DUBAI — The Licensing Agency at Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), will soon standardise driving training programmes at the five driving institutes in Dubai.

Dubai metro

The programme, when implemented, will go a long way in ensuring a secure city free of road traffic accidents.

Ahmed Bahrouzyan, CEO of RTA Licensing Agency, stated that the Drivers Training and Qualification Department was in the process of preparing an initiative to design the first training syllabus for drivers of vehicles, buses, trucks and motorbikes.

The syllabus will be a combination of various models based on the best world practices, which will help reduce causes of road accidents within Dubai.

“We want to insure we have model drivers who can lead their way on the roads of Dubai and the UAE before obtaining driving licenses,” said Bahrouzyan

The syllabus is a mix of practical and theoretical learning and the aim is to enable drivers to obtain all the required driving skills through a number of training stages.

Each stage will involve new tasks and various types of roads with particular focus on the fundamental concepts of speed, safety and communication with others on the road.

“RTA’s Licensing Agency works hand in hand with the five driving institutes of Dubai, towards making these syllabi a reality. Pioneering projects to practically test the syllabi will be carried out within the next few months,” said Bahrouzyan.

The five driving institutes are Belhasa Driving Institute, Emirates Driving Institute, Dubai Driving Center, Al Ahli Driving Center and Galadari Motor Driving Center.

Meanwhile, the Roads and Transport Authority has decided to include autistic patients under the ‘disabled’ category, according to a senior 
RTA official.

They will be issued special photo identity cards and special counters will be set up to assist them at all customer service and vehicle 
licensing centres.

Mohammed Obaid Al Mulla, CEO Marine Agency and Chairman of RTA Customers Council, in a Press release on Monday said, ‘‘All advanced facilities, utilities and technologies, including parking, public buses, Metro, marine transport modes and taxicabs, are all aimed at easing the life of this category of customers.”

This development is part of RTA’s ongoing drive in adopt the best practices to benefit people with special needs, and will enable them to integrate into society.

The Dubai Metro will also provide special counter and facilities for autistic parients, Al Mulla added. Visibility and hearing-impaired individuals and those with the physical disabilities are already availing these facilities.

ahmedjamal@khaleejtimes.com

Trane, a business of Ingersoll Rand has provided AHU’s and Fan coil units to all the 29 red line stations of the recently launched Dubai Metro.

To help reduce traffic and save commute time, Dubai residents now enjoy a new and exciting mode of transport – Dubai metro network, the longest automated driverless metro system in the world and the first of its kind in the Middle East.

In addition to ensuring passenger comfort and safety on the trains, the metro operators went to great lengths to ensure that passengers would be cool and comfortable on the busy platforms.

The Red Line, comprising 29 stations, including 24 elevated (by means of a viaduct), four underground stations and one at ground level, are fitted with 305 Trane air handling units and 1,120 fan coil units.

The CLCPEuro air handling units and HXCA fan coils create the best possible indoor air quality at the stations by controlling temperature, humidity, odors and sound levels. All Trane CLCPEuro units are designed to be energy efficient, at the same time providing a sustainable and reliable air-system to the Dubai Metro for years to come.

“It is imperative for us to meet the highest standards of safety and customer satisfaction for Dubai commuters. By working with Trane and using its systems, we adhered to the standards and desired quality regulation needed,”

said Eng. Ahmed Mohammed Sharif, Electromechanical Systems Manager, Construction Dept, Rail Agency (RTA).

“Energy optimized CLCPEuro will save energy and reduce the carbon footprint of this mega project,” said Ghassan Freiwat, Acquisition Director, Middle East, India and Africa. “The lower energy consumption of the system will contribute to a lower total cost of ownership for RTA, while exercising environmental responsibility. In addition the excellent indoor air quality will ensure the comfort and well-being of the commuters.”

His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai said that the country’s achievements wouldn’t have been possible if God hadn’t set for us a tryst with history.

Dubai

In an address to the nation given across the Dira al Watan (Nation Shield) Magazine on the occasion of the 38^th National Day of UAE, Shaikh Mohammed said that the march of glory is setting foot into the era of empowerment and is building the road into the solid future.

