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Dubai eyes air taxi service
A Dubai company may soon be offering air taxis to help residents beat the regular traffic jams, reported Gulf News. The firm, Cars Taxi, said it will introduce about 10 helicopters to be used as taxis for passengers in Dubai by 2009. The fare for the air taxi has not been finalised.
Car accidents cost Saudi $3.46bn yearly
Saudi Arabia loses around $3.46 billion every year because of car accidents, said a report issued by the country's traffic department. The losses include four billion riyals in human losses and 3.4 billion riyals in vehicles damage, the report added.
Dubai buys 1,616 buses
Dubai's Roads and Transport Authority has said it will purchase 1,616 modern buses to expand its existing fleet of 600 by the end of next year, reported Emirates Today. Mattar Al Tayer, Chairman and Executive Director of RTA, said it is the largest single purchase of public buses in history. The number of buses in the emirate is planned to grow to 2,500 by 2009.
Dubai bus service may be privatised
Dubai is considering privatising the public bus system in order to improve its services and broaden its network, reported Emirates Today. Khalid Hashim, director of planning and business development at the emirate's Roads and Transport Authority, said Dubai would like to privatise the bus system by 2009, but he acknowledged that it will be difficult to find investors. He said the authority is working on improvements to the system to make it more appealing to investors.
Dubai to spend $22bn on mass transport
Dubai plans to spend about Dhs80bn ($22bn) by 2020 on expansion of its road network and development of a mass transport system, reported Gulf News. About half of the budget will be spent on road development comprising some 500km of new roads and 90 interchanges, while about one quarter has been allocated to develop four lines of the Dubai Metro. The remaining budget has been allotted for a tram network, public transport bus system, and development of a marine transport system.
Saudi rail projects progress
Saudi Railways Organization (SRO) is concluding final preparations of its request for proposal tender documents for the Mecca to Medina rail line in the country. It has already drawn up a list of qualified bidders and will hand the documents over to them early next year to bid to develop the project. Tenders for the 950km Land Bridge rail project were submitted on November 5 and the SRO said it will announce the winning bid around February time. 'We hope by 2012 we will have a very wide network on the ground,' said Ali Saad Al-Karni, VP Technical Affairs at the SRO, at the Saudi Investment Forum.
Saudi women seek right to drive
A group of Saudi women activists have called for the right for Saudi women to drive, reported Gulf News. The women wish to dicuss this issue at the forthcoming national dialogue which will start at the beginning of next year.
First Mena public transport congress
The first ever Public Transport Congress of Middle East and North Africa (MENA) Division of the International Association of Public Transport (UITP) and showcase will be opening today, Sunday, in Dubai. The Congress, which is organized by Roads & Transport Authority (RTA) in collaboration with the UITP, features extensive participation from a number of companies & establishments engaged in this field which will give support countries in the region the opportunity to futher develop their transport infrastuctures.
UAE to monitor drug shipments
The UAE's Ministry of Health is in negotiations with various authorities in the country to closely monitor transit consignments of medicines and pharmaceutical products passing through the UAE in an attempt to detect counterfeit drugs, reported Khaleej Times. Humaid Mohammed Obaid Al Qutami, UAE Minister of Health, said the authorities are deciding on the best way to counter any attempt to transport fake drug products using UAE as a transit point.
DP World awards Kochi deal
DP World has awarded India's Simplex Consortium a $150m contract for the construction of an international container transhipment terminal at Vallarpadam near Kochi, reported Gulf News. The first phase of development will include the building of 600 metres of quay and construction should get underway next month. DP World has a contract to operate the new facility for 30 years.
Dubai sacks taxi drivers
About five taxi drivers are being sacked each month in Dubai under a campaign aimed at tightening enforcement of the emirate's taxi rules, reported Emirates Today. Dubai Taxi CEO Abdul Aziz Malik said drivers who misbehave undergo training and if they persist their contracts are terminated. Common grievances involve failure to stop when hailed and reckless driving, including jumping red lights.
New taxi fleet for Al Ain
The city of Al Ain in the emirate of Abu Dhabi has launched a fleet of 21 silver taxis, with the goal of expanding the fleet to 2,000 in the near future, reported Gulf News. The Trans AD service has been operating in Abu Dhabi since November 3, with the support of the Department of Transport in Abu Dhabi. The service will be launched in the Western Region of Abu Dhabi in the third phase. "We have a plan to add new taxis on a daily basis to the initial fleet of 21 cabs in Al Ain, taking it to 2,000 in the near future," he said.
RAK to rename its roads
The Ras al-Khaimah emirate in the UAE has announced plans to rename all of its main roads and allocate clear addresses for its buildings in a move aimed at creating a modern city that can be accessed through well-defined roads and addresses, reported Khaleej Times. Mohammed Abu Al Hamam, Assistant Director-General of the municipality, said that in choosing new names for the roads, the emirate will consider names of historical personalities, famous Arab cities, and local traditional names. He said the project will commence 'very soon.'
Al Ain to demolish bridge
The city of Al Ain in the UAE has announced that it will be demolishing the Al Ain Bridge, one of landmarks of the city, and seven roundabouts as part of a project to improve traffic flows, reported Khaleej Times. Hamad Deeb, the project's director, said the project would be implemented in four phases, with the first phase to kick off in January 2008.
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