11 minute read
NEWS FROM THE MONTH
RTA UNVEILS FIVE-YEAR ROAD TRANSPORTATION PLAN / NEW SCANIA MD WANTS TO EXPAND SERVICES / CAREEM AND HALA DRIVE RAMADAN CHARITY PUSH
NETWORK
Route boost to Dubai network
RTA EXTENDING ITS DEDICATED BUS AND TAXI LANES OVER FIVE-YEAR PERIOD
FLEET
Dubai is about to see a major overhaul of its transportation network after a plan to construct dedicated bus and taxi lanes extending 37km during the period 2023-2027 was approved by Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA).
According to a statement, the lanes cover eight main streets mainly Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Street, Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah Street, 2nd December Street, Amman Street, Al Satwa Road, Al Nahda Street, Omar bin Al-Khattab Street and Naif Street bringing the total length of dedicated bus and taxi lanes to 48.6km.
“The dedicated bus and taxi lanes is a successful global practice that encourages people to ride public transport rather than private vehicles,” said Mattar Al Tayer, directorgeneral, chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of RTA. “As seen in several metropolitan cities in North America and Europe, dedicated bus and taxi lanes reduce journey time, increase the compliance with the on-time bus departures, encourage public to use mass transport means, improve the taxi arrival time, and reduce the direct and indirect operational costs as well as pollutions.”
He noted that the project contributes to realising the RTA’s strategic goal (Integrated Dubai), improving the living standards in the city, and enhancing the happiness of public transport riders.
Earlier, the RTA completed the construction of dedicated bus lanes stretching 11.6km, which included a separate lane for buses and taxis on Khalid Bin Al Waleed Street extending 4.3km from the intersection with Al Mina Street to a point just before the intersection with Zabeel Street, in both directions, the statement explained.
Al Tayer continued, “Widening the scope of dedicated bus lanes increases the average bus speed and reduces the travel time during peak hours by more than 40%. The introduction of this project is expected to reduce bus journey time by 44% on the 2nd December Street, 39% on the Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah Street and Amman Street, 28% on the Omar bin Al-Khattab Street, 27% on Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Street, 25% on Al-Nahda Street, and 18% on Al Satwa Road. The project is expected to contribute to a 30% increase in public transport riders by 2030 on some streets and reduce the requirements of additional buses due to the journey time saved.”
ACCORDING TO GLASGOW CONSULTING GROUP’S VISHAL PANDEY AN EV MODEL COSTS 50% MORE THAN ITS COMBUSTION EQUIVALENT
CAPTAINS RECEIVE OVER 1.2MN AED IN RAMADAN AID
DRIVERS
In the spirit of generosity during the holy month of Ramadan, Careem and Hala matched all Customer tips made on the app across the UAE, Pakistan, Jordan, Qatar, Kuwait, and Bahrain to recognize the hard work of ride-hailing and delivery Captains. The total amount of customer tips collected across Careem and Hala, and then doubled by the companies, amounted to AED 1,293,929 (US $352,280).
“We want to thank our Customers for their generosity to Captains during the holy month of Ramadan,” said Bassel Alnahlaoui, Managing Director of Mobility at Careem. “Our Captains work hard to simplify people’s lives every day and we are pleased to deliver AED 1,293,929 to them by matching tips across the UAE, Pakistan, Jordan, Qatar, Kuwait, and Bahrain.”
Basil Hovakeemian, CEO of Hala, added: “We are proud of our Captains who work tirelessly to bring people together during the holy month of Ramadan. It means a great deal to us that our customers can acknowledge the dedication and hard work our Captains put in each and every day”.
Customers tipped Captains on the app for rides after the completion of a ride and for food and grocery deliveries at order checkout. Careem and Hala then matched the amounts tipped, putting both 100% of each Customer tip and another 100% match in each Captain’s weekly pay throughout the month.
During Ramadan, Careem also paused orders for food in all markets for 30 minutes to enable Captains to break their fast during iftar time.
SCANIA ME EXPANDING FINANCIAL AND SERVICES
WORLD’S GREENEST SERVICE STATION READY
TRUCKS
Scania Middle East’s new managing director Marian Cernoch says he is determined to ensure that the Swedish brand offers a wide range of financial and service products for its fleet customers.
