to applythe latest technologies andmeans capable of easing theuse of various public transportmeans,” he added.It is note-worthy that WojhatiPortal was launched by PublicTransport Agency on 25 April2009 in a broad press conferenceheld at the Head Officeof the Agency in the presenceof a large number of written,audio, visual and electronicmedia. Once unveiledIssue 23 - May 2010 . www.rta.ae18

Al Masar 23-E-May 2010 4/26/10 12:29 PM Page 19Opened for short term to check pulse and spread awarenessLaptop Service Clinic curestechnical patientsResults of “Laptop Service Clinic” campaign, whichwas conducted by Information Technology Departmentof Corporate Technical Support Services Sector atRoads & Transport Authority in Dubai had shown clearlythat campaign assumptions were correct that laptopusers requires awareness about the importance ofperiodic maintenance of their laptops to ensuresmooth & effective operation levels.Mr. Abdulla Al Madani, CEO of CTSS named this campaignas “Laptop Clinic” to draw user’s attention to thefact that laptops could get sick like humans andrequire periodic checkups.Despite the fact that ITD invited 650 of RTA’s laptopusers to book a time-slot to benefit from this campaignonly 45 users replied back, only 35 users showed up atthe agreed time and venue.Abdulla Al Madani, who participated personally in thiscampaign that lasted for 3 days along with Abdulla AlBastaki, ITD's Director & Esam Al Falassi, ITD's DeputyDirector were delighted that campaign objectives wereachieved successfully. He mentioned that this campaignis one of ITD's initiatives in response to RTA'sstaff suggestions during ITD annual survey for 2009.He added that the campaign main objectives had beento ensure perfect operation of RTA's laptops throughundergoing specific checkups such as: hardwarecheckup, Outlook checkup, performance fine tuning,preventative maintenance & laptop antivirus scanning.Prior to the campaign a detailed announcementwas done mentioning campaign objectives, methodology,method of participation by booking time-slotthrough specific link and getting confirmation by emailabout time & location of the workshop. Upon arrival toworkshop venue, a technical engineer verifies userregistration and starts the work19Issue 23 - May 2010 . www.rta.ae

Al Masar 23-E-May 2010 4/26/10 12:29 PM Page 20Our ServicesmParking service subscribers top 14k last yearEngineer Maitha bin Adai, CEO of RTA'sTraffic & Roads Agency revealed that usingthe mobile phone for paying parking feesservice (mParking) was rising steadily inthe Emirate of Dubai as the monthly averageof using the service has reached 350kvirtual parking permits, and the number ofsubscribers to the system hit 14k subscribersby the end of 2009.“Introduction of this service comes in thecontext of RTA's strategy to provide integratedsolutions of systems and servicesthat facilitate the use of roads and parkingin a way that keeps pace with the sweepingdevelopment plans witnessed by DubaiEmirate and measures up to world-classstandards applicable in this regard,” saidMaitha."Since the mParking service was launched by the RTA in May2009 starting with Sheikh Zayed Road and Dubai Media Cityup and until the project was completed in November 2009covering all parts of Dubai Emirate, this service played a vitalrole in the remote renewal of the parking tickets through themobile phone, without requiring the parking users to undergothe inconvenience of getting out of their places to go tothe parking machines in order to renew their parking ticketsmanually." "Besides that, this service also contributes to theefforts of Dubai eGovernment to process the majority of dailytransactions in a speedy and smooth electronic format,”said Maitha.