Dubai requires a comprehensive multi-tiered public transport system: Alabbar

He delivered his forward-looking message at the first UITP Regional Business Forum for the public transport industry in the Middle East and North Africa, which is currently being held at the Dubai International Conference Centre in Dubai.

The conference, 'Emerging Markets for Public Transport Industry', was inaugurated by HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai, UAE Minister of Finance and Industry and Chairman of Dubai Municipality. Qassim Sultan, Director General of Dubai Municipality and Dr. W. Meyer, the President of the UITP, welcomed the delegates to the forum, which has been jointly organized by the UITP and Dubai Municipality.

Mr. Alabbar praised the crucial role played by Dubai Municipality in Dubai's infrastructure development and said the Emirate was proceeding along the right lines, with the Municipality planning ahead to meet the demands of a city that was seeing unprecedented growth. Development of a mass transportation railway system was a welcome consequence of this, he said, and added: "There is clearly a need to create an integrated long-term plan to co-ordinate all the initiatives and expand premium services throughout the Emirate."

Mr. Alabbar highlighted the need to set up strategic public private sector partnerships to generate project finance in order to ensure the success of infrastructure projects.

He said: "Although assistance from the Government of Dubai to projects in aviation, rail and road development will no doubt be generous, project finance is likely to prove to be key to the success of these ventures, and ensure a sufficient level of the private sector involvement that is so vital to driving infrastructure projects forward.

"Dubai is witnessing multi-faceted expansion unlike that seen anywhere else in the world and its emerging corridors lend a special urgency to the requirement for an integrated strategy for public transport in the Emirate. With a current population of 1.1 million — expected to more than triple by 2020 — Dubai faces a huge task to coordinate the development of its infrastructure with the vision of its leaders to build a city state to rival Hong Kong and Singapore.

"Transport is a key element of this infrastructure and can be a catalyst for future growth. If town and infrastructure planning is not carefully thought out, the very speed of the expansion may act as a brake, hindering further growth," he cautioned.

Mr. Alabbar called on real estate developers in Dubai to work with the municipality to ensure that the public transport network provides optimum access to the new communities under development. He said: "Emaar, and several others, are building huge tracts of residential and office property in Jumeirah, thereby offering greater challenges to our city's municipal planners. Careful thought is required in concert with them to optimise access to these communities."

While admitting more roads would be required, Mr. Alabbar said there was a need to introduce well-thought out restrictions on the unbridled use of automobiles and encourage the use of car pools.