Index plans to reduce traffic congestion

Index 2008, the largest interiors event in the Middle East takes place at the Dubai International Exhibition Centre between Wednesday 3rd and Sunday 7th December 2008 and is expecting in excess of 35,000 visitors over the five days.

Exhibitors and visitors who intend to drive to the exhibition will be served by the normal car parks located around the venue and a number of additional car parks located at strategic points around Dubai.

Up to 2,000 additional car parking spaces will also be made available at a special auxiliary car park located at Wonderland close to the Grand Hyatt Hotel.

"This park and ride location worked extremely well during our sister event BIG 5. It successfully reduced a lot of congestion around the venue itself and we would urge visitors to use this park and ride facility, it considerably eases the stress of trying to find empty parking spaces nearer to the site."

said Bernard Walsh, Managing Director of dmg world media Dubai.

In total 50 buses will also head for the trade centre from various stops including the Wonderland park and ride station.

The drop-off points at the venue are located outside Zabeel Hall, Convention Gate and Exhibition Gate and opposite the Novotel.

An RTA bus route will run every 30 minutes from the RTA Bus Station at Convention Gate via the hotels located on SZR including the Fairmont, Crown Plaza, Shangri La, Four Seasons, French Connection, Al Murooj Rotana, Dusit Dubai and returning to Convention gate.

In addition, free City Shuttle Buses will operate on three routes from car park E.

The routes are to;
1) Dubai Mall
2) Mall of the Emirates
3) Festival City Mall
These routes will help visitors as they depart from the event.

Taxi services at the malls are provided in significant volume and will resolve some of the pressure on the RTA taxi services at DWTC.

"We strongly recommend that visitors to the show take advantage of the numerous shuttle bus services either arranged by us which are free, or operated by the RTA." commented Kim Willis, Exhibition Director, Index 2008.

Other measures taken by the organisers include onsite VIP and valet parking, a limousine service for VIP guests.

"Once again we advise those drivers who are not visiting the show to try and find an alternative route if at all possible or at least try to avoid the peak hours around 11am and again around 8pm. However if you do find yourself stuck in a jam, please be patient and drive carefully, safety has to be everybody's top priority. It's better to arrive late than not at all." stressed Walsh.