“According to the service procedure, once the user parks the(Dubai-registered) vehicle in the paid parking zone, he orshe sends an SMS to the Number: 7275 (PARK) including thevehicle number plate, parking zone code (shown in the signage),and the required parking period. Theuser then receives an SMS confirming completionof the process; which acts as a virtualparking permit including the details ofusing the parking. Owners of vehicles registeredin other emirates have to register inthe service through the service portal(www.mpark.rta.ae), or dial the toll-freenumber (8009090) and then follow up theabove mentioned steps such that the usernameis entered instead of the vehicle number,”added the CEO of Traffic & RoadsAgency.It is note-worthy that the mParking service,undertaken by the RTA in cooperation withEtisalat and Du, is the first of its kind in theUAE and the region. The service was introducedwith the aim of easing the use of publicparking for residents & visitors of Dubai Emirate. Due toits multiple benefits, the service saves much time & effort ofparking usersRTA Activates Jebel Ali Registration Center toProvide Testing and Registration ServicesRTA's Licensing Agency began activation of services providedfor vehicles licensing, through ENOC Jebel Ali at Jebel AliFree Zone, Gate No. 5, in coordination with the Jebel Ali FreeZone Authority to direct companies' vehicles operating inthat zone to ENOC Jebel Ali Station, in order to save theirtime and efforts.Mohammad Abdul Kareem Nimaat, Director of VehicleLicensing Department of RTA's Licensing Agency, said thatthat the activation of the Center started with the reception ofcustomers last February to provide a host of vehicle licensingservices that includes testing services, licensing, numberplates, and Salik Services. He pointed out that the officialworking hours of the Center were 7.30 am up to 03:00 in theafternoon.Mohammad Abdul Kareem also explained that the Centercomprised 6 testing bays; 3 of which for testing heavy vehicles;and the other 3 for testing light vehicles, in addition to6 counters for serving customers, and visitors so as toprocess their transactions as fast as possible.He further added that activation of the Center came inresponse to the wishes of the existing companies in thisarea busy with thousands of light and heavy vehicles relatedto those companies and the idea is to provide those companieswith vehicle registration services.“The Agency seeks to provide a host of services which theRTA pays great attention to, including registration, licensingand technical inspection centers, due to the great demandfor such services from customers. This causes congestionand crowds, and thus the idea of multiple centers across keysites came to cancel centralization, reduce human crowdsand provide high quality flexibility and outstanding operationalefficiencyIssue 23 - May 2010 . www.rta.ae20

Al Masar 23-E-May 2010 4/26/10 12:29 PM Page 21Dubai Taxi opens new taxirank for HattaRTA's Dubai Taxi Corporation (DTC) has introduced a newTaxi Rank for Hatta Taxi service at Al Awir (near Vegetables &Fruits Market), in response to the needs & expectations ofclients and residents of Hatta town. The new service is alsodestined to improve the quality of service rendered to thelocal community and serve the needs of considerable numbersof citizens, residents and tourists aspiring to more comfortablemeans of transportation.According to Yousef Al Ali, Director of DTC's Fleet Processes& Operation, this new taxi rank had been launched toaddress the needs of residents of Hatta town, and the servicewould therefore be exclusive for the residents of Hattaand operate within pre-defined routes from Hatta to Dubaiand back to Hatta. “DTC has deployed taxicabs with a capacityfor 6 passengers maximum to lift passengers from dedicatedstops at Sabkha (near RTA's Public Bus Stop), and inAl Awir (near Vegetables & Fruits Market) and the service canbe ordered only by residents of Hatta through the saidrank,s” said Al Ali.He added: “Six (Innova) vans have been deployed for HattaTaxi service; where two of them would operate from Al Awir(near Vegetables & Fruits Market) to Hatta, and the other fourwould operate from Sabkha to Hatta and back to Sabkha,and 12 drivers have been selected to work on this service ata fixed monthly salary. The fare is fixed as AED25 per passenger,with 4 passengers for each taxicab so that the vehiclewould not stay for long at the rank. Once 4 passengers areloaded, the driver contacts Dispatch Center at RTA's PublicTransport Agency to open the meter at AED100, as per theprevailing practice at Al Ghubaiba Station.