Dubai: The number of cabs being booked over phone has increased by close to 16 per cent in 2011, the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has said.

Dubai Taxi

In 2011, the number of cabs booked by cab users through the Booking and Despatch Center at RTA’s Public Transport Agency increased to 5,080,903 bookings, up by 16 per cent, as compared to 4,393,826 bookings in 2010.

The total number of calls also increased by 20.9 per cent, going up to 7,256,236 calls in 2011, as compared to the number of calls in 2010.

The center employs 95 people in order to serve customers 24 hours a day.

Adel Shakiri, Director of Transportation Systems, at the Public Transport Agency, attributed the increase to the growing demand for taxi service in Dubai Emirate and the sustained improvement in customer services offered. More info

The Roads and Transport Authority – Nashwan Atta’ee: Mohammed Obaid Al Mulla, Board Member and Chairperson of Customers Council at the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) reiterated RTA’s standing commitment to deliver best-in-class services to customers hailing from all community segments under the ongoing endeavours to diversify the delivery channels of all services including the toll gates fees (Salik).

Al Mulla made this statement in a gathering held lately in RTA Head Office in the presence of Ahmed Hassan Mahboob, Deputy Chairperson of Customers Council and Director of Customers Service; and Mohammed Al Awadi, Director of Intelligent Transportation Systems at the Traffic & Roads Agency; which has a designated Section for operating Salik system, in addition to several community members who attended to express views, ideas, suggestions as well as complaints.

“The RTA is always keen on broadening the scope of service offered to all spectrums of the community, including Salik services, through providing the essential infrastructure & facilities as well as the advanced technologies that comprise top ups, buying of tags, payment of fines, handling of complaints & observations, and all processes that can help facilitate the use of this vital service,” stated Al Mulla.

The meeting also discussed a number of issues and questions that Salik users face daily and how to upgrade and optimize the use of this service.

Al Mullah heeded to a number of suggestions and ideas put forward by attendants and promised that the RTA would study them, and overcome the difficulties & hitches that might crop up during the use of service to ensure a smooth flow of service delivery. More info

The mobile app market is expected to exceed $66bn in four years, more than double the $31bn total of 2011, according to a report by Juniper Research. As mobile applications begin to permeate Middle East daily life, in terms of both social and business use, experts say it will be consumer demand that drives the market.

Within the forecasted period, 87% of all apps will be downloaded free of charge, with revenues derived from alternative strategies, including sponsorships, in-app purchases or lead generation. One in four of app downloads are expected to be via tablet devices, providing further opportunities for developers to tailor apps to niche demographics.

Alex Rauser, CEO of Prototype Interactive, told AMEinfo.com that app development had, over the last 18 months quickly grown to become 30% of the company’s digital branding and solutions workload. But, as clients led the charge to gain an edge in the booming mobile space, mobile web is still just as vital.

“If you compare traffic from mobile apps and websites, you still need your website first, technically, before the mobile app. I don’t think you could sustain a business that is just a mobile app [interface], unless it’s really just mobile specific – like Instagram. That’s a pure mobile solution.”

Instagram, a photo-sharing application that allows the user to edit and upload pictures to social networking sites, was acquired this week by Facebook in a $1bn deal. The purchase has sent shockwaves around the tech world, highlighting the true potential within the market.

When it comes to the synergy, or juxtaposition of mobile apps and web, ZeroWire Labs’ co-CEO has a different take. Speaking to AMEinfo.com directly after his session at the Middle East Summit on Mobile Computing in Dubai, Mohamed Ali viewed the two in competition: “I think we’re just going to watch a battle. The one that’s more convenient to the user and to the providers is the one that’s going to win in the end.” More info

The Dubai Metro has bagged three excellence awards at the level of the Middle East in winning the Rail Project of the Year Award 2012, Rail Visionary of the Year Award, and Special Merit Award for Commitment to the Environment Award.

The Award distribution ceremony, staged by Terrapin, was held at Madinat Jumeirah in the presence of H.E. Mattar Al Tayer, Chairman of the Board and Executive Director of the Roads & Transport Authority (RTA); Adnan Al Hammadi, CEO of Rail Agency; and Abdul Rida Abu Al Hasan, Director of Rail Planning & Development in addition to several officials.

