Dubai Award for Sustainable Transport reviews 2009 plans

In a meeting attended by all members of DAST, the participants discussed the directives of HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Dubai Crown Prince and Chairman of the Executive Council and award patronage, and the instructions of H.E. Mattar Al Tayer, Chairman of the Board and Executive Director of RTA, regarding the second edition of the Award and the need to focus on the core objectives of the Award.

These included educating and encouraging community organizations to play an active role in support of RTA objectives in the field of sustainable transport, reasserting the leading role of the RTA in forging links and activating partnerships with various entities, and ensuring sustainable transport remains an issue of prime concern to the local organizations and media.

The Director of Marine Projects at RTA Marine Agency and Chairperson of the Higher Organizing Committee of the DAST, Khalid Al Zahid said:

"Discussions covered introducing a new category to the Award, namely Transport Requirements of Special Needs, such that the total categories of DAST will be four: Transport Management and Organization, Conservation of the Environment, Safety, and Transport Requirements of Special Needs. Two more categories will also be added to the category of Special Merit; namely: Best Media Coverage (to enhance the awareness of the Award), and Best Academic Research in the field of Sustainable Transport. The Award has three tiers of sponsors: Platinum Sponsor, Gold Sponsor and Silver Sponsor."

Al Zahid reviewed the huge role to be played by the Award Judging Panel in its second round in screening and selecting winners by the Committee. The Panel consists of: Dr. Salim Al Shaafi-Executive Director of Dubai Real Estate College (Chairperson of the Award), with members comprising H.E. Brigadier Mohammed Saif Al Zaffeen-Director General of Traffic Dep't at Dubai Police (Head of Salama Transport Team), Akmal Abdul Fattah-Associate Professor in the American University in Sharjah, Alan Magnus-Executive Director of Matrix Traffic Safety Consultants (Mobility Safety Category of the Award), Dr. Varky Palatocherial-Associate Professor of Urban Planning in the American University in Sharjah (Head of Mobility Management Team), Rida Mohammadi-Transport Consultant, Tawfeeq Muneeb at Serco Co. (Mobility Management), engineer Hamdan Al Sha'aer-Director of Environment Dep't at Dubai Municipality (Head of Environment Conservation Team), and Rashid Al Sha'ali-Associate Professor at the UAE University (Environment Conservation category). Members of the newly created category of Special Needs include Majid Abdullah Al Usaimi-Executive Director of Dubai Special Needs Club (Head of the Team), Wafa Suleiman-Director of Special Needs Welfare at the Ministry of Social Affairs, and Sandra Welson from Community Development Authority.

"This Award, which is one of the initiatives of the RTA, was launched last year with the aim of motivating the public and private sector to contribute to easing traffic congestion and conserve the environment. It is also viewed as manifestation of RTA Strategic Plan; which is based on the vision of the emirate, particularly infrastructure, lands and environment sector. It illustrates the strategic goals of the RTA in protecting lives, properties, environment and natural resources as well as improving the general safety; all of which add to the realization of RTA vision of providing Safe and Smooth Transport for All," continued Al Zahid.

He further added, "Nomination for the Award is open up to 30 October 2009 in accordance with the categories and standards set for this purpose. DAST includes balanced categories, thereby opens the way for extensive participation from companies, small or large, public or private, or non-profit seeking organizations."

Al Zahid called on all bodies in the public and private sector to take part in the forthcoming editions of DAST in order to have wider participation and ensure the exchange and rotation of expertise and successful practices under the drive to achieve sustainable and integrated transport system.

For more information about the Awards or obtaining the Nomination Form, please log on to the webpage of Dubai Awards for Sustainable Transport under RTA portal.