Dubai is set to overhaul bus stations and depots across the emirate in a three-year plan to improve the quality of public transport.
The emirate’s Roads and Transport Authority said work was to be carried out at 16 bus stations and six bus depots.
The stations include major hubs such as Al Ghubaiba. Those serving people in areas farther out, such as Hatta, are also on the list.
Mattar Al Tayer, director general of the RTA, said the project sought to go beyond the traditional function of bus stations and “enhance the overall travel experience”.
Work will include improving building facades, providing bicycle racks, boosting accessibility for people of determination, adding prayer rooms at some locations and ensuring connectivity with Dubai Metro and taxi services.
The project will also include work on passenger facilities, passenger waiting terminals, driver service offices, bus parking spaces, workshops and bus inspection and maintenance bays.
“Building public bus stations and depots forms a key part of the RTA's strategy to enhance the public transport infrastructure,” Mr Al Tayer said. “It aims to encourage the community to opt for public transport in their daily movements.”
The project covers nine stations in Deira and seven in Bur Dubai: Mall of the Emirates; Sabkha; Jebel Ali; Al Quoz; Ibn Battuta; Hatta; Gold Souq; Al Qusais; Deira City Centre; Al Ghubaiba; Union; Al Satwa; Al Rashidiya; Abu Hail; Etisalat; and Al Karama.
The RTA will revamp bus depots at Al Khawaneej, Al Qusais, Al Ruwyyah, Al Aweer, Jebel Ali and Al Quoz. The project will include the overhaul of inspection lanes, as well as work on engine wash lanes and public facilities.
In addition to providing residential quarters for drivers at Jebel Ali and Al Quoz depots, the scope of exterior work across all stations covers installing traffic signals and pavements, revamping external lights and infrastructure work for security systems.
The RTA said contracts had been awarded for the project.
The revamp comes amid a wider public transport push in Dubai and across the UAE over the past several years. In 2020, the RTA also started to introduce next generation bus shelters featuring air conditioning, wheelchair access, tracks for the visually impaired and bicycle racks.
The following year it revamped Al Ghubaiba station and opened several more. More bus stops, new routes and better services have also been delivered.
Dubai Metro was extended to cater for Expo 2020 Dubai and a further extension – the Blue Line – has already been cleared.
Construction of Etihad Rail, the inter-emirate railway, is also advancing rapidly. Etihad Rail said the passenger network would connect to existing public transport services including the Metro, bus networks and taxi services.
Explained
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The specS: 2018 Toyota Camry
Price: base / as tested: Dh91,000 / Dh114,000
Engine: 3.5-litre V6
Gearbox: Eight-speed automatic
Power: 298hp @ 6,600rpm
Torque: 356Nm @ 4,700rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 7.0L / 100km
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Director: Jesse Armstrong
Rating: 3.5/5
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Dr Afridi's warning signs of digital addiction
Spending an excessive amount of time on the phone.
Neglecting personal, social, or academic responsibilities.
Losing interest in other activities or hobbies that were once enjoyed.
Having withdrawal symptoms like feeling anxious, restless, or upset when the technology is not available.
Experiencing sleep disturbances or changes in sleep patterns.
What are the guidelines?
Under 18 months: Avoid screen time altogether, except for video chatting with family.
Aged 18-24 months: If screens are introduced, it should be high-quality content watched with a caregiver to help the child understand what they are seeing.
Aged 2-5 years: Limit to one-hour per day of high-quality programming, with co-viewing whenever possible.
Aged 6-12 years: Set consistent limits on screen time to ensure it does not interfere with sleep, physical activity, or social interactions.
Teenagers: Encourage a balanced approach – screens should not replace sleep, exercise, or face-to-face socialisation.