“Hatta Taxi service was launched in 2008 as DTC had beenkeen on upgrading the transit system in Hatta, serve theneeds of the local community, and provide a new safe &comfortable transport mode for residents and tourists frequentlycoming to the town to visit its tourist, historical andarchaeological attractions. The service was launched afterstudies revealed that the area needed a taxi service that issmooth, affordable, time-saving, comfortable, and speedy inarriving at the intended destinations,” added Al Ali.Hatta Taxi is offering its services in Hatta town and villagesin the neighbourhood, and from there to Dubai and otherEmirates. The taxi is allowed to pick up passengers fromDubai city to HattaRTA inaugurates online taxi booking serviceRTA's Public Transport Agency; which oversees taxi sector inDubai Emirate, has recently launched Online Taxi Bookingservice, known as e-Taxi. RTA offers this service to the residentsand visitors of Dubai as it is vitally important duringevents that warrant prior arrangements to be made by hotels,businesses and organizations in certain occasions such asDubai Shopping Festival. Through this service, the customercan book the required taxicab well in advance to ensure timelyarrival at the required destination.Commenting on the new service, the CEO of Public TransportAgency Mr. Essa Abdul-Rahman Al Dosari said: “RTA is alwaysseeking to implement Dubai e-Government electronic applicationsthrough capitalizing on the world’s top-notch technologicalsolutions. The online taxi booking service is based on havingthe customer’s details and address saved in the Dispatchsystem at the Public Transport Agency; which makes it easy toprocess the booking in subsequent times. A taxi can be booked24 / 7 through accessing the link (http://rta.ae/etaxi), and thisservice is currently available for hotels only.“This service is based on two key elements; the customer andcabdriver. The customer books a taxi and sends the bookingrequest to the Dispatch Section at the Public Transport Agency.The system electronically forwards the request to the nearesttaxicab available in the area of the customer. The cabdriver whoreceives the request is held responsible for auctioning therequest and ensuring arrival to the customer on time withoutdelay,” continued Al Dosari.“The Online taxi booking service would be fully available to thepublic and all segments of the community at the end of this year.Thisservice is poised to bring about a remarkable cut in the numberof telephone calls incoming to the Dispatch Section at the PublicTransport Agency. This would in turn slash the number of workinghours spent by the Dispatch Section staff for processing theincoming telephone call requests, as the electronic system of thee-Taxi service is automatically operated and is highly efficient inprocessing the requests. This in turn would contribute to upliftingthe caliber of services provided by the RTA to taxi passengers inthe Emirate of Dubai,” added the CEO of Public Transport Agency.“The launch of this service was widely received, for the timebeing, by the hotels in Dubai Emirate, and is expected to boostthe revenues of franchise companies operating under RTA'sumbrella. With the number of internet users in the UAE accountingfor21Issue 23 - May 2010 . www.rta.ae

Al Masar 23-E-May 2010 4/26/10 12:29 PM Page 22Numbers X NumbersMotorized Abras ferry 16mpassengers on Dubai creekRTA's Marine Agency has transported 16,345,303 passengersin 817,265 journeys made by motorized abras in 2009;according to statistics recently released by the Agency.According to Hussein Al Saffar, Director of Operations andMaintenance Dep’t at RTA's Marine Agency, the monthlyaverage of motorized abra ridership clocked 1,362,109 passengersand the daily count was 447,082 passengers. Passengertraffic peaked in November hitting 1,589,015 passengersferried in 79,451 journeys,followed by October where1,495,116 passengers weretransported in 74,756 trips.Next came March with1,481,655 commuters ferriedin 74,083 journeys, ahead ofMay where 1,445,120 passengerswere served in 72,256journeys made by motorizedabras.“Motorized abras operateover two main lines; the firstline shuttles between DeiraOld Souq Station and BurDubai Station. The secondline links Dubai Old Souq andAl Sabkha Stations providing24-hour service. 15 abras aredeployed on this line offeringservice at a fare of AED1 (onedirham) per passenger pertrip. The tourist fare from allstations is AED100 per hour” said Al Saffar.“In total, there are 149 motorized abras deployed to provideshuttle service between four stations; Al Sabkha Station, BurDubai Station, Deira Old Souq Station and Dubai Old SouqStation. Motorized abras are essential for keeping pace withdevelopment & modernization drive in marine mass transitindustry. They provide transit service to all commutersIssue 23 - May 2010 . www.rta.ae22

