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New buses for Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi's Department of Transport (DoT) has launched four additional local routes in Al Ain, starting this month, and plans to replace 40 of the ageing Chinese buses serving the emirate's capital. The total fleet of buses in the capital will reach 500 by the end of 2009, and around 860 by the end of 2010, DoT said.
RTA abras carry over nine million commuters
Over nine million commuters used the motorised abra service to travel across Dubai Creek in the first seven months of 2009, accounting for over 455,000 trips, said the Roads and Transport Authority's (RTA) Marine Transport Agency. March proved to be the busiest month, with 1,481,655 passengers ferried in 74,083 trips, followed by May (1,445,120 passengers) and July (1,407,379).
Etihad Crystal starts Iraq service
UAE-based Etihad Crystal Cargo is launching a scheduled freighter service to Baghdad on September 1. A 42-tonne payload A300-600F will operate the twice-weekly service between the Iraqi capital and Etihad's Abu Dhabi hub.
Dubai Metro costs rise by 'billions'
Mattar Al Tayer, chairman of the board and the executive director of the Dubai's Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), has said that the cost of the Dubai Metro project has increased by billions since the $4.2bn (Dhs15.5bn) contract was awarded in 2005, the Business Standard has reported. The first phase of the mass transit system is scheduled to open on September 9. The cost overrun will be announced after the project had been finished, he said. Dubai hopes that once fully operational, public transport use will rise from 6% to 30% by 2020, with the Metro taking a 17% share.
Saudi to retender Landbridge project
Saudi rail authorities have confirmed they are retendering the $7bn Saudi Landbridge coast-to-coast rail link project on an engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) basis, MEED has reported. A source close to the Saudi rail authorities has told MEED Riyadh it will now finance the scheme. The project will link the kingdom's Gulf and Red Sea coasts via the capital.
Dubai RTA begins Nol sale
Dubai's Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has said that it has begun selling Nol Silver Cards to meet the multi-modal transit requirements of commuters using the metro, public buses and the water bus in Dubai. The card and the fare system will be activated, together with other services, on the opening day of Dubai Metro on September 9, 2009.
Q-Ship moots fleet expansion
Qatar Shipping Company (Q-Ship) has said the fall in prices of ships has created a golden opportunity for the company to expand its fleet through purchases, the Peninsula has reported. 'We expect the prices of vessels to fall further and we will choose the right time for buying ships. The company sold half of its fleet for some QR670m at the peak of the market. The same vessels that the company sold can be bought at half of the selling price,' K. K. Kothari, Q-Ship's CEO has said.
Dubai World 'reconsidering' Malaysia deal
Dubai World, the government-owned investment group, is reconsidering its investment in a proposed $4.5bn Malaysian maritime centre with MMC Corp, Bloomberg has reported. As a result, there has been no fresh progress on a memorandum of understanding signed between the two in September 2007, MMC has said.
UAE bans reflective material on cars
The UAE's Ministry of Interior has imposed a ban on the use of chrome, silver and golden thermal reflective films, paints and stickers on vehicles, Khaleej Times has reported. The ban is aimed at protecting the lives of drivers and for the safety of the roads nationwide, the ministry has said.
Tasjeel launches express renewal service
Tasjeel, an Emirates National Oil Company and Dubai Roads and Transport Authority joint venture for quick vehicle testing and registration services, has announced the introduction of a 'Drive Thru Express', a new service specifically for registration renewal of vehicles that are three years old or less. The service allows motorists to have their vehicles registered in just five minutes with no inspection required. Currently a three-month pilot project, 'Drive Thru Express' is available at the Tasjeel centre in Al Barsha.
Poland shipyard deadline missed
A Qatari investor has missed the midnight deadline to pay for stakes in two shipyards in Poland, Bloomberg has reported. The Qatari investor, whose name hasn't been made public, defaulted on a $129m payment for Polskie Stocznie SA, which holds assets in the Baltic ports of Gdynia and Szczecin. The investor is still in talks with the government, Shahzad Shahbaz, CEO of QInvest, which is advising the bidder, has said. A Qatari fund may be in talks to buy the ports instead. Poland must sell the shipyards by August 31 as part of a deal with the European Union, which had alleged the government gave the yards illegal state aid.
GAC opens Rotterdam centre
Dubai-based logistics solutions provider, GAC has announced the launch of a logistics and maritime service centre in Rotterdam, a major port city in the Netherlands, to increase efficiency and improve customer services. The new facility aims to bring its ship spares, logistics and freight forwarding operations under one roof at the new 6,500 sq.m office and warehouse complex in Pernis, Rotterdam.
Iraq agrees freezone deals
The Iraqi government has signed several agreements to create seven free trade and industrial zones with Turkey, Iran, Syria and Jordan, Aswat al-Iraq news agency has reported. The country's Ministry of Industry has signed agreements to set up three Freezones with Iran: one in the north, another in the middle and a third in the south; while two zones will be created with Syria: in Anbar and in Mosul. On August 5, the Iraqi government authorized the trade minister to negotiate and sign a draft agreement between Iraq and Jordan to create a free trade zone.
Bahrain Logistics inks Awal lease
The Bahrain Logistics Zone (BLZ) has signed its first tenant lease agreement with Awal Gulf Manufacturing Company, the Gulf Daily News has reported. Awal Gulf exports to more than 40 countries and will be occupying a land size of approximately 22,000 square metres, BLZ has said. The company is the first among 20 tenants that applied and were selected.
Suez Canal issues July revenues
Egypt's Suez Canal Authority has said the country's revenues from the waterway had dropped 22% to $382.9m in July compared to the same month last year, Reuters has reported. The figure is the highest for monthly receipts from the canal so far this year. The previous high for 2009 was June's figure of $348.2m.
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