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Price, base / as tested: Dh263,235 / Dh420,000
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Torque: 450Nm @ 3,500rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
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Essentials
The flights
Whether you trek after mountain gorillas in Rwanda, Uganda or the Congo, the most convenient international airport is in Rwanda’s capital city, Kigali. There are direct flights from Dubai a couple of days a week with RwandAir. Otherwise, an indirect route is available via Nairobi with Kenya Airways. Flydubai flies to Kinshasa in the Democratic Republic of Congo, via Entebbe in Uganda. Expect to pay from US$350 (Dh1,286) return, including taxes.
The tours
Superb ape-watching tours that take in all three gorilla countries mentioned above are run by Natural World Safaris. In September, the company will be operating a unique Ugandan ape safari guided by well-known primatologist Ben Garrod.
In the Democratic Republic of Congo, local operator Kivu Travel can organise pretty much any kind of safari throughout the Virunga National Park and elsewhere in eastern Congo.
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Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
Key figures in the life of the fort
Sheikh Dhiyab bin Isa (ruled 1761-1793) Built Qasr Al Hosn as a watchtower to guard over the only freshwater well on Abu Dhabi island.
Sheikh Shakhbut bin Dhiyab (ruled 1793-1816) Expanded the tower into a small fort and transferred his ruling place of residence from Liwa Oasis to the fort on the island.
Sheikh Tahnoon bin Shakhbut (ruled 1818-1833) Expanded Qasr Al Hosn further as Abu Dhabi grew from a small village of palm huts to a town of more than 5,000 inhabitants.
Sheikh Khalifa bin Shakhbut (ruled 1833-1845) Repaired and fortified the fort.
Sheikh Saeed bin Tahnoon (ruled 1845-1855) Turned Qasr Al Hosn into a strong two-storied structure.
Sheikh Zayed bin Khalifa (ruled 1855-1909) Expanded Qasr Al Hosn further to reflect the emirate's increasing prominence.
Sheikh Shakhbut bin Sultan (ruled 1928-1966) Renovated and enlarged Qasr Al Hosn, adding a decorative arch and two new villas.
Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan (ruled 1966-2004) Moved the royal residence to Al Manhal palace and kept his diwan at Qasr Al Hosn.
Sources: Jayanti Maitra, www.adach.ae
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Full name: Aisha Abdulqader Saeed
Age: 34
Emirate: Dubai
Favourite quote: "No one has ever become poor by giving"
Stamp duty timeline
December 2014: Former UK finance minister George Osbourne reforms stamp duty, replacing the slab system with a blended rate scheme, with the top rate increasing to 12 per cent from 10 per cent:
Up to £125,000 - 0%; £125,000 to £250,000 – 2%; £250,000 to £925,000 – 5%; £925,000 to £1.5m: 10%; Over £1.5m – 12%
April 2016: New 3% surcharge applied to any buy-to-let properties or additional homes purchased.
July 2020: Rishi Sunak unveils SDLT holiday, with no tax to pay on the first £500,000, with buyers saving up to £15,000.
March 2021: Mr Sunak decides the fate of SDLT holiday at his March 3 budget, with expectations he will extend the perk unti June.
April 2021: 2% SDLT surcharge added to property transactions made by overseas buyers.
PROFILE OF SWVL
Started: April 2017
Founders: Mostafa Kandil, Ahmed Sabbah and Mahmoud Nouh
Based: Cairo, Egypt
Sector: transport
Size: 450 employees
Investment: approximately $80 million
Investors include: Dubai’s Beco Capital, US’s Endeavor Catalyst, China’s MSA, Egypt’s Sawari Ventures, Sweden’s Vostok New Ventures, Property Finder CEO Michael Lahyani
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Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
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Celebrities he worked on: Fabio Canavaro, Lojain Omran, RedOne, Saber Al Rabai.
Where he works: Liberty Dental Clinic
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1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
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COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Lamsa
Founder: Badr Ward
Launched: 2014
Employees: 60
Based: Abu Dhabi
Sector: EdTech
Funding to date: $15 million
