The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) will be play a key role in staging the Government Asset Management Congress 2012; the first of its kind in the Middle East, from 28 to 29 May 2012, at the Address Dubai Marina Hotel featuring the presence of worldwide experts and asset management professionals.

Abdullah Al Madani, CEO of RTA Corporate Technical Support Services Sector, said: “This international Congress will feature the participation of an elite bunch of world-class experts specialized in asset management hailing from several countries including; the United Kingdom, Australia, Bahrain, and Oman among others. The Congress aims to transfer knowledge to all concerned parties in the public and private sector, who are keen on adopting best-in-class asset management techniques and raising their awareness in this field.”

“The RTA is the first Middle Eastern entity to receive the international “PAS 55″ certification in asset management, as it incorporated asset sustainability in its strategic objectives right from inception. This prompted more than 16 entities from various departments and agencies across the UAE to visit the RTA to familiarize with the integrated asset management system, and learn from the experiences and techniques we apply,” he added.

In a related context, Al Madani underlined the importance of attracting such global experts to deliver working papers and hold specialized workshops in order to address the requirements of the audience in general and the RTA in particular. “The event will offer access to modern & sophisticated asset management methods, which we can adopt to improve the business conduct. The Pre-Congress Kick Start Day will feature a Masrterclass workshop for asset management professionals, combining 5 specialists from the RTA and other guests to thrash out joint initiatives in this score,” continued Al Madani.

Highlighting the key topics to be discussed during the two-day Congress, the CEO of Corporate Technical Support Services Sector, said, “The core topics will  shed light on methods of asset management of transportation infrastructure, strategic asset management, frameworks of asset management, expanding the lifespan of infrastructure asset, future planning for managing infrastructure asset, sustainability, monetary value of infrastructure asset, and the strategic maintenance along with the related technological systems.”

The working papers of the Congress will discuss a variety of topics, where the Institute of Asset Management will deliver a working paper on “The Quality System in Asset Management,” and “ISO 55000″. Working papers from the Netherlands and Scotland will also cast light on “Asset Management Systems” and “Asset Management Strategies”. Local working papers will also be delivered touching on power transmission systems, corporate governance, investment in infrastructure, and training & consultancy in asset management.

“The Government Asset Management Congress will bring about a quality shift in supporting RTA strategic objectives, and bolstering its standing as a flagship entity in this field,” said Al Madani in a final remark. More info

Nine West has trod a sure and steady path since it was first established in New York nearly 35 years ago, and to mark the reopening of its flagship Dubai store, Ninive Giordano, the senior vice president of product development at Nine West, flew in from the US. Rebecca McLaughlin-Duane gets the skinny on the trends she’s forecasting for 2012.

Ninive Giordano is the senior vice president of product development for Nine West. Pawan Singh / The National

Nine West recently opened its newly refurbished doors in Dubai Mall, coinciding with the launch of a vibrant spring/summer 2012 collection. You’ll need a pair of comfortable shoes to walk around the boutique, which boasts more than 1,500 square feet of wall-to-wall footwear, bags and accessories.

Is there a predominant theme to the S/S2012 collection?

There is no one theme, but there are some key trends we’re addressing for spring/summer 2012. Colour has been very important, prints too, and strong combinations like florals, for example. Our customer appreciates graphic prints and we think she is also welcoming metallics more so than she was last year. I don’t think she’s ready to give up platformed shoes just yet, either.

Name some key seasonal colours.

Yellow is very important this season and our consumers are still coveting all shades of blue. Red is being embraced and pink is definitely back – from soft, pale pink to hot fuchsia. More info

A night to remember Vivid Flair London, an exclusive evening ready-to-wear line targeting cosmopolitan young women, made a dramatic entry into the Emirates this week.

This debut is marked with a flagship store opened in the iconic Dubai Mall and a glamorous, one-of-a kind exclusive launched of the S/S 2012 Collection at the Armani Hotel, Dubai Grand Ballroom took place last Thursday 17 May 2012, produced by the UAE‘s number one stylist, Derek Khan.

Attended by 400 faces represented by the crème de la crème of the Dubai society, including the KSA council general and other diplomats from around the world, the guest list of the red carpet event set a show stopping rendezvous.

Taking inspiration from ‘Vintage Hollywood Theme’, no detail will be too small, from the décor of the room, lavishly decked with white roses and feathers, the vintage movie montages projected onto the walls, themed costumes of the wait staff, to the generous welcome by the event’s own champagne hostesses. More info

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From the Khalid ibn Waleed Station to Ibn Battuta Station

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Dubai Metro

The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has awarded two contracts for the construction of new roads in Al Qusais and Al Quoz costing Dh38 million, which form part of the first phase of its five-year Dh1-billion project to improve roads in the residential areas in the emirate.

The move comes as the RTA tries to improve its road network in an effort to meet the demands of Dubai’s growing demography.

The project, known as the RTA’s five-year Internal Roads Construction Plan, will be built in Al Qusais 3 and Al Quoz 4.

“The two projects represent the initial phase of the five-year plan endorsed by His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, for paving internal roads in several residential districts in Dubai at a cost of about Dh1 billion.