Al Masar 23-E-May 2010 4/26/10 12:29 PM Page 23More than AED12m fetched from auctioning97 Distinguished Plates in DubaiRTA's Licensing Agency has conducted its first distinguishednumber plates open auction in 2010, at Mina Hall ofJumeirah Beach Hotel. The 66th distinguished numbersplates auction comprised a total of 97 distinguished numberplates: 87 for vehicles, 10 for motorcycles.The Director of Vehicles Licensing of RTA's Licensing AgencyMohammad Abdul Karim Nimaat, said: "Gross proceedingsof the 66th Number Plates Auction, the first of our auctionsin 2010, totaled AED12,005,000/- and the plate (G 44)topped the sales list selling for AED1.8 million in the Auctionwhich witnessed a huge number of participants and attendance,who booked up all seats in the hall.He added that the number plate (E 32) came second fetchingAED1,120,000/-, followed by (H 666), which was sold forAED720,000. Motorbike number plate (11110) was sold forAED21,000.He pointed out that 97 plates were sold in the auction included2 two-digit plates, 20 three-digit plates, 29 four-digitplates and 36 five-digit plates, whereas the motorbikes numberplates totaled 10, including 1 three-digit plate, 3 fourdigitplates and 6 five-digit plates."The 66th Auction witnessed a renewed heated competitionamong the 400 plus bidders in attendance, including spectators.10 distinguished motorbike licensing plates havegenerated an equal amount of appeal to many bidders thatcompares well with vehicles number plates. Bidders hailedfrom various spectrums of the community and nationalities;which reflects a strong relevance and continuing success ofdistinguished number plate auctions, the number of whichhas now reached 66," said Mohammed Abdul Karim."Many factors have contributed to the success of this Auction.Examples of these include proper and early preparationsof the venue and auctioneer company in advance, coordinationof associated operational processes, in addition toprovision of several registration points for auction such asDeira Traffic, RTA's Main Customer Service Centre, besidesregistration on the Auction Day at the Auction Hall," he continued.RTA issues 121 offences to Metro userslast February, drops 34%RTA's Rail Agency has issued 121 offences toMetro users, during February 2010, whilecommuting across the eleven stations of theRed Line, and the statistic reveal a 34% drop,compared to January where 183 offencesissued.The Director of Rail Operation at RTA's RailAgency, Ramadan Abdullah, said that thepublic had become aware of the need tocomply with Offences & Fines Regulations.This is best illustrated by the decline in therate of offence committed which plunged by34%; equivalent to one-third of the totaloffences recorded last January. Issuance ofOffence Code comes in the context of effortsto streamline the Metro use in a practical andcivilized manner synonymous of its standingas the latest and the best transport mode in Dubai."The Agency issued 121 offences spanning 22 clauses outof the 31 clauses provided for in the Metro Fines &Offences Code. Entering or sitting in areas designated forspecific categories clause topped the list with 67 offencesreported, followed by using public transport means, facilitiesand services or entering/ existing fare zones withoutpaying the prescribed fare clause; which attracted 13offences. Next in the order of offences made came usingthe parking designated for metro commuters for morethan 24 hours clause (12) offences, followed by using theparking designated for metro commuters for more than 48hours clause (7) offences. Last in the order of offencescame eating and drinking at prohibited areas (4)offences," revealed Ramadan."The Rail Agency issued this Code to ensure smoothmobility on the Metro, and deter unruly individuals fromattempting to cause riots, sabotage or tamper with thestations and the metro, thus maintaining the safety andcleanliness of the iconic Dubai Metro project; the latesttransport addition offered by Dubai," added Ramadan in aconcluding remark.23Issue 23 - May 2010 . www.rta.ae

