Several activities, competitions, and events are planned to celebrate Public Transport Day observed annually on November 1. This year, it will be held under the theme ‘Good for you, Great for Dubai’, encouraging wide participation. Participants and winners can expect valuable prizes and giveaways.
Public transport
“This year’s theme of Public Transport Day aims to encourage residents and visitors to contribute to making Dubai the best city in the world for living by opting for RTA’s public transport services, which include the metro, tram, public buses, marine transport, and other soft mobility options like bicycles, e-scooters, and walking to reach public transport stations and stops across the city,” Abdulla Yousef Al Ali, CEO of Corporate Administrative Support Sector, RTA, said.

Six categories
These initiatives aim to encourage community members to use public transport. This year’s edition features three new categories, bringing the total to six categories for the most frequent public transport riders. There will be three winners from each category.

The categories include the most frequent user from the week of Public Transport Day 2024, the most frequent RTA employee user, and the most frequent People of Determination use

The newly added categories are the most frequent user from the start of Public Transport Day in 2009 until November 1, 2024; the most frequent senior citizen user, and the most frequent student user.

Public Transport Champion
Each winner will be honoured with the title of ‘Public Transport Champion’. The first-place winner will receive 1 million Nol+ points, the runner-up will get 500,000 Nol+ points, and the third-place finisher will win 250,000 Nol+ points. All winners will be recognised at a ceremony.
Mysterious Man Challenge
One of the event’s highlights is the exciting ‘Mysterious Man Challenge’, held in partnership with the Arabian Radio Network (ARN). Participants will search for the ‘Mysterious Man’ at metro stations over three days, from October 30 to November 1. Each day, a winner will receive Dh10,000. On Public Transport Day, November 1, a lucky winner will also receive an additional 50gm gold bar in addition to the Dh10,000 cash prize.

The post Dubai: Win 1 million Nol Plus points, cash prizes during RTA’s Public Transport Day appeared first on The Gulf Indians.

“The Riyadh Metro Company has established early 2025 as the commissioning date for the metro,” the report noted. Phase 1 of the project will cover nearly half of the city’s road network, and operators are expected to meet next month to discuss ticket pricing.

In 2013, the Saudi government awarded $22.5 billion (Dh82.6 billion) in contracts for the design and construction of the Riyadh Metro, part of a significant domestic public transport initiative.
US construction Bechtel Corp leads a group that secured a $9.45 billion (Dh34.7 billion) contract for two lines, while a consortium headed by Spain’s Fomento de Construcciones y Contratas won a $7.82 billion (Dh28.7 billion) contract for three lines. Additionally, Italy’s Ansaldo STS leads a group awarded a $5.21 billion (Dh19.1 billion) contract.

The post Riyadh Metro to open early 2025 appeared first on The Gulf Indians.

From Etisalat to Noor Bank, changing trains at Union and passing the Burj Khalifa station, my first ride on the Dubai Metro to meet a friend in Jumeirah remains unforgettable. Since then, the occasional metro ride alone, usually in the Women & Children carriage, has been relaxing and fun – watching carefree shoppers, chattering student crowd and of course, and preoccupied working women on their way to work. A sea of humanity quietly leaves the carriage at each air-conditioned station, up the steps or elevator and out into the sun.
“

The cacophony that characterised the Chennai local trains and Metro was endearing in its own way – women selling flowers, vegetables, the blind selling trinkets or singing a mournful number and the random fishmonger sitting on the train floor with her basket on her way home – but the flawless precision and absolute cleanliness with which the Dubai Metro functions make me want no more. No eating, chewing gum or drinking water in this automated Metro that is the pride of the emirate of Dubai.

On September 9, 2020, the Dubai Metro celebrated its 11th birthday. As always, residents remembered with gratitude the grit and vision of the HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum, the Vice-President of UAE and the Ruler of Dubai, who made this dream possible.

Parvathi S., a college-goer who often uses the train service, says: “Dubai metro will always have a very special place in my heart. It has made life simple, comfortable and so much easier. For a student like me, Dubai Metro has always been a life-saver. Reaching school, university or any place in Dubai has become very easy thanks to the metro service. The happiness of getting a seat during a long ride is one of those little moments that make the metro journey memorable. Thank you Dubai Metro for your 11 years of exemplary service.”