“It is leading the country and its people under the vision of the leader of the march, my brother His Highness Shaikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, from success to success, from achievements into achievements and from excellence to excellence,” he said.

Shaikh Mohammed also said that the country has become more developed, its security more safeguarded and its position more revered and more effective at home and abroad.

“Here is our economy which has become stronger and more cohesive,” he said.

Shaikh Mohammed said: “In spite of the weight of the consequences of the global financial crisis, the wheel of progress and achievement in our country did not stop turning.”

Spelling out his vision for the future, Shaikh Mohammed said: “We are determined to achieve the great renaissance in all areas, to get to the highest levels in education, to reach to the first place in the world with our infrastructure, facilities and services and to the best known practices in the world with the excellence in government performance.”

Shaikh Mohammed also said: “Knowledge is the visa for our safe passage to future. Culture is the vessel of our identity and values. We are moving forth with strong will for enhancing integration between the federal and local frameworks, for raising the efficiency of government authorities through the effective application of the government’s strategy.”

He reiterated: “Ambitions will remain the ally of our plans, big goals will remain our objectives, nobility of our nation and welfare of the citizens will remain the compass that guides us and orientates our work.”

Full text of the speech:.

Dear compatriots,

Peace and God’s mercy and blessings be upon you.

I greet you all on our 38^th National Day, and congratulate you and myself for the accomplishments and successes of our country in the past year, led by my brother His Highness Shaikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

On this glorious day, I thank and praise God Almighty, and invoke Him to perpetuate his divine grace on us, and help us to succeed in our work, to perform our duties, to strengthen us in the right path and to guides us towards all that will bring good of our country, our people and our nation.

As we celebrate today our union, we reminisce the march of our life and cherish the memories of our accomplishments. Our hearts throb with love for those who are not with us today, but are always present in our hearts filling us with pride and glory. I pay tribute to our father, who founded and built and cared for our nation, late Shaikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan and to his brother, deputy and partner in placing the first brick of our federation, father late Shaikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum. May God give them the abode of peace.

We also remember their brothers, the rulers who participated in the founding of the state, and contributed to making the 2^nd of December 1971, an epoch in our modern history.

We also offer tribute to the first generation of citizens who came forward to dedicate themselves for national work and gained the honour of participating in the founding and building of our nation.

The faces of the founding leader Shaikh Zayed and his brother and deputy Shaikh Rashid surface in our hearts. With them emerge the history of glory in which we live and which live in us. They also present us with the exemplary model, which instill in our souls the values of good character and ethics, fill our minds with ambitions, sublimity, optimism, humility, power of will and determination, and entrench the values of justice, compassion, fairness, solidarity, tolerance, benevolence, love, patriotism and the penchant for achievements.

Dear compatriots,

It was the decision of God that I should live the details of the 2^nd of December 1971 and the events that went ahead since the Arqob Al-Sadeera Meeting in February 1968, where the two founder Shaikhs agreed between themselves to form a federation of Abu Dhabi and Dubai.

When ever the 2^nd of December falls again, I reminisce scenes flashing on a screen, our blessed march into progress and all its events, persons and symbols. Then my heart becomes filled with peace and gratitude to God Almighty for our success, progress and development.

With the passing of every new year on this day, the tape of scenes gain in length, the images emerge clearer, and become increasingly interconnected.

I begin to see more and more. I start to wonder: how huge and great and historic was the achievement on that day. I’m not talking here only about the constructional achievements of physical importance, which surely have their uniqueness, excellence and international standards.

I am alluding also to a range of strategic accomplishments that have changed the region’s political geography through the emergence of a new state that joined the seven entities by mutual consent and free choice. It changed the social landscape and paved way for the emergence of a new society and a new identity. It also changed the intellectual landscape presenting the model of a promising federation in the Arab region in front of a people who were eager to embrace unity, as the previous models had agonised their consciousness.

Year after year, these huge and historic accomplishments gain more in significance and radiance. They become more established as models to follow because of their implications, as well as their success in bringing their fruits, as testified by our present state of prosperity and glory, as well as by our ambitions for more glory and prosperity.