Scania Middle East recently welcomed Cernoch as its new managing director for the region, with the executive moving from his previous position as Head of Sales in the EMA Region. He has also previously worked as sales director for the Central European Region.
As part of his new role as MD, he will be based in the Scania Middle East Head office in Dubai.
“It’s my pleasure to join the Scania Middle East team and personally contribute to the Scania brand image and market presence development in the region,” said Cernoch.
“I am eager to bring forward Scania’s sustainable strategy approach by wider scope of bundled offerings including comprehensive financial and service products. Facing current very complex and disrupted global environment it’s not enough to be just well known as a quality vehicle manufacturer, it’s essential to become a real solution provider, offering answers to any kind of transport and logistical tasks.”
FUEL
Taqeef, the originator of desert cooling systems in the UAE and the Middle East, has explained how it supported ENOC’s Service Station of the Future at Expo2020 in its goal of achieving ‘Platinum’ certification with sustainable, state-of-the-art, energyefficient cooling solutions.
The project is the first Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Platinum-certified service station in the world, with the design inspired by the ghaf tree. The Service Station of the Future was fitted with 13 indoor and outdoor units of the new generation O General Variable Refrigerant Flow (VRF) technology to cool 300 of space.
Platinum is the highest possible rating under Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) – the most widely used green building rating system globally, and a mark of excellence for highly efficient, cost-saving sustainable design and construction.
“Taqeef has been at the forefront of championing airconditioning technologies that achieve increasing levels of energy conservation beyond the referenced standard. We are proud to have played a significant role in supporting ENOC in fulfilling its vision of a sustainable and technologically advanced concept,” commented Tariq Al Ghussein, CEO, Taqeef.
VRF systems are sustainable, cost-effective HVAC systems that offer energy savings, increased comfort, design and installation flexibility, lower maintenance costs, and quiet operation. VRF technology offers the ability to obtain a significant number of points toward LEED certification.
With 50 years of HVAC leadership, Taqeef claims it is setting the agenda for more conscious cooling - with cleaner, greener systems and designs in the residential and commercial sectors.”
EXPERTISE’S MOBILE CRANE FLEET ON THE UP
NEW JAFZA HUB TO MEET LOGISTICS DEMAND
FLEET
Saudi Arabia-based industrial service provider Expertise Contracting Company (Expertise) has placed an order for 79 Demag cranes, representing not only the biggest order in 15 years for Demag but also the largest ever from a customer in Saudi Arabia, said the company.
Among the new additions are 50 Demag AC 55-3, 17 AC 130-5, 11 AC 250-5 and one AC 500-8. Expertise says it serves over 1,500 customers from the petrochemical industry, oil and gas production industry, energy industry, and other industrial sectors all over the Middle East. The large number of all-terrain cranes were required as the result of a winning bid for a project for the world’s largest oil production company, Saudi Aramco.
In addition to its headquarters in Jubail Industrial City, Expertise runs an additional 13 branches in Saudi Arabia and has a fleet of nearly 4,000 vehicles and machines, In terms of crane services, the company possesses a fleet of all-terrain cranes, rough-terrain cranes, crawler cranes, truck-mounted cranes, and city cranes with lifting capacities ranging from eight to 1,200t.
LOGISTICS
DP World has broken ground on Phase One of its Jafza Logistics Park, which is billed as a purpose-built trading and logistics development. Located in Jebel Ali Free Zone (Jafza), the park will accommodate the growing number of warehousing, processing and logistics activities carried out in Dubai.
According to a statement from DP World, the new facility will reinforce the success of the logistics cluster in Jafza, which has already grown by 14% since 2016. The project covers a total leasable area of over 46,000sqm, of which 87% will be allocated to warehousing. The remaining space is dedicated to office facilities.
Jafza Logistics Park businesses will be able to leverage DP World’s integrated end-toend logistics solutions and expertise as a data-driven supply chain logistics provider. The park’s location between Jebel Ali Port, Al Maktoum International Airport, and Etihad Rail’s Jebel Ali station will facilitate the efficient and seamless flow of goods within the region and across the world.
