We aim to ensure an optimal, integrated and balanced transportation system that will meet the needs of all social sectors; integrating land use and transportation plans; developing world class transportation service and safety levels which will exceed user expectations.”
Integrated transport network
Mr. Al Tayer explains that the RTA’s main focus for the next few years is to develop an integrated transport network. This will increase commuting efficiency by encouraging people to use public transport, eliminating traffic jams and saving time. Mr. Al Tayer says, “As Dubai grows at an astounding pace, commuters must be provided with excellent public transport alternatives, as a comprehensive and widely-used public transport system will relieve pressure on roads and eliminate logjams. This will help facilitate the future business requirements of the city. A lot of time will be saved connecting the main business hubs and it will generate employment for a large number of people in the region.” The RTA is working hand in hand with the Dubai government – in line with the vision of H.H. Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Prime Minister and Vice President of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai – to help people commute safely and efficiently.
Master plan covering 15 years
The RTA has already achieved a significant amount. It began by establishing its organizational structure and corporate identity, then setting timelines to accomplish its goals. Within the RTA it has formed four agencies (Dubai Traffic and Roads, Dubai Transport, Dubai Rail and Dubai Marine) and two support departments (Strategy and Corporate Governance, and Corporate Support Services). The RTA has conducted a comprehensive long-range transportation study which includes a master plan for the next 15 years, resulting in an investment of more than AED75 billion. The plan was prepared in collaboration with five international transport planning consultants. This strategic transportation plan reveals that Dubai needs to spend around AED44.5 billion on expanding and improving its road network over the next 15 years. Similar expenditure on improving and expanding Dubai’s public transportation systems – including bus, metro, tram, and water transport – will exceed AED33.5 billion. The total expenditure of AED75 billion equates to an average of AED5 billion per year.
Extensive investment
In the rail sector, trams, monorails and new metro lines will be introduced. The cost of the monorail alone is more than AED15 billion. The RTA hopes to increase passenger numbers from 5 percent to 30 percent in the coming decade by introducing new legislation to deter car drivers, like car registration, parking fees and road tolls. Currently the RTA is undertaking transportation infrastructure projects at a cost of more than AED20.5 billion. Of this, around AED15.5 billion has been allocated to the Dubai Metro project.
Dubai Metro
The metro project involves building two lines with an overall length of 70 kilometers. The system is completely driverless and is the longest of its type in the world. The project will include 39 stations, of which nine are underground. To ensure exceptional safety, operational and maintenance standards, international experts have been invited to participate through tenders. The major partners involved for the construction include Dubai Rapid Link (DURL), an international consortium led by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries. Members of DURL include three Japanese companies – Mitsubishi Corporation, Obayashi Corpora-tion and Kajima Corporation – and Yapi Merkezi Insaat ve Sanayi of Turkey.
New road projects
AED5 billion has been allocated to road infrastructure and covers several major projects. These include new crossings to increase traffic capacity across Dubai Creek. The number of lanes will increase from 19 to 38 at the beginning of 2007, reaching 45 lanes at the start of 2008 and 87 lanes beyond 2009. Other projects include widening Sheikh Zayed Road to six lanes in each direction, widening Emirates Road to five lanes in each direction, constructing three arterial roads parallel to Sheikh Zayed Road, widening Jabal Ali Lehbab Road to four lanes in each direction, and completing and widening the Dubai outer bypass to four lanes in each direction. A new double decking project will be constructed at Al Doha Road at a cost of AED605 million, which will improve traffic capacity from new developments like Burj Dubai, Dubai Mall, Business Bay and Dubai International Finance Center. This bridge will have three lanes towards Jumeirah and five lanes in the reverse direction to accommodate 9,000 vehicles every hour.
Focus on public transport
To increase the efficiency of public transport in Dubai, new taxi and bus services will soon be introduced. By the end of 2007, Dubai will have air-conditioned bus shelters and state of the art Mercedes Citaro buses. Around 500 bus shelters are under construction and another 500 are in the pipeline. The new Citaro buses will consist of 49 articulated and 19 single deck versions, representing a milestone in the RTA’s transport strategy. These cutting edge wheelchair-enabled vehicles will be fitted with the latest Euro 4 emission level engines, bringing Dubai in line with European emission levels. The bus services include five new categories: intercity, inter-emirate, VIP, airport services, and express services. To reduce accident fatalities, the RTA will be introducing Road Safety Auditing (RSA) by the end of 2006. The Australian consultancy Road Safety International has been appointed to help Dubai produce its first very own road safety audit manual. The RSA will be conducted for all road projects, especially those in the design and planning stages.
Foreign investors welcome to participate
The RTA would like to work with foreign investors to realize these projects. Mr. Al Tayer says, “The RTA has significant and very attractive investment opportunities for foreign investors. Our projects need multinational experience as each project needs specialization to help us achieve optimum quality. We thus invite international consultants and contractors to work with us.” Current investment opportunities include the concession-based sale of plots adjacent to metro stations for TOD developments, and public-private partnership initiatives like multi-story parking lots and footbridges. There are also many other joint venture opportunities available.
