Roads and Transport Authority– Mohammed Al Munji The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) held a coordinative meeting with Dubai Police General HQ, Dubai Civil Defence Dep’t and The Center of Ambulance Services to review the final arrangements of all parties to cope with all potential emergency cases in preparation for operating Dubai Metro on 09/09/2009.
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The meeting was attended by H.E. Mattar Al Tayer; Chairman of the Board and Executive Director of the RTA, H.E. Major General Khamis Mattar Al Mazeina; Deputy Commander General of Dubai Police, H.E. Major General Rashid Thani Al Matrooshi; Director General of Dubai Civil Defence Department, Khalifa Hassan bin Drai; Executive Director of The Center of Ambulance Services, Abdul Majeed Al Khaja; CEO of RTA Rail Agency and several officials of the RTA and the operator of Dubai Metro, Serco Co.
At the outset of the meeting Al Tayer praised the fruitful cooperative response accorded to the RTA from all parties throughout the period of constructing Dubai Metro Project, and singled out Dubai Police and Civil Defence for their outstanding cooperation. He stressed the importance of working in a team spirit over the next stage in order to ensure high level of safety for Dubai Metro users.
Al Tayer also hailed the Memorandum of Understanding signed between the RTA and Dubai Police General HQ covering provision of security services to Dubai Metro. The MoU covers all aspects of enforcement of law and order such as receiving of police statements, carrying out investigations, probing crimes, issuing and enforcing arrests, conducting inquiry with suspects, attending to crime prevention, responding to emergency and accident evacuation in collaboration with the operator, and compiling regular reports on the security position of the train & stations as well as reviewing the procedures in place to detect security loopholes.
“Dubai Metro is one of the pioneer projects undertaken by the RTA to keep pace with the sweeping development drive witnessed by Dubai under the leadership of HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, at a time witnessing massive property development projects and rising population growth. Dubai Metro  is therefore set to be a landmark not only in the emirate of Dubai but also across the globe” said Al Tayer.
For his part the Deputy Commander General of Dubai Police H.E. Major General Khamis Mattar Al Mazeina said: “Dubai Police General HQ stands ready to deliver the security services required by Dubai Metro. Highly competent and well trained personnel have been deployed to cope with all eventualities in a highly professional manner. Necessary logistics are also in place such as the deployment of sniffer dogs, patrol vehicles and modern surveillance cameras at stations to enhance the metro security”.
The meeting discussed all security procedures in place to ensure the safety of metro commuters, and identify the security issues to ensure prompt response of security personnel in case of emergency or evacuation procedure. Discussions also included the services and logistics at the metro stations, which were provided by the RTA Â at the highest safety & security standards worldwide; where first and foremost attention is made to passenger safety. The meeting also discussed the arrangements of Dubai Metro opening ceremony on September 9, and the period afterwards which is expected to witness high turnout of citizens and residents to taste the use of Dubai MetroÂ
The meeting parties agreed to carry out trial runs to measure the extent of response of the work teams of the operating company of Dubai Metro, and policemen, as well as civil defence and ambulance personnel to various emergency cases, and verify their readiness before the official date set for the metro operation.