Al Masar 23-E-May 2010 4/26/10 12:29 PM Page 24Numbers X NumbersIssue 23 - May 2010 . www.rta.ae24

Al Masar 23-E-May 2010 4/26/10 12:29 PM Page 25Dubai Taxi launches “Salamtak” tireinitiative in coop with Al Dobowi GroupCommunity SafetyRTA's Dubai Taxi Corporation (DTC) has teamed upwith Al Dobowi Group to launch a week-long"Salamtak" tire initiative with the aim of stressingthe importance of tires to the safety of the vehicle,and the need to consider tires as crucial componentof vehicles, and how to maintain them toguard against road risks and surprises.According to Yousef Al Ali, Director of DTC's FleetProcesses and & Operation: "the DTC had coordinatedthis initiative with Al Dobowi Group in thelight of the Agreement made last year for the supplyof Korean Hankook Tire brand to the DTC conformingto the GCC standards for a two-year period.The initiative also came in the context of buildingand boosting relationships between the DTCand private businesses & vendors with whom theDTC is interacting in various fields.“Drivers have well been briefed to this initiative along withthe accompanying rewards announced and budgeted for thedistinguished drivers in the form of purchase vouchers ofAED100 to encourage other drivers maintain and continuouslycheck tires condition and air pressure regularly,” saidYousef.He added: “This initiative aims at heightening the awarenessof cabdrivers of the importance of tires and carrying out regularchecks considering their significant impact on curbingaccidents and frequent problems encountered by taxicabs ofthe DTC fleet, which currently comprises 3504 vehicles operatedby more than 7200 drivers on shift basis 24 hours aday.”Al Ali highlighted the key & vital role of tires in maintainingthe safety of vehicle and accordingly the safety of both thedriver and passengers. Therefore, it is imperative to selectthe proper tires and carry out regular checking, as providedfor in the contract made with Al Dobowi Group. DTC seeks toprovide all elements of tire security & safety in order toachieve the best results and materialize the vision of the RTAand DTC of providing Safe & Smooth Transport for All.“The DTC workshop had been fitted with all the requiredservices, equipment and technicians who carry out regularchecking & maintenance of all taxicabs. The technical capacityof the workshop had been upped with the deployment ofmore personnel to commensurate with the volume of therequired jobs to be done on daily or monthly basis includingrepair, service and cleaning of taxicabs,” said the Director ofDTC's Fleet Processes and & Operation.“The workshop is currently operating at 90% operationalefficiency with 145 specialized administrative & technicalstaff working on shift basis at the workshop; which has 54bays for servicing vehicles fitted with the latest tools &equipment used for vehicle repairs.“Coordination is in hand between the workshop and the carwashing station, which carries out body washing for about1500 vehicles and interior washing for 30 vehicles per day.June & July are the busiest months of the year in the workshop”25Issue 23 - May 2010 . www.rta.ae

Al Masar 23-E-May 2010 4/26/10 12:29 PM Page 26RTA CommunityRTA holds a seminar on anti-cancer foodsThe symposium is held to commemoratethe International Women's DayWomen's Committee of the Roads & Transport Authority(RTA), under the chairmanship of the Director of CustomerServices Department and Chairwomen ofWomen's Committee Dr Aysha Al Busmait, held a medicalseminar entitled “Anti-Cancer Foods” to commemoratethe International Women's Day. The seminar was held inRTA's new premises at Al Garhoud on Tuesday 9 Marchand attended by RTA's employees of both genders.During the seminar, which lasted one and a half hour,Ms. Nada Zuhair Al Adeeb, Director of Nutrition Dep’t atthe Eastern Medical Zone, Abu Dhabi, made a presentationexplaining the types of cancer triggered by eatingfast foods, poor nutrition and obesity. She highlightedthe latest medical developments in cancer treatment andstressed the importance of early examination and diagnosesto curb the spread of these dangerous ailments.