RTA organizes a special needs workshop on the facilities to be provided in Dubai Metro

The workshop attended by Engineer Adnan Al Hammadi, Director of Construction, Rahmah Khambati, Senior Architect from Rail Agency as well as from Ministry of Social Affairs; Wafa Hamad bin Suliman, Director of Care for Special Groups and Jassim Habib Al Khalsan, Director of Dubai's Centre for the Disabled Rehabilitation.

Engineer Al Hammadi highlighted at the beginning of workshop the RTA's determination and commitment towards implementing the standards outlined in Federal law no. 29 for the year 2006 concerning the necessity of facilities for disabled people in all projects and services presented by RTA and especially an article no. 25 that states all roads, channels and vehicles of public transport, whether on land or through sea, must be constructed and equipped technically for the use and need of people with special needs.

Al Hammadi stated that Dubai Metro project is the biggest project executed by RTA with a cost of AED 15 billion and It has been taken into account from day one of the project to implement such facilities and services for disabled people during the planning and construction phases. There are ten main services planned so far, which include elevators, escalators, a built-in slope in all train doors, and automatic ticket machines and the gates in addition to places for wheelchairs with safety belts and easy and safe movement in all carriages.

Al Hammadi spoke about the metro consisting of five carriages for approximately 640 persons, which was distributed to two levels, the first Gold Class at the forefront of Metro includes 19 deluxe seats and also an area allocated for women and children, in addition to areas for kids trolleys, bags and luggage.

The second Silver class includes four carriages and also allocates seats and areas for people with special needs in all classes of the metro in the framework of the RTA concern on their rights and reintegrates them in the society.

He added Audio-visual devices (TV screens and speakers) will be installed in each train, as well as in the stations and on station platforms, in order to be able to inform and communicate with passengers - especially those with hearing or visual disabilities - as needed throughout their journey with Dubai Metro. A clear floor guide system, including color-coordinated signs and arrows, is designed and planned for implementation in order to facilitate individuals' movement within the stations and trains.

Al Hammadi stated that RTA has been coordinating with Ministry of Social Affairs to train a group of people with special needs on how to use Metro and those who will trains their friends and other groups with different disabilities to use different services in all Dubai Metro facilities.

Wafa bin Sulaiman expressed her happiness for the RTA initiative to hold this workshop for people with special needs to acknowledge them with all Dubai Metro facilities and services for these group.

She added that the RTA always have ambitious initiatives in its executed projects presenting all services for all, stressing that RTA was the first in executing the articles of the Federal law No. 29 for the year 2006, concerning the rights of people with special needs, that was approved by HH Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE President and all in the Ministry of Social affairs appreciate this initiative.