Of course, these achievements were not possible without that God had set for us a tryst with history and with the founding fathers. Thus the 2^nd of December became starting point for the march of glory that Shaikh Zayed had epitomised in his noble personality, carried in his heart and mind as the vision of unity that closed the ranks. A vision that turned dreams into realities, shortened the distances and time, compensated the people for what they had missed, and led them by hand within a short span of time in the march to civilisation and progress.

Here is the march of glory and it is setting foot into the era of empowerment and is building the road into the solid future. It is leading the country and its people under the vision of the leader of the march, my brother His Highness Shaikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, from success to success, from achievements into achievements and from excellence to excellence.

Here is our Union in its thirty-eighth year, getting stronger, younger and more generous. Its institutions are becoming increasingly sophisticated and efficient. Here is our country, which has become more developed, its security more safeguarded and its position more revered and more effective at home and abroad. Here is our economy which has become stronger and more cohesive. Our people enjoy the stability, rally behind the leaders with love and loyalty and engage effectively and efficiently in all works, thus participating in the building and development of our nation.

Dear compatriots,

The federation, last year recorded several shining achievements in our march of empowerment that culminated with the re-election of His Highness Shaikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan as the country’s president in a reaffirmation of the confidence the UAE Supreme Council has in its Head.

It was also another expression of the loyalty of the people, the honesty of their nationality and the sincerity of their love for their leader, behind whom they rally.

With this precious testimonial the march of empowerment is heading towards wider horizons relying upon the achievements accumulated over the years in all areas.

Today, our economy is one of the largest economies of the world in terms of power and stability due to its diversity, its vast potential, its reliance on strategic planning, its adoption of the language and tools of the Knowledge Age.

These qualities gave it the ability to interact positively with the ups and downs in the global economy and provided it with the efficiency for overcoming the crises and for grabbing opportunities.

In spite of the weight of the consequences of the global financial crisis, the wheel of progress and achievement in our country did not stop turning. It safeguarded the power of our economy, placed it on the road to recovery and boosted it by way of the intensification of government investment in infrastructure at the national level.

This is in addition to the timely completion of huge quality projects such as the Yas Circuit which put the UAE on the map of one of the world’s most watched sports, and like the Dubai Metro, which joined the prominent landmarks of civilisation in our country, and introduced the railway systems for the first time into the infrastructure of the region’s cities, where these systems are being built in Abu Dhabi and across the country.

Our winning of the bid to host the headquarters of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) was a remarkable success on more than one level.

For the first time the headquarters of an international organisation is housed outside the developed world.

Moreover, this organisation is of paramount importance to the entire world as it is the umbrella of the international effort in research and technologies of renewable energy, and a platform to develop environmentally friendly energy sources for the provision of mankind’s energy needs in the post-oil era.

This winning was not a stroke of luck, but was well-deserved. It is the fruit of respectable status enjoyed by our country in the world, and the fruit of credibility enjoyed by our leadership, by our foreign policy and our development model as well as our economic methodology. It is also the fruit of the vision of His Highness Shaikh Khalifa bin Zayed to make UAE a global hub for the export of renewable energy technologies, and let it remain a major source of energy both in the presence of oil as well as after its depletion.

With that, our country will maintain its position in the world, ensure an effective presence in the future, and provide the future generations with the requirements of sustainable development and decent living.

This win is also the fruit of hard work and the direct supervision of my brother Shaikh Mohammed bin Zayed for the launch of renewable energy projects, at the helm of which is the Masdar city.

It is also the fruit of the effort made by Foreign Minister Shaikh Abdullah bin Zayed, his successful leadership of his team and his efficient management of the battle of the fierce competition to host the headquarters of the agency.

We are marching in the course of empowering the nation and the citizens guided by the programme of Shaikh Khalifa for national action.

We are determined to achieve the great renaissance in all areas, to get to the highest levels in education, to reach to the first place in the world with our infrastructure, facilities and services and to the best known practices in the world with the excellence in government performance.

The political empowerment continues with the expansion of the powers of the Federal National Council, thus strengthening its role in the national action and reasserting the Shura (Consultation) approach in governance.

