Source: www.ameinfo.com
Her Excellency Mrs. Anne-Marie IDRAC, French Minister for Foreign Trade paid a visit to Dubai Metro where she was received upon arrival at Nakheel Harbour and Tower Station by H.E. Mattar Al Tayer, Chairman of the Board and Executive Director of Roads & Transport Authority (RTA), and several RTA chief executives.
The French Minister was accompanied by an official delegation including H.E. André Dulait and a member of the Senate of France and representative of Deux-Sèvres department, H.E. Alain Azouaou, French Ambassador to the U.A.E, H.E. Nada Yafi the French consul-general in Dubai, in addition to representatives of several French companies.
The French Minister was briefed by H.E. Mattar Al Tayer on the Dubai Metro Project; which comprises the Red and Green lines, and said:
“The Red Line extends 52 km (5 km under the ground) and spans 29 stations including 4 underground stations (Khalid bin Al Waleed, Al Ittihad, Riggah and Port Saeed), 25 elevated stations, including two stations at Dubai International Airport. The Green Line which extends about 22 km (10 km underground track), includes 18 stations 6 of which are underground”
She also reviewed the details of designs and finishing works of Dubai Metro stations made at deluxe and luxurious standards. They have a unique design encompassing modernity and authenticity of the UAE heritage. The external design of the roofs emulates the shell shape and replicates the close link between the peoples of the UAE with the sea and pearl fishing legacy.
The interior design replicates the four elements of nature; water, air, fire and land besides the heritage design of Al Ras and Ghubaiba Stations.
Al Tayer pointed out that Dubai Metro has lifted about 3.2m persons over 56 days and the average daily ridership was about 57,000 passengers and the number hits 80,000 passengers per day during weekends.
Afterwards the French Minister inspected Nakheel Harbour and Tower Station, which has a capacity of 11,000 passengers per hour in each direction. The station has two entry points fitted with escalators and lifts with a total length of 130 meters and width of 30 meters. The station has a multi-level building for car parking capable of accommodating 3000 vehicles. Then she and the accompanying delegation boarded the metro towards the Financial Center Station.
H.E. Mattar Al Tayer then held a meeting with H.E. Anne-Marie at Emirates Towers in the presence of both parties during which they explored the means of boosting cooperation and exchanging expertise between the RTA and the French companies operating in the field of roads and transport.
Al Tayer started the meeting by praising the historical relations linking the UAE and the Republic of France; which contributed to increasing the volume of bilateral commercial exchange. He also hailed the joint investments in various fields and the increasing visits of French tourists to the country in a way that cements the friendly relations between the peoples of the two countries. Al Tayer also commended the performance of the French companies undertaking projects for the RTA.
“The projects undertaken by French companies for the RTA worth about Dhs6bn, most of which are rail projects. Tales Company implemented Signal Control System as well as the communication System between the Control Room and trains, and between the trains themselves. SYSTRA company is also undertaking a consultant project in the Red & Green Lines of Dubai Metro project as well as Safouh Tram; which ranks at the top of projects awarded to the French companies as it was won by the consortium of the French company Alstom, the Belgian company BESIX, the British company Serco, and the American Parsons company; which will cater for the detailed designs” said Al Tayer.
“The project costs about Dhs4bn and extends over 14 km along Safouh Road linking Jumeirah city and Mall of the Emirates with Dubai Marina and Jumeirah Beach Residence. It comprises 19 passenger stations distributed over the densely populated areas activity points across the track of the tram which meets with the Red Line of Dubai Metro at 3 stations at Sheikh Zayed Road, where a link is provided between these stations and footbridges. The track meets with Jumeirah Palm monorail at the entrance of the Pal at Safouh Road. The rest of activities undertaken by the French companies revolve around Dubai Metro Project.
Al Tayer stated that he would be looking forward for more investments from the French companies particularly those specialized in roads sector. “RTA plan over the next five years comprises several roads and bridges projects across Dubai Creek at a cost exceeding Dhs3bn; which will be a good opportunity for the companies to engage in the tender made by the RTA” he added.
For her part the French Minister said at the end of her visit that she was impressed by the projects carried out by the RTA in the field of mass transportation through Dubai Metro and Safouh Tram as well as public transport modes. She also hailed the speed through which these projects are completed in a record time.