Al Tayer accepted the Rail Visionary of the Year Award in recognition of his expeditious efforts & follow-up of the metro project with all stakeholders, keeping close touch with all project phases starting from the planning & designing phase up to the project completion phase, overcoming difficulties & obstacles encountered, and the commitment to the scheduled launch timing; 09/09/2009 for the Red Line, and 09/09/2011 for the Green Line.

The second award; the Rail Project of the Year Award 2012, was awarded for the Green Line; which extends about 23 km and comprises 18 stations in addition to two transfer stations with the Red Line i.e. the Union and Khalid bin Al Waleed stations.

The Green Line runs through key Dubai districts featuring high population density, as well as business and service centers. The project is also integrated with other mass transit modes, such as the water transport & inter-city buses, and has yielded high level & efficiency in terms of streamlined train movement and headway; which contributed to the enhancement of metro riders satisfaction rating.

The Dubai Metro has also clinched the Special Merit Award for Commitment to the Environment in recognition of RTA’s efforts in adopting high-quality power systems in the operation & maintenance of the metro, and adhering to accepted levels of vibrations & noise in a bid to minimize the onset of ensuing environmental impacts. The efforts of the Rail Agency in this regard have been rewarded by obtaining the ISO 14001, 9001, and 18001 certifications in addition to obtaining certification pertinent to the Application of Health & Occupational Safety System, and the Quality, Environment & Safety System.

“The Awards scooped by the Dubai Metro culminate the assiduous efforts of RTA work team throughout the project construction period headed by H.E. Mattar Al Tayer where the team adopted the best international practices in planning, designing, constructing and operating the Dubai Metro project. These awards are testament to the high profile and prominent standing of the Dubai Metro; which go beyond the Middle East to the world over,” said the CEO of Rail Agency Adnan Al Hammadi.

The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) said the Dubai Metro project, since it first became operational in 2009, has had a positive impact on the value of land and commercial properties in the vicinity of Metro stations, as well as areas linked by the feeder bus service by as much as 7 to 34 per cent.

According to a joint study conducted by the RTA’s Strategic Planning Department and the Dubai Real Estate Regulatory Agency (Rera), high demand for properties closer to the Metro stations has resulted in their prices soaring by up to 34 per cent, it said in a statement issued on Sunday.

“The study revealed the value of lands and properties adjacent to the Metro stations has soared since the operation of the Metro and reached in some cases up to 34 per cent as a result of the high demand for buying lands and renting properties in close proximity to the Metro stations; which is attributed to the ease of mobility, and the provision of multi transit options at lower costs of transit aboard the Dubai Metro; which is characterised by absolute minimal fares and high efficiency across the city, particularly for those inhabiting near the metro stations,” said Abdul Mohsin Younes, the CEO of RTA’s Strategy and Corporate Governance Sector.

“This explains the huge impact of the transit network on the economy of the emirate, and reflects the importance of the Metro in pushing up the economic development drive in the field of property development, and stimulating the tourist and commercial movement in various parts of the Dubai,” he added.

“The study monitored the changes in rates of these lands and commercial properties in 2011 compared to the rates prevailing in 2009 before the opening of the Metro; which illustrate the importance of the Metro in boosting the market value of lands and properties, particularly in the surrounds of the metro stations,” Younes explained.

The RTA Strategic Planning Department studied the impact of the Metro stations on the surrounding lands and properties in coordination with RERA, which provided the data about the rates of lands and properties in areas close or far from the Metro stations.

“A comparative study with the experiments of countries which have made advanced progresses in mass transit systems, particularly the Metro, such as the UK, Germany, Japan, Hong Kong, and the US, revealed that public transit means in general have a positive impact on appreciating the value and rents of properties, and that such rates made remarkable hikes ranging from 3 to 50 per cent,” he continued. More info

Middle East governments are spending billions on ambitious new infrastructure schemes. What will this mean for the region?

Dubai Metro

In the wake of the Arab Spring, governments across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region have committed to massive infrastructure spending schemes designed to head off future discontent. In the GCC alone, total infrastructure spending over the next decade has been estimated at more than $1trn, and these projects will encompass everything from energy to transport, healthcare to education, transforming the region beyond recognition.