Right conditions for investment
Mr. Al Tayer believes Dubai overall offers great opportunities to international businesses in real estate, transport and distribution, gold refineries, aluminium plants, and conferences, exhibitions and seminars. He comments, “It is an emerging and growing market with attractive capital markets and mortgage rates. The high growth rate in the middle-income classes encourages spending, which triggers economic uplift.” “Dubai offers a business-friendly environment. The infrastructure matches if not exceeds the highest international standards, facilitating efficiency, quality and service. The absence of corporate or income tax, together with competitive import duties, and extremely competitive labor and energy costs make Dubai attractive for business.”
So much to offer in Dubai
The RTA’s vital work is helping Dubai set a benchmark for its transportation services. According to Mr. Al Tayer, “Like all the modern cities in the region, and indeed the world, Dubai’s transportation needs are growing rapidly to complement the amenities the emirate offers. These include world class education, recreational facilities like water- and snow-skiing, leisure parks and resorts, hotels like the Burj Al Arab, huge malls and last but not least, tax free income. This has attracted a burgeoning population of different cultures, the relocation of international businesses and an increase in commercial activities.”
Mattar Mohammed Al Tayer, the Chairman of the Board and Executive Director of the Roads & Transport Authority is a dynamic and progressive leader with superior managerial and organizational skills. He is a strategic thinker with the ability to see the big picture without losing sight of the important details. Mr. Al Tayer is a strong promoter and supporter of continual improvement and development. He also possesses excellent problem solving and decision making skills.
In November 2005, H.H. Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, UAE Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai appointed Mr. Al Tayer as the Chairman of the Board and Executive Director of the newly established Roads and Transport Authority (RTA).
In his capacity as the Executive Director of RTA, Mattar Mohammed Al Tayer is responsible for fulfilling Dubai’s Transportation needs including Roads, Buses, Metro, Marine and other modes of transport. Since RTA’s establishment in November 2005, Al Tayer established a strong managerial and professional base to ensure that RTA meets the increasing transportation demands of Dubai. In this regard, RTA’s vision of “Safe and Smooth Transport for All” reflects RTA’s commitment to providing integrated transportation solutions that exceed the public’s expectations and meet the development plans of the emirate. In the short period since its establishment, RTA launched several new projects in addition to those projects carried over from Dubai Municipality. The initiated projects include three new creek crossings, widening of several roads, Metro projects among others.
Before starting with RTA, Mr. Al Tayer was the “Deputy Director General” of Dubai Municipality, where he started his career as a trainee engineer in 1983. Since then, Mr. Al Tayer rose quickly through the ranks reaching the position of “Assistant Head of the Roads Section” in 1984 and the position of “Head of the Roads Section” in 1986 and in two years, he was appointed “Director of the Roads Department” in 1988. From 1994 to April 2005, Mattar Al Tayer supervised the Roads and General Projects Sector which encompasses several departments and organizational units with an annual budget of approximately 1 billion Dirhams. The sector includes the Roads Department, the General Projects Department, the General Maintenance Department, the Advertising Section and the Service Coordination Center then appointed by H.H. Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai, Minister of Finance and Industry, as Deputy Director General of Dubai Municipality.
During his tenure with Dubai Municipality, Mr. Al Tayer supervised most of Dubai’s road projects and numerous vitally important building projects with a total combined budget of approximately 20 billion Dirhams. Some of the landmark projects supervised by Mr. Al Tayer include the Khor crossings (Shandaghah Tunnel, Maktoum Bridge, and Garhoud Bridge), Dubai Ring road, Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai Convention Center, Central Vegetable and Fruit Market and the Dubai Technical Colleges for men and women.
Mr. Al Tayer is involved in several professional and voluntary committees and associations on the local, national and international levels. The following is a partial list of his participation in these activities:
• Member of Dubai’s Executive Council since December 2005
• Member of Dubai Government General Budget Committee 2005
• Vice President of Dubai’s Infrastructure and Environment Committee since December 2005
• Member of the Higher Committee of Zayed International Prize for the Environment
• Member of the Advisory Committee for the American University in Dubai.
• Chairman of the UAE Engineering Society since 2004.
• Member of the Organizing Committee for the IMF/World Bank Conference in Dubai 2003.
• Chairman of the “Venue and Facilities Committee” for the IMF/World Bank Conference in Dubai 2003.
• Member of the International Road Federation
• Vice Chairman of the board of directors of al Naser Club from 2004 to 2006.
• Chairman of the football committee of al Naser Club from 2004 to 2006.
• Member of the Asia Championship in UAE. Head of facilities and stadiums from March 96 till Dec 96.
• Member of the Preparation Committee for Youth World Cup Football for the year 2003.
• Championship Director – World Youth Football Championship – Emirates 2003
• Vice Chairman of Dubai Sports Council
• Member of the Board of the UAE Youth and Sport Authority
• Chairman of the Financial Resources and Marketing Committee – The General Authority for Youth and Sport.
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