The economic empowerment continues through the development of legislation, improvement of the business environment, enhancement of the levels of quality and competitiveness, and boosting of emphasis on productive sectors and the basic services.

The social empowerment continues through the development of our human resources through quality education and appropriate training, development programmes of nationalisation of jobs and expansion of housing programs. It also continues through the enhancement of the role of women enabling them to take up national responsibility and building of nation.

The social empowerment is also continued through the intensification of efforts to address the troubling social phenomena like excessive attention to show-off and increasing dependence on domestic workers.

On the side of the administrative empowerment, we are moving forth with strong will for enhancing integration between the federal and local frameworks, for raising the efficiency of government authorities through the effective application of the government’s strategy, the development of civil service legislation, improvement of the structures of the ministries and institutions, initiation of procedures for the transition to e-governance and launching of programmes for young leaders and Shaikh Khalifa Award for Government Excellence.

And we move forward at fast pace in the process of cultural and knowledge empowerment, especially since the UAE has become the Arab cultural capital that is open to the cultures of the world.

It has become the Knowledge Capital with its universities, institutes, colleges and branches of the world’s most prestigious universities on its soil.

Knowledge is the visa for our safe passage to future. Culture is the vessel of our identity and values, as well as the framework of our human and psychological equilibrium.

It is also an important element in the overall development and its sustainability, and an element for building the national model and achieving its goals. It has an active role in the success of the country’s plans to achieve the balance in demographic structure.

We always said that the national human capital is the main element which is indispensable in achieving the desired balance. So the building of this capital, its development and the expansion of its base encompassing all citizens, men and women, will not be possible except in an environment that radiates with the values of a culture that develops national self, grows upholding work, sanctifies the respect for time, quality and excellence, and encourages creativity and innovation.

We will receive tomorrow a new federal year rallying around our leadership, becoming more certain of its vision and approach, more unified, integrated and dignified of our union and more proud of our country, more confident of ourselves, more experienced of our world, more capable to face challenges and overcome difficulties and more faithful about that there is no distant goal that we can’t reach and sublime position that we can’t conquer.

Ambitions will remain the ally of our plans, big goals will remain our objectives, nobility of our nation and welfare of the citizens will remain the compass that guides us and orientates our work. We will not rest until our people are ensured their comfort and all the requirements that guarantee a dignified life they deserve.

You, dear compatriots, are the wealth and weapon of our nation, you are its pride, joy and delight. I know that your motherland is the most expensive thing you have and the love for your country is deeply planted in your hearts. But the highest degree of love is self-giving.

You are the people of generosity. So gather your thoughts, light up your minds, roll up your sleeves, work hard and take initiatives, always look forward, and believe that God will not let good work go without reward.

When a person does a good deed, it stands for him, and when he does a bad deed, it stands against him.

And say, soon will Allah observe your work and His Messenger and the believers.

Speech by His Highness Shaikh Mohammed to Investor Conference on 9th November 2009.

Speech by His Highness Shaikh Mohammed to Investor Conference on 9th November 2009.

Thank you for inviting me to address such a distinguished gathering today.  Before I commence, I would like to welcome you all to your second country, UAE and second home Dubai.

I am not known as a man who wastes time.  So I will get straight to the subject, which is – I am sure – of most interest to you: Dubai’s economy.  I will not waste your time in telling the details of the global financial crisis because you are the experts in this field.

However, today I would like to share with you some of my thoughts related to the crisis which has an impact on the whole world from East to West and has become a universal economic concern of which the biggest economies in the world have been affected, not only emerging markets.

As a result of its consequences, we have a new economic situation globally.  Nevertheless, it has less impact on open economies compared with the closed and the protected ones or those with lesser links and interaction with the international market.

Thus, Dubai had to take necessary measures to deal with the consequences of the crunch of the global economy and shrinking of markets throughout the world.  Dubai initiatives are not isolated from the serious and significant steps that the UAE has taken in this regard.  As you know, Dubai is inseparable part of the UAE Federation.

I will not narrate the steps we have taken to combat the crisis, as you are aware of them whether on the local or the federal level.

