Dubai saved Dh210 billion ($57.18bn) in working hours, time and fuel between 2006 and 2020 thanks to investment in roads and transport infrastructure, officials have said.
About Dh140bn was spent over the 14-year period to improve the roads and transport network in the emirate.
The RTA’s projects have cemented the competitiveness of the UAE, which had consequently been ranked number one in road quality worldwide for five years in a row
Mattar Al Tayer,
Roads and Transport Authority
Dubai more than doubled its road network from 8,715 kilometres to 18,255km during that time, and increased the number of vehicle bridges and tunnels from 129 in 2006 to 844 in 2020.
“Similarly, we have increased the number of pedestrian bridges and tunnels by four times from 26 to 125 around the same time, and extended our cycling track network from 9km in 2006 to 463km in 2020. It is expected to reach 668km by 2025,” said Mattar Al Tayer, director general and chairman of the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA).
He made the announcement during his address at the 18th International Road Federation World Meeting and Exhibition in Dubai.
The authority completed mega projects in “record time” during that period under the direction of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, and other leaders, Mr Al Tayer said according to state news agency Wam.
“The Dubai Metro project, [was] delivered in just four years, and the Dubai Water Canal project [was] completed in less than three years," he said.
"The RTA’s projects have cemented the competitiveness of the UAE, which had consequently been ranked number one in road quality worldwide for five years in a row.”
Smart traffic systems
Joint efforts with Dubai Police have helped to reduce road accident fatalities from 22 cases to 1.8 for every 100,000 people between 2006 and 2020, and reduced pedestrian fatalities from 9.5 to 0.5 for every 100,000 people between 2007 and 2020, he said.
The use of artificial intelligence has been vital to this, Mr Al Tayer said.
The Dubai Centre for Intelligent Traffic Systems was inaugurated by Sheikh Mohammed in November 2020.
It cost Dh590 million and centralises a network of smart cameras linked to databases.
"The centre raised the percentage of road network coverage with smart traffic systems from 11 per cent to 60 per cent, which is expected to increase to 100 per cent by 2023,” Mr Al Tayer said.
Technology has also been useful in managing parking, with machine-learning technology capable of scanning more than 10,000 parking spaces every hour, with 99 per cent accuracy, and issuing tickets for breaches automatically.
Mr Al Tayer also discussed the emirate’s goal for one in four journeys to be driverless by 2030.
“This strategy differs from other strategies as it includes all public and private modes of transport, such as the metro, buses, marine transportation, taxis and private vehicles, as opposed to numerous cities focusing on a limited number of modes of transportation," he said.
“In this regard, the RTA signed a partnership agreement with General Motors-Cruise to operate GM’s autonomous vehicles to deliver taxi and shared mobility services by 2023, which would make Dubai the first city in the world, outside America, to operate these vehicles,” he said.
Inside the smart room that monitors Al Ain's traffic
UK-EU trade at a glance
EU fishing vessels guaranteed access to UK waters for 12 years
Co-operation on security initiatives and procurement of defence products
Youth experience scheme to work, study or volunteer in UK and EU countries
Smoother border management with use of e-gates
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The stats
Ship name: MSC Bellissima
Ship class: Meraviglia Class
Delivery date: February 27, 2019
Gross tonnage: 171,598 GT
Passenger capacity: 5,686
Crew members: 1,536
Number of cabins: 2,217
Length: 315.3 metres
Maximum speed: 22.7 knots (42kph)
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
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MATCH INFO
Liverpool 0
Stoke City 0
Man of the Match: Erik Pieters (Stoke)
THE SPECS
Engine: 6.0-litre, twin-turbocharged W12
Transmission: eight-speed automatic
Power: 626bhp
Torque: 900Nm
Price: Dh1,050,000
On sale: now
SPECS
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BUNDESLIGA FIXTURES
Saturday, May 16 (kick-offs UAE time)
Borussia Dortmund v Schalke (4.30pm)
RB Leipzig v Freiburg (4.30pm)
Hoffenheim v Hertha Berlin (4.30pm)
Fortuna Dusseldorf v Paderborn (4.30pm)
Augsburg v Wolfsburg (4.30pm)
Eintracht Frankfurt v Borussia Monchengladbach (7.30pm)
Sunday, May 17
Cologne v Mainz (4.30pm),
Union Berlin v Bayern Munich (7pm)
Monday, May 18
Werder Bremen v Bayer Leverkusen (9.30pm)
The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
The Settlers
Director: Louis Theroux
Starring: Daniella Weiss, Ari Abramowitz
Rating: 5/5
Brief scores:
Toss: Nepal, chose to field
UAE 153-6: Shaiman (59), Usman (30); Regmi 2-23
Nepal 132-7: Jora 53 not out; Zahoor 2-17
Result: UAE won by 21 runs
Series: UAE lead 1-0
Our legal consultant
Name: Dr Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
Directed: Smeep Kang
Produced: Soham Rockstar Entertainment; SKE Production
Cast: Rishi Kapoor, Jimmy Sheirgill, Sunny Singh, Omkar