“The initial phase of the plan covers five residential communities namely: Hatta and Al Qusais 3 in addition to Al Quoz 2, 3 and 4,” said Mattar Al Tayer, Chairman of the board and Executive Director of the RTA.

The construction in Al Qusais 3 involves an area of 225 hectares and will entail six kilometres of roads being built alongside streetlights and parking lots catering to the mosques and schools in the area. Construction is set to begin in June and will take nine months to complete, Al Tayer said.

Similarly, the project in Al Quoz 4 involves adding another eight kilometres of roads, streetlights, parking spaces and storm-water drainages. The Al Quoz 4 project is expected to be completed in the first half of 2013.

Earlier this month, the RTA awarded another construction contract in Al Warqaa 1, 2, 3 and 4, which includes building street lights along a 125-kilometre stretch of road and improving existing roads. More info

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

Dubai: The Roads and Transport Authority has stepped up its road safety campaign for schoolchildren with 771 fines issued against non-compliant schools and transport operators in the first three months of this year.

Image Credit: Gulf News archives Pupils get on a school bus on Oud Metha Road. Al Dossary said there had been a ‘revolution’ in school transport since the RTA took it over in 2008.

“The number is almost half of the total number of fines issued in the whole of 2011, which reflects increased monitoring,” said Eisa Al Dossary, Chief Executive Officer of the RTA’s Public Transport Agency, which regulates school transport.

On the contrary, the increase in fines could also reflect increased negligence on the part of school bus drivers or transport operators. However, Al Dossary does not see it that way.

“Last year, our inspectors issued 1,580 fines and this year in the first quarter alone we have half of it. What this indicates is that we are increasing our surveillance. Most of these fines are for non-compliance with safety standards and specifications, which range from not using the stop arm while dropping or loading students to exceeding the speed limit which is fixed at 80km/h,” Al Dossary said.

Highlighting the “revolution” seen in school transport since the RTA took it over in 2008, he said that the number of accidents had decreased by 63 per cent, and the number of casualties and abuse cases on school buses has also come down. More info

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Dubai says it now has full control of the Atlantis resort hotel perched atop its palm-shaped island.

Atlantis Hotel Dubai

State-run investment firm Istithmar World said late Friday it paid $250 million to buy out financially troubled business partner Kerzner International Holdings Ltd., which had held a 50 percent stake in the coral-colored hotel. Istithmar already owned half of the property.

Kerzner will continue to operate the resort, which includes a waterpark and 18 restaurants, Istithmar said.

It agreed to give up its stake in the Dubai property and a similar resort in the Bahamas after struggling to restructure $2.6 billion in debt. Canada’s Brookfield Asset Management acquired the Bahamas property in a previously announced deal by agreeing to waive $175 million in debt owed by Kerzner.

Kerzner said it plans to use proceeds from the Dubai sale to reduce its debt load.

Istithmar is part of Dubai state conglomerate Dubai World, which has struggled with high-profile debt troubles of its own. It owns upscale retailer Barneys New York and has a stake in performance company Cirque du Soleil.

“This acquisition is in line with our strategy of managing our assets for value and investing selectively where growth opportunities exist,” Dubai World’s chairman, Sheik Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, said in a statement.

Istithmar’s parent Dubai World was at the heart of Dubai’s financial meltdown in 2009. It signed an agreement to restructure some $25 billion in debt last March.

The Atlantis is one of Dubai’s better-known tourist destinations. It is a mainstay of city tours, vying for attention with the world’s tallest tower, Burj Khalifa, and more traditional offerings such as the old gold and spice markets. Ads for the hotel greet Dubai airport passengers on arrival. More info

DUBAI // Police have introduced a batch of electrical vehicles they say will help them to patrol narrow and crowded areas not easily reached by cars.

The new vehicles do not produce carbon dioxide and are larger than a golf buggy but smaller than a police car.

They will also be used to carry employees and visitors at police headquarters.

Lt Gen Dahi Khalfan Tamim, the chief of Dubai Police, launched the first batch today.

“We at Dubai Police continuously seek a safe and clean, sustainable and attractive environment,” Gen Tamim said.

He said that the vehicles would help to reduce emissions and noise, and would improve levels of “occupational health and safety”. More info

The world’s largest shopping and leisure centre, the Mall of the Emirates in Dubai, is adding another 93,000 square-meters of luxury to its already-massive space. The goal of the landmark shopping centre this year is to surpass the 36 million visitors of it saw last year.

To make this effort possible, the Dubai Mall will add a total of 20 new luxury brand stores to its laundry list of high-end stores. The mall already has 80. Some new shops to look out for include the third-largest Prada store, Longchamp, Swarovski and Kate Spade. Some outlets like Virgin Megastore are being renovated, while other mass-market brands like the UK’s Topshop and the US’s Gap and Aéropostale are also being added to the shopping destination.

Along with the shopping growth, the Mall of Emirates in Dubai is also expanding its two food courts, adding restaurant outlets like International House of Pancakes, an American pancake and crêpe cafe, New Zealand’s BurgerFuel, London Fish & Chips, Bombay Chopatty, The Cheesecake Factory and Just Falafel. More info