Today, I prefer to speak about the important facts and fundamentals which I will summarize in a brief sentence.  The global economic crisis despite of its short impacts on the local economy will not deter Dubai’s ambitions of implementing its development plans and will not divert it from its leading position and will not distant it from playing its role in the arena of the international economy.  It will not suppress the will and determination of its citizens in continuation the development march.

Though I agree with that words are easy to say but the real test would be the implementation, I have full confidence in our ability to act.  The achievements that stand today in Dubai are the most effective testimony that our vision regarding is practical and we are saying words in vain or have a day light dream which can be translated into reality.

We in the UAE, under the leadership of my brother, His Highness Shaikh Khalifa bin Zayed, the President of the UAE continue the march started by the late Shaikh Zayed bin Sultan and my father Shaikh Rashed bin Saeed, starting from the 70s of the past century.  They both laid the corner stone of the UAE Federation which was the blessing birth of our nation.

When my father took a decision to expand the creek and ordered the construction of the Dubai International Airport and directed the development of the Jebel Ali Port in a chain of ambitious and giant projects in Dubai, those who were around did hide their skepticism about the feasibility of such project at the time.

Dubai today is as being developed in the past and those are its sons who are known for their ambitious and visionary look for the future, to which they move in a steady steps with hard work being their motto and a great belief in the support of Almighty God, supported by self confidence and capabilities that is strong enough to tackle all the challenges that seem to others as an impossible mission.

Today we are harvesting what has been planted by our fathers; we have a diverse economy which is not based only on foreign investment that we will come any way to host in Dubai.  We are proud to have a group of national companies that spread internationally with a great international reputation like the emirates airline, Dubai World, Jumaira Group, in addition to other companies that are functioning as the true shields of our economy in Dubai.

These achievements and others are the practical and real evidence through which we prove our ability to overcome the crisis of any nature and is our golden card to continue in exploring new horizons of growth and development.

We realized from the very beginning the importance of investments in establishing the foundation of our economy that enjoy the highest degree of credibility and reliability and cope with the latest achieved in the world in this regard.

Our strategic choice has been always to start from the point that others have achieved with emphasis on developing a private model that guarantees our abilities to face challenges in a flexible and efficient way with man as our priority.

Some may believe that Dubai could have acted faster in combating the impacts of the international financial crisis.  However, we preferred to wait rather than rushing because we are keen to ensure strengthening our major enterprises and restructure it in a way that will have the momentum and the strength to cope with the realties in the new economy.  This new economy has dictated on the great international economies slower growth rate, opening promising horizons for emerging markets like Inida and China which will play greater role in the future.

I am confident that the worst has passed, and that as the global economy stabilizes, Dubai today is well placed to exploit its inherent strength and its key strategic location to start new rounds in its march towards excellence;  this race which has been witnessed by the whole world throughout the past 3 decades taken by our abilities of achievement and excellence.

I have a big confidence in Dubai’s ability to overcome the crisis not from vacuum, but based on true reality.  I would like to share with you some of the characteristics of such realities which some of you might know but have forgotten when skeptical pre-judgments were made about Dubai capabilities to overcome the crisis which was forced on Dubai by international development that covered the whole world including Dubai.

It is a chain of elements that gathered in Dubai to make it – whether people like or dislike – the right option for international investments and enabled Dubai to host businesses that are capable of expanding in new markets with more than 2 billion people in an emerging region that is full with opportunities which are not available and specially in developing markets that become mature and saturated.

Here, I want to emphasize on important facts: the international economic crisis will not move Dubai from its distinguished location that placed in the heart of the world as a link between east and west.  The infrastructure that is available in Dubai including air and sea lines with great efficiency that support our capabilities to penetrate to other markets in the region and enhance connectivity with other parties.  Jebel Ali port is the 6^th among the largest ports in the world and the largest in the Middle East.  Dubai International Airport is the 6^th among the largest ports in the world that provide services to 125 airlines that operate flight to 210 destinations in the world’s 6 continents.