The ground-breaking ceremony was attended by Abdulla Bin Damithan, CEO & MD of DP World UAE & Jafza, as well as the company’s leadership team.
He explained: “We recognise the critical role the logistics sector plays in enabling the growth of various industries around the globe.”
ACCIONA NAMED SUSTAINABLE TRANSPORT CONTRACTOR OF THE YEAR
SUSTAINABILITY
Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority of Dubai (RTA) has awarded its “Sustainable Transport Contractor” prize to ACCIONA’s joint-venture for the Dubai Metro extension project.
The “Dubai Metro Route 2020” project consists of the construction of a 15-kilometre-long section, including 11.8 km of raised viaduct and a 3.2-km-long tunnel that starts from Nakheel Harbour & Tower station on the Red Line. In total, there are seven stations, including an interchange at Nakheel Harbour & Tower and an emblematic Metro station to welcome visitors to the site of the Expo.
The awards recognise road and transport projects and initiatives carried out in Dubai that make a positive contribution to caring for the environment through the application of sustainable construction principles. The Extension Route 2020 was officially inaugurated in October 2021, coinciding with the start of Expo 2020. ACCIONA and partners were recognised for their optimisation of the cooling systems and installed solar panels to generate energy at seven of its stations.
The award ceremony took place in the World Trade Center of Dubai and the prize was received on behalf of ACCIONA by its project director, José Luis Oliván. One of the main reasons leading to the prize was the award of LEED V4 Gold certification for the seven stations.
INSIDE THIS ISSUE: SAUDI’S POWERHOUSE DEALER, UD TRUCKS ON THE UP, AUDI GT REVIEW, AL-MASAOOD INTERVIEW, AND MORE!
MINI AND 25HOURS HOTEL’S PARTNERSHIP ARRIVES IN DUBAI
FLEET
Two of the UAE’s most vibrant, stylish and innovative brands have announced a ground-breaking new partnership. MINI and 25hours Hotel One Central have come together to provide a unique offering to Dubai’s hospitality sector. Four MINI vehicles will be based at the 25hours Hotel, offering guests the opportunity to test drive a MINI, utilising it as a journey companion while exploring the Emirate. Guests of 25hours Hotel One Central can avail four hours of complimentary drive-time with the house MINIs, included with their accommodation. MINI is the perfect brand for getting out and about, allowing guests to experience the sense of freedom behind the steering wheel. With the support of AGMC, the exclusive importer of MINI in Dubai, the journey of both brands continues to grow worldwide. With the partnership first established in Berlin, Dubai is the latest addition to a global strategy, offering guests a holistic urban experience. With a shared ethos of adventure and fun, both brands take inspiration from the past, but provide a modern twist – with an exciting, unique design at the heart of what they do. Launched in December 2021, this is the first 25hours Hotel outside of Europe, offering the perfect playground for travellers and residents of the city to enjoy and revel in. The hotel brand is ‘rooted in culture and community’ making the ideal synergy with MINI – one of the automotive industry’s best-loved brands for more than 60 years, with their community of owners and enthusiasts among the most passionate around the world. Yann Woisson, Head of MINI Middle East, said: “This is an incredibly exciting partnership for everyone involved. 25hours Hotel One Central’s recent launch is a wonderful addition to Dubai’s hospitality sector and fits the MINI philosophy perfectly. “Both brands are steeped in tradition but deliver with a vibrant modern perspective. Having MINI cars based at the hotel will provide guests with the thrill of wonderful adventures Dubai has to offer, in a car built for fun.” Jean-Francois Brun, General Manager 25hours Hotel One Central, said: “We are thrilled to have launched this unique cooperation with MINI. It’s a first for Dubai and a great benefit for our guests. We look forward to developing the relationship through engaging the wider MINI community - watch this space!”
Benefits:
ü Cleans New Common Rail High Pressure Diesel
Fuel Injectors without removing
ü Restores Power & Fuel Efficiency ü Removes Combustion Chamber Deposits ü Reduces harmful emissions, black smoke ü Cleans the entire Diesel Injection System, including