“The MENA region is a region which is poor in infrastructure, and which needs to make massive investments in infrastructure,” says Dr Nasser Saidi, Chief Economist at the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC). “Infrastructure is not just a by-product of growth and development, but a driver of growth and development. Increased investment in infrastructure means increased capacity, increased productivity, and higher returns on human capital; it can transform economies and is critical for economic development.

“Investing in infrastructure is imperative at the moment, and when you build infrastructure you have to take a longer-term view – you’re not building it for the short term,” he continues. “The Arab Spring highlighted that the region has a young population with areas of high unemployment, and so it has helped focus more attention on investment in infrastructure because that will help create jobs. In addition, countries which have faced destruction and violence need to be rebuilt, and so there are huge opportunities when it comes to the reconstruction of some countries in the MENA region.”

The peoples of Iraq and Libya, in particular, will be hoping that stability brings with it much-needed investment. And when the bloodshed in Syria finally ends, its residents too will pray that hospitals, schools and other basic infrastructure requirements are met by the government in power. Yet despite these countries’ clear and urgent need for significant infrastructure overhauls, such ambitions are likely to be tempered by reality as governments search pockets all-but-emptied by the interruption in oil production which occurred as a consequence of the violence.

Large schemes bring financing challenges

According to the World Bank, through 2020 the MENA region needs around $106bn of infrastructure spending per annum. However there currently exists a financing gap of around $60bn per annum, meaning that some countries don’t have the ability to finance the work they urgently require.

Even the wealthy oil-producing countries face a dilemma: according to the same World Bank figures, oil-exporting nations will need to spend as much 11% of their GDP per annum on maintaining and developing their national infrastructure, because they have to invest in oil extraction, refining and other activities.

DUBAI – Dubai Metro is on the fast track to financial viability and is expected to break even in five years, while the bus system operated by the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) is expected to recover costs in 2016.

Dubai Metro

This follows a massive rise in passenger numbers and savings in the operations of the mass transit system. The public transport system has cut Dh1.5 billion in costs, according to the RTA.

“The RTA is envisaging the Dubai Metro to reach the break-even point in 2017, which would be possible through increased metro ridership, and augmented revenues generated from stations naming rights, advertisements and rental of retail outlets,” said Mattar Al Tayer, Chairman and Executive Director of the authority.

For public buses, the RTA “anticipates to reach the break-even point in 2016 through attracting more passengers, raising the operational capacity, and raising revenues from miscellaneous sources”.

Al Tayer was speaking at the MetroRail 2012 Conference being held in London. The four-day conference concludes today. Of the Dh1.55 billion saved in operating costs, Dh1.423 billion was from Dubai Metro and about Dh86 million from the bus system.

Dubai Metro revised some contracts and policies in its efforts to bring down costs. Optimal use of spare parts contributed to realising the saving goals.

Some buses were rerouted, some routes were merged and this helped further reduce fuel costs, the RTA chairman said.  The Automated Vehicle Management system implemented in 2007 ensured that buses are running on time.

“From inception, the RTA had been confronted with a host of challenges at the top of which was the hiring of competent administrative and technical staff and sorting out the traffic congestion which cost the emirate then about Dh4.8 billion per annum in terms of time wasted,” said Al Tayer.

People using the public transport modes are growing as the metro and buses expand their reach. In the 2005-2011 period, it jumped 109 per cent, rising from 91 million passengers in 2005 to more than 190 million last year.

This improved the share of public transport in travel from 6 per cent in 2006 to 10 per cent in 2011, said the RTA chairman.

news@khaleejtimes.com

The ruler of Dubai has announced that a new opera house and modern art museum will be built in the emirate near the world’s tallest building as part of an effort to boost Dubai’s standing as a cultural hub.

The new district will also host two new 'art hotels' and several new galleries.

The new ‘Dubai Modern Art Museum & Opera House District’, which will be located on Emaar Boulevard in Downtown Dubai, is being billed as the UAE‘s newest arts and cultural nerve-centre, according to a statement issued by state news agency WAM.

