By Rayeesa Absal, Staff Reporter www.gulfnews.com
Dubai: Dubai will allow the private sector to offer services in various fields that include ambulance services, public transport buses and abras, according to a resolution issued yesterday.
Shaikh Hamdan Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Dubai Crown Prince and Chairman of the Dubai Executive Council, issued resolutions to the effect yesterday. The resolutions are expected to boost the transport sector in the city and open up new investment avenues for the private sector.
A resolution on emergency services allows the issuance of permits to private companies working in the relevant field.
The concerned companies will provide ambulance and medical services for injured or sick individuals prior to their admission to the hospital and transport patients to hospitals. They will also offer training in the provision of these services.
Service improvement
The decision, officials hope, will improve the emergency services available to residents.
The resolution specifies the duties and jurisdictions of the Dubai Corporation for Ambulance Services (DCAS), which is the sole body tasked with regulating ambulance services.
The DCAS will be responsible for specifying the conditions and technical standards that must be met by companies applying for a licence to provide ambulance services.
Another resolution on buses has empowered the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA)’s Public Transportation Agency’s (PTA) to issue licenses to private companies interested in operating public buses and bus stations, and leasing public transportation utilities — if the concerned companies comply with the rules and regulations set by the agency.
However, the PTA will continue to be responsible for the planning and introduction of new routes within the city, as well as for trips from Dubai to other emirates. The PTA will set up necessary workshops for testing, maintaining and repairing RTA buses, as well as issuing licences for bus drivers.
According to a resolution on abras, the RTA will be in charge of leasing abra operations to interested private parties, provided they met certain criteria.
