Source: www.rta.ae
The Roads & Transport Authority (RTA) and the University of Wollongong in Dubai discussed ways & means of boosting their joint cooperation towards improving the forthcoming edition of the Dubai Award for Sustainable Transport (DAST).
To this effect, the two parties held a meeting in RTA Head Office in the presence of Dr. Khalid Al Zahid, Chairperson of DAST Organizing Committee; Prof. Ghassan Aouad, President of the University; and several officials from both parties.
Dr. Al Zahid said, “Under the directives of H.E. Mattar Al Tayer, Chairman of the Board and Executive Director of the RTA, the RTA has been working on the continuous improvement of DAST throughout the four previous editions of the Award in a bid to bring about a radical change in the daily mobility patterns of Dubai inhabitants, and sustain such improvements as they reflect positively on the excellence drive pursued by the Award.
“In all initiatives undertaken, the RTA is keen on broadening and boosting the cooperative links with government & semi-government entities as well as the business community in Dubai and other Emirates through forging permanent partnerships with the aim of achieving the communal objectives of the entire country in keeping with RTA standing not only in the region but also across the globe,” added Dr. Al Zahid.
He praised the expeditious efforts made by private institutions and universities as reflected in the effective contributions made in support of initiatives launched by governmental authorities in general and the RTA in particular, including DAST.
At the end of the meeting, Dr. Al Zahid called upon all government & semi-government entities as well as the private organizations to take part in the forthcoming edition of DAST well before the deadline of 1st October 2012. “Judges panels will select three winners of each category where the winner will receive AED150,000, the runner-up will get AED85,000, and the third place finisher will walk away with a cheque amounting to AED60,000. Moreover, each winner in the two Special Awards categories will get AED50,000 dirham,” he elaborated.
For his part Prof. Ghassan Aouad, President of the University of Wollongong in Dubai, expressed his admiration of RTA’s initiatives and commended the substantial improvements made in the field of sustainable transport across the UAE over the past four editions of the Award. “Thanks to the participation in the Award and winning in the Mobility Management category in 2010, the University has developed a great awareness of sustained transport issues; which prompted us to encourage employees and students to use all types of public transit systems,” he added. More info