When completed, Al Maktoum International Airport will be the largest in the world with a capacity of 160 million passengers and 12 million tons of good and freight to be handled through its because it will equipped to receive passengers and giant freight carriers.  Upon the completion of the logistics of the infrastructure, we have emphasized upon developing legal framework and infrastructure that is meant to support our financial sectors which is one of the 4 major economic sectors in Dubai.

The world has witnessed the success of Dubai as a comprehensive financial market that is located in the middle of the international market from New York and London in the west to Hong Kong and Tokyo in the East to act as a central link based on regulatory structures including Dubai Financial Center that earned the respect and appreciation of the international financial community in the world.

We succeeded in Dubai in building a friendly environment for businesses that catered to the needs of investors through facilities including exemption from income and corporate taxes or through offering efficient technology infrastructure and real estate services in addition to vocational and professional facilities that cater to the needs of the investor and his/her family members.  There are the Dubai Internet and Media City and Dubai studios in addition to the knowledge village and academic cities as well as the TCom and other quality projects that aimed at establishing platforms for knowledge economy on the land of Duabi which we are proud of with still more to come.

I am not going to spell out all the details that make as confident and sure about Dubai capabilities to overcome this passing crisis, but I want to mention that those who believe that the remarkable success of our real estate development projects was the sole driver of our development. No one could deny the great leap in real estate projects in the in past few years, but it would be unfair to summarize Dubai’s experience in those projects only regardless of their giant size, as Dubai success in its development story covers a wider range and more depth and varieties from a strategic point of view.

In addition to the above, Dubai is not alone. It is inseparable part of the UAE and this sold and strong federation which holds each other as a great strong structure.

So the success of Dubai is an extension of the success of Abu Dhabi and vice versa.  It is also true for the rest of the seven emirates forming the federation.  The success of the federation is the success of Sharjah, Ajman, UAQ, RAK and Fujairah which form an undefeatable union and a strong citadel that will not allow to fell in front of challenges.  This union is the source of our strength and confidence.

Dear Guests,

My optimism in ending the crisis and confidence in Dubai’s ability to restore its strong growth rate soon is based on ideological background and human heritage linked to my Bedouin roots which my nation and I  are proud of.  Bedouins are strong by nature with strong will in combating crisis.  They only know determination to achieve the goal and walk towards that end.

Those who know me closely trust my statements and my belief that the second part of bonds program initiated by Dubai early this year would be highly received by subscriber and would be directed to settle Dubai financial obligations in the coming years.

Our development journey was and will be race towards excellence.. a race towards establishing Dubai as a leading business center and ensure its credibility as an unchallenged financial and trade capital in the Middle East.

Ladies and gentlemen, in the past 20 years, Dubai enjoyed healthy growth rates.  A lot of individuals and business have benefited from such growth, but the economic slow down offered us an opportunity to sit and consider the world around us.  I believe such space was important to catch our breath and work on reinforcing our competitive capabilities to resume the race.

We can deny that the international crisis has put us in a the middle of space of silence with great information vacuum that was a fertile space for rumors and propaganda.  We should not allow this to happen again in the future as transparency and effective communication channels are basic elements in building mature and civilized nations.

We should not forget that the economic shrink is in its way to disappear similar to other economic downturn that faced the world in the past year.  I listened with a great attention during the past year to a number of business leaders in Dubai, Emirates, Asia, Europe and the US as well as executive directors representing different economic sectors including airline, hotels and investors.   I was listening to them and to their ambitions with a great attention.  Today, I ensure all of them from this stage that we will continue our investments in infrastructure in all sectors to serve our national interest and ensure the success of our partners and investors from all over world in all sectors.

Dear Guests,

Our celebration of inauguration of Dubai Metro was a practical testimony of our determination to strengthen Dubai as an international City having all pillars of excellence on the short and long run.

Dubai: His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, has set up a special Facebook group for the launch of the Dubai Metro.

Shaikh Mohammad "tweets" his views and updates on themicro-blogging site Twitter.

“My Metro Experience” invites Facebook users to “be part of this monumental achievement that will play a significant role in all our day-to-day lives”.

