Hamdan bin Mohammed honours winners of 1st Dubai Award for Sustained Transport 2008

The initiative, which was unleashed by Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), is meant to urge both the public and private sectors to contribute in easing traffic congestions and preserving the environment.

Upon arrival, H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, was received by H.E. Mattar Al Tayer, Chairman of the Board and Executive Director of the RTA, and key figures of government departments and agencies.

H.H. Sheikh Hamdan and the attendees viewed a movie on the Award; which shed light on the efforts of the Emirate of Dubai to conserve the environment, preserve natural wealth and adopt the principles of sustained development as they are considered key aspects in shaping the future and welfare of mankind. The movie highlighted the initiatives of the RTA to operate environment-friendly hybrid vehicles, improve the quality of fuel used in public transport buses, and apply the global standards governing vehicle gas emissions to Dubai.

H.E. Mattar Al Tayer delivered a speech in which he thanked H.H., for the ongoing support lent to the RTA and for sponsoring the DAST.

Al Tayer said:

"The Award comes in implementation of the Dubai Strategic Plan (Infrastructure, Lands and Environment Sector), and the Strategic Goals of the RTA in protecting lives and properties, conserving the environment and natural wealth, and improving the public safety under the drive to realize RTA's vision of providing 'safe and smooth transport for all'."

Al Tayer added, "The Award seeks to encourage individuals and organizations of the community to play a proactive role in support of RTA's objectives to generalize the constructive experiments and practices which contribute to an effective and sustained transport system. Through this Award RTA is also aspiring to play an active role in promoting partnership and cooperation with various organizations and strategic partners in the field of transport, safety and conserving the environment. The Award is also set to realize RTA's strategic objectives by providing an integrated transport system, maintaining the highest safety and security levels, and focusing on conserving the environment such that it becomes part of the prime concerns of local organizations and media" added Al Tayer."

He noted that, "Despite the recent launch of the Award, the number of participants exceeded 26 applications spanning across a wide range of successful practices. These include employee bus transport, implementation of mobility management plans, increasing the reliance on mass transit modes, launching campaigns to heighten the awareness and improve safety, and advocating the use of natural gas and hybrid vehicles. This immense response is a sheer testament of the cooperation of public and private sectors and their keen attention to make a positive contribution to the interest of the community and the environment. Many departments, organizations and businesses took the initiative to showcase their successful experiments and practices in this field."

Al Tayer further elaborated, "DAST is a standing and annually recurring event, and we consider it as an effective initiative capable of contributing to the development of an integrated and sustained transport system. Such a system has to be founded on key pillars such as improvement of road networks, provision of good quality transport modes, enacting transport policies and legislations, and optimum utilization of traffic technologies. The role of transport system users has also to be underscored through circulation of successful initiatives and practices."

Al Tayer also spoke about RTA initiatives in the field of sustained transport such as the pilot operation of several hybrid vehicles as part of a master plan to replace taxis with environment-friendly vehicles. He also mentioned the trial run of abras powered by compressed natural gas instead of diesel; a step that resulted in a reduction of pollution rates by 66%. In the field of public transport he stated that all public transport buses procured by the RTA had been fitted with environment-friendly engines conforming to the highest environmental standards applicable in Europe (Euro 4).

Al Tayer stated that other initiatives include: "Unleashing mass transit initiatives such as "Sharekni" Program; which is based on the concept of having residents in the same area and heading to a common route to share one vehicle (car-pooling). There is also "Awselni" Program which aims to provide dedicated vehicles to lift employees from their residences to their workplaces and vice versa and adjusting the pollution standards required for vehicle testing and registration by adopting the European standards with regard to the permissible rates of vehicle emissions."

At the end of his speech Al Tayer called upon all public and private sector organizations to commence preparations for participation in the forthcoming round of DAST from now on so as to attract a wider participation and exchange expertise and successful practices that will help realize the objectives of providing an integrated and sustained transport system.

Afterwards, H.H. Sheikh Hamdan accompanied by H.E. Mattar Al Tayer, then awarded the winners. Dubai Police General HQ landed the first position in Management and Streamlining of Mobility Category in recognition of its initiative to commute 25% of its employees by public buses. Burjuman Shopping Center earned the second position for its initiative to provide bus transport for 80% of its employees, introduce Parking Control System to ensure optimum utilization of parking space, and open up an entrance to the Mall from the neighbouring Dubai Metro Station at Khalid bin Al Waleed Road. The third position went to Aramex Co. for its role in transporting postal parcels through marine transport modes operating on Dubai Creek.

In Transport Safety Category, Emirates Transport Foundation bagged the first position in recognition of its initiative to launch "Safety of Student Transport" Campaign to boost traffic awareness of students, guardians and drivers. Al Shirawi Group was the runner-up for its initiative to educate and train drivers, launch the Ideal Driver Award, and link its vehicle fleet with the positioning system (GPRS). Dubai Investment Park came third for launching a traffic safety campaign among its employees during the holy month of Ramadan.

In Conserving the Environment Category, S. S. Lootah Co. was the winner in recognition of its initiative to use eco-friendly vehicles fitted with natural gas-powered engines, and hybrid vehicles. Next came, Emirates Petroleum Products Co. (EPCO) for introducing a waterless vehicle washing technology using gas-free and biodegradable natural materials. Arabian Automobiles Co. bagged the third spot for using eco-friendly; water-soluble and toxic gas-free paints. H.H. then honoured Emirates Islamic Bank for its role as main sponsor of DAST, as well as the panel of judges that officiated the award.

At the end of the ceremony, Al Tayer presented a memento to H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, in recognition of the ongoing support of HH to the RTA, and kindly patronizing DAST.