Landmark roads transport event tackling critical challenges to be held in Dubai

The unparalleled executive event panel includes H.E. Abdul Aziz Abdul Rahman Al Kulaib, Undersecretary to Minister of Public Works (Kuwait). He is joined by Advisor Dr. Mohammed Osman Abdelkader, Ministry of Public Works (Kuwait). Kuwait spear headed the global first; Kuwait Infrastructure Maintenance Management System (KIMMS).

This event provides road transport officials to get unrivalled access into how this system can revolutionise networks. Little mention needs to be given to rising congestion, road performance and traffic management issues in the region.

Former Minister of Transport (Egypt), Dr. Essam Sharaf of Al Ain Municipality will be working alongside former Deputy Minister of Transport (Egypt) Dr. Atef Garib, of Abu Dhabi Municipality to examine the significant developments that the industry is facing.

"This conference is a "just in time" event. The topic of road asset management gains its importance from the fact that road agencies are faced with the challenge of a rising demand on road transport on one hand and the reduced resources on the other. To deal with such complexity, it is essential that road managers have systematic fact-based tools and frameworks to produce the information decision makers need to effectively allocate the already limited resources. These tools and frameworks are the basic ingredients of an efficient road asset management, the theme of this timely event," Dr. Sharaf commented today.

Head of Maintenance, Abdulla Yousef Al Ali of Dubai's Road and Transport Authority is also part of the executive committee and adds, "Today's regional transportation environment is characterised by relatively young network infrastructure, high user demand and technology advancement. It is the time to apply asset management approaches to help make cost-effective investment decisions."

With the announcement of new road projects around the region daily, the increasing pressures in the region are putting critical infrastructure at breaking point in many cities. This leaves Road Transport authorities around the region looking for faster methods to improve current maintenance programs and the essential need to enhance strategy and policy to ensure continuing expansion of networks are robust enough to stand population explosions and the increasing diversification of road users.

International experts joining this event include Archie Robertson, OBE, CEO of Highways Agency UK; contributing global expertise for the region. The Highways Agency in the UK is responsible for a road network which is managed using world-class asset management techniques, and insights will deliver how the region can hit targets and improve the rapidly expanding networks in the region.

In addition, IQPC are also providing essential workshops between 22 & 25 January 2007 to build on the conference focus. H.E. Abdul Aziz Abdul Rahman Al Kulaib, Undersecretary to Minister of Public Works (Kuwait) and Advisor Dr. Mohammed Osman Abdelkader, Ministry of Public Works (Kuwait) are delivering workshops alongside Robert Hardy, Associate, Highways Division, Mott MacDonald.

Three business critical workshops will deliver a chance to explore strategic, operational and tactical issues that roads transport officials are facing in this vital stage of road network expansion and development. Exclusive ongoing coverage of this event can be found at the event website and through Al Taqata, the first and only dedicated online portal for the Middle East and North African traffic and transport industry.