“Fighting cancer ranks high on the priority list of the Society,particularly breast cancer, cervix cancer in women,and prostate cancer in men. Cancer is a killer andextremely dangerous disease that does not differentiatebetween juniors & seniors nor the rich & poor. We live incountries where 70% of mortality cases are attributed tocancer diseases. We are liable more than other peoplesto catch this disease for several reasons including thelimited resources for diagnosing, treating and preventingthe onset of this disease,” said Nada.She concluded by a call for fighting cancer through allpossible means & methods and the enhancement oftherapeutic aspect. She thanked RTA's Women's Committeefor availing her the opportunity to shed light onthis paramount issue and praised its efforts in servingRTA's employees, especially in women-related issues.For her part Dr Aysha Al Busmait, Director of CustomerServices and Chairwomen of RTA's Women's Committee,said: “This Committee has come to light, thanks to theconfidence pinned by RTA's Chairman of the Board andExecutive Director in the crucial role and contribution ofthe Committee, whether within the RTA or in linking upwith the community. Thereby it forms a social tributaryenhancing women’s effective contribution to decisionmakingprocess; which is poised to have positive bearingon the work environment, families and the community asa whole.”She added: “The Seminar inspired RTA's employees tothink of several concepts and benefit from the tipsoffered by Nada Al Adeeb in cancer-prevention efforts.RTA was badly in need of such symposiums tackling preventionof cancer diseases which are spreading in theUAE, and accordingly figure out suitable solutions to curbthe disease.”The participants expressed their pleasure with the successmade by the seminar and the valuable insightswhich will help participants avoid such diseases, maintainhealth, comply with doctors’ instructions, and proceedRight Nutrition Dome. Attendance was not restrictedto women but also included several RTAIssue 23 - May 2010 . www.rta.ae26

Al Masar 23-E-May 2010 4/26/10 12:29 PM Page 27RTA takes part in the global EarthHour campaignThe Roads & Transport Authority(RTA) took part in the global EarthHour campaign, which had beenunleashed on Saturday 27 March2010 for one hour starting from08.30 pm to 09.30 pm, as contributionfrom us to the efforts of protectingthe environment by conservingpower, minimizing global warming,and raising the efficiency of environmentalsustainability.Peyman Younes Parham, Director ofRTA's Marketing & Corporate CommunicationCorporate AdministrativeSupport Services Sector, said:“Through taking part in this globalcampaign, RTA aims at consolidatingthe efforts mustered to showcaseDubai's endeavors to conserve theenvironment, besides lobbying more participants in thecampaign. RTA is equally keen on manifesting the strengthand impact of collective actions in leveraging the requiredchange, disseminating the culture of conserving environmentalresources among all employees & clients, and reducingthe use of electricity consumption throughout RTA'spremises.”“RTA's participation in Earth Hour is illustrated in switchingoff lights in part of Jumeirah Road for 60 minutes startingfrom 08.30 pm to 09.30 pm tonight in reflection of RTA'sattention to conserve the environment and show commitmentto tackle the climatic change phenomenon and howbest to cope with it. RTA also aims at raising the awarenessof the importance of saving power, supporting the globalefforts in this drive, spreading the culture of power savingamong RTA's employees through e-mailing them materialsshunning the excessive use of power and distributingposters,” he added.“RTA's commitment to protect the environment and preservethe nature as well as the public safety can be achieved bystriking a balance & integration between road systems aswell as mass land & marine transit systems with a view tomaking mass transit modes the favourite means of mobilitybesides introducing technologies to suppress the noisecaused by transport modes.”“RTA will join a rally that starts off Jumeirah Beach Hotel for(1 km) to deliver a symbolic message across a wide segmentof the community. So everyone is invited to take part in thisglobal drive. This is the second time for the RTA to team upwith Dubai Executive Council and Government Departmentsin this global initiative. RTA was officially registered in thewebsite of Earth Hour and its in this campaign is27Issue 23 - May 2010 . www.rta.ae