In addition to being home to Dubai’s first dedicated opera house, a modern art museum and several new galleries, the new district will host two new ‘art hotels,’ an array of leisure components and several residential apartments and design studios.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, said the new district will further strengthen the UAE‘s emerging role as the cultural hub of the region.

“The cultural accomplishments of a nation define its character and individuality,” he said. “Having demonstrated our credentials in hosting world-class cultural events, UAE has established itself as a thriving destination for culture and the arts. We will continue to strengthen the infrastructure framework for promoting cultural initiatives, through projects such as the ‘Dubai Modern Art Museum & Opera House District.’ This will not only encourage our talented local artists but also facilitate global cultural exchange.”

The design of the new district, which is still being finalised, will include a mix of components that focus on the cultural and creative side of Dubai, the statement said. These will include plazas, high streets, shaded colonnades, courtyards, sikkas, alleyways, waterfront promenades and parks in close proximity.

Mohamed Alabbar, Chairman of Emaar Properties, said: “[The new district] will be Dubai’s definitive entertainment destination that stimulates creativity, supports the arts sector, and also offers visitors their choice of hospitality and leisure. The focus of ‘Dubai Modern Art Museum & Opera House District’ is to stimulate the city’s cultural and artistic milieu through an Opera House, modern art museum, galleries and design studios – in short, the entire infrastructure for arts and culture to thrive.” More info

CW speaks to Eng. Hessa Ahmed Al Malek, director of the Roads Department at the Ministry of Public Works, who has overseen $544m worth of infrastructure projects over the last five years.

Hessa Ahmed Al Malek

The office of Eng. Al Malek at the Ministry of Public Works overlooks Al Nahda station on the Green Line of Dubai Metro, a fitting symbol of the holistic infrastructure development she advocates. She may be in charge of roads, but her ambit extends much further than the tarmac.

This is evidenced by her qualifications, as she holds a Master’s in Urban Planning from the American University of Sharjah and a Bachelor’s in Architecture from the UAE University.

“It is very strange. Everyone thinks that roads are only for civil engineers,” muses Eng. Al Malek. Upon completing her Bachelor’s in 2000, she worked at the building department in Ras Al Khaimah, where she oversaw a mammoth project for the development of the rural areas within the UAE.

“I was the only employee with a degree in urban planning at the Ministry, and actually I am the first woman in the UAE who holds a degree in urban planning.” More info

DUBAI: As part of Dubai Municipality’s keenness and efforts to make Dubai the greenest eco-friendly city in the Middle East, the civic body has effectively participated in the activities and celebrations of 32nd Afforestation Week 2012 observed last week launching several cultivation projects in different parts of the emirate of Dubai.

A closing ceremony was conducted by launching the third cultivation stage in Dubai Bypass Road and Jima road in Alafaya under the patronage of Eng. Matar Al Tayer, Chairman and CEO of RTA, Dubai and in the presence of Eng. Hussain Nasser Lootah, Director General of Dubai Municipality, a number of senior officials and with the participation of school students and agricultural companies.

Lootah said that as Dubai is an international city and has secured top ranks in several categories at a global level, such as business, tourist attraction and infrastructure, they are committed to upgrade the city in line with the changes and developments across the world. To achieve their targets in making Dubai the best place to live, the municipality has been participating in the national afforestation week initiative every year.

Ahmed Abdul Kareem, director of public parks and horticulture, said these projects aim to prevent mudslides, improve the quality of air and provide more shaded areas in public places of Dubai. The length of this stage is around six kilometres, along which different types of trees such as Ghaf, Rak and shrubs are cultivated.

The first and second stages of this project were completed in January 2012, in which an area of 17 km was cultivated with 34,487 different types of trees and bushes.

As part of the third stage, the civic body also launched the Jima road cultivation project in Alafaya area in the presence of Eng. Abdullah Rafee, Assistant Director General, senior officials and residents of Hatta.

In total, the public parks and horticulture department has completed the cultivation of 2,940 ornamental trees, 2,230 local environment trees, 3,300 ornamental shrubs, 800 local bushes in addition to the cultivation of 2,150 square metres of flowers and 7,100 square metres of green areas.