A good many secondary school children who attend schools near the train stations patronise the Dubai Metro too. And for teens like my son, wanting to chill out with friends on the weekend, the Metro provides a safe and economical means of transport. In fact, it is part of the adventure too. For tourists and residents alike, a Metro ride adds to the experiences that make up Dubai. It can easily be called the city’s most popular mode of public transport.

Over 1.5 billion riders have used the Dubai Metro until now, with a daily ridership of 650,000 reported last year. The number of Dubai Metro riders on its Red and Green Lines reached 202.98 million riders in 2019. Burjuman and Union stations, interchange stations on the Red and Green Lines, accounted for 12.76 million and 10.6 million riders respectively.

Route 2020, a 15km extension of the Red Line to the Expo 2020 site, with seven stations in between, was recently inaugurated by Sheikh Mohammed.

“The UAE has exceptional goals and ambitions. Today, we are moving with confidence, determination and a clear vision to attain the highest levels of excellence in various fields. Our objective is to provide people everything that ensures their wellbeing, stability and happiness and establish a prosperous future for the coming generations,” he said at the launch.

It was on 09/09/09 that Sheikh Mohammed gave the green signal to the Dubai Metro when he swiped the first Nol (fare) card to embark on a historic ride on the Red Line from Mall of the Emirates station to Rashidiya at 9:09:09 p.m. At its first stop, Dubai International Financial Centre or DIFC, the good Ruler placed a commemorative gold coin at the station. Since then, the shiny driverless carriage has been transporting residents and tourists across the emirate belying predictions that a city of cars and fast lanes will not find the public transport attractive. Today, many prefer to leave their cars parked at home or at the Park-and-Ride terminals and take a hassle-free and reliable metro ride to their destinations.

It saves them the hassle of navigating through peak hour traffic jams, or the fear of flouting a traffic rule and incurring a fine. Moreover, there is company in a train carriage unlike in a car – though in pandemic times, human company induces fear and social distancing is the order of the day.

When COVID-19 brought the world to a standstill, the Dubai Metro, like all public transport in the UAE, was completely halted for a two-week period in April. The National Sterilisation drive disinfected 47 stations and 79 trains of Dubai Metro before train services resumed on April 26. New safety and preventive measures are in place now, which instil confidence in the commuter.

“Al abwab toglaq. Doors closing,” reminds the much-loved voice of the metro as I enter a carriage, gloved and masked, for a Friday jaunt.

The post Eleven years of Dubai Metro appeared first on The Gulf Indians.

September 9, 2009 was a historic day for Dubai. At 9:09 a.m. on that day, HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum, the Vice-President of UAE and the Ruler of Dubai, swiped the Metro’s first ticket to launch the city’s iconic transport system.

Since then, the shiny driverless carriage has been transporting residents and tourists across the emirate belying predictions that a city of cars and fast lanes will not find the public transport attractive. Today, many prefer to leave their cars parked at home and take a hassle-free and reliable metro ride to their destinations.

Over 1.5 billion riders have used the Dubai Metro until now, with a daily ridership of 650,000  reported last year. The Metro, like the tram and buses, were halted from March 26, 2020 during the National Sterilisation drive to fight the coronavirus pandemic, and was resumed on April 26.

The number of Dubai Metro riders on its Red and Green Lines reached 202.98 million riders in 2019. Burjuman and Union stations, interchange stations on the Red and Green Lines, accounted for the biggest share of riders. Burjuman Station served 12.76 million riders, while the Union Station was used by 10.6 million riders.

Route 2020, a 15km extension of the Red Line to the Expo 2020 site with 7 stations in between, was recently inaugurated by Sheikh Mohammed.

“The UAE has exceptional goals and ambitions. Today, we are moving with confidence, determination and a clear vision to attain the highest levels of excellence in various fields. Our objective is to provide people everything that ensures their wellbeing, stability and happiness and establish a prosperous future for the coming generations,” he said at the launch.

The plan for the Metro began on May 29, 2005, when the Dubai Municipality signed a Dh12.45billion contract with Dubai Rapid Link, a group of companies led by Mitsubishi Corporation of Japan. The company was also put in charge of the maintenance of the facility. Construction commenced in October 2005.

Dubai’s Roads and Transports Authority (RTA) allowed companies to purchase naming rights on the Metro stations. From Etisalat, DIFC and Deira City Centre to the recently renamed Mashreq Metro Station are among them. The Palm Deira and Nakheel Harbour and Tower recently became Gold Souq and Jabal Ali respectively.

The post Dubai Metro celebrates 11th birthday appeared first on The Gulf Indians.