The group has been designed for commuters to share thoughts, engage in discussions and upload both videos and photos. So far, more than 1,000 Facebook users have joined the group.

Shaikh Mohammad is spreading the word about the group and about his “tweeting” on Twitter, via his Facebook page.

“Proud of what we have achieved and of the way it’s been achieved” and “tonight we’re going to be celebrating the opening of the first line of the Dubai Metro,” Shaikh Mohammad tweeted. He will be following members’ tweets about the Metro tagged #MyMetroExp.

Shaikh Mohammad was tweeting about his journey to open the Dubai Metro: “Soon to arrive at the Mall of the Emirates to inaugurate the Dubai Metro,” he tweeted at 6pm yesterday. The Dubai Metro was the most popular topic on 09.09.09, measuring the most tweets on Twitter.

Shaikh Mohammad also congratulated those who have worked on the Dubai Metro: “Today we will be celebrating the opening of the first line of the Dubai Metro – we sh…ould be proud of what we have achieved & I would like to congratulate all of you who have worked on the Dubai Metro project & express my appreciation all your efforts.”

Twitter is a micro-blogging and social networking site, which allows users to send micro-blogs or ‘tweets’ of up to 140 characters. Tweeters (or subscribers to Twitter) can send and read messages, and follow others’ tweets.

Shaikh Mohammad has recently increased his use of social networking sites Facebook and Twitter.

Previously, he had a personal Facebook page, but was so inundated with friend requests that he migrated to a public page (and so increased the capacity for “fans”).

As a user-generated content site, Facebook users are able to comment on his status updates and make virtual friends with him on his unrestricted profile, which allows the general public to view his photo albums, videos, personal information and “poke” Shaikh Mohammad (to get his virtual attention).

Shaikh Mohammad is also using his public Facebook page to inform social networkers of his various online activities.

He is “looking forward to hear the experience of the 800 competition winners who will be the first members of the public to ride the Metro on 09.09.09″.

Join the Facebook Group “My Metro Experience” http://bit.ly/yNO7g to be part of this monumental achievement.

“On Twitter tweet about your Metro experience and I’ll be following all tweets tagged #MyMetroExp,” his Facebook status update reads. On Tuesday, Shaikh Mohammad tweeted: “Congratulations all those who won the ‘Golden Ticket’ to be one of the first to ride the Dubai Metro on 09.09.09″.

The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) held the “Golden Ticket” competition, asking members of the public to answer a simple Metro question to be entered into the draw.

Dubai: It’s your city. And it’s your Metro now. Fireworks lit up the night sky, motorists honked their horns and scores of onlookers cheered as the first train rolled out of the station, past the towering skyline along Shaikh Zayed Road, opening a new chapter in Dubai’s history.

His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, with Shaikh Hamdan Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Shaikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and Minister of Finance, Mattar Al Tayer, Chairman of the Board and Executive Director of the RTA, with officials after the inaugural Dubai Metro train arrived at Al Rashidiya Station on Wednesday.

Dubai became the first Gulf state to have a metro and joined the league of megacities around the world that have similar transport systems.

His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, bought the first ticket on the Dubai Metro, after which the first train left Mall of the Emirates station: 09/09/09 will remain etched on a board at the station.

“I thank everyone from the bottom of my heart for this great job. If it weren’t for this collective effort we would not have achieved this. My message to the world is that life is all about challenges and the people of the UAE, under the leadership of President His Highness Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, love challenges and we are up to them,” Shaikh Mohammad said.

“I congratulate Shaikh Khalifa and the people of the UAE on this huge achievement. This is an achievement for all Arabs,” he said.

Motorists drove slowly on Shaikh Zayed Road, following the first train out of the station, and some even parked underneath bridges to catch their first glimpse of the blue streak as it emerged on its maiden voyage to Al Rashidiya Station.

The Metro is part of Shaikh Mohammad’s vision to develop an integrated transport system including the Metro, bus network, marine transport and an advanced road infrastructure.

The world’s longest automated driverless train system, which cost Dh28 billion, has been launched in a record time of four years. It will carry 1.8 million passengers per day by 2020, according to RTA estimates.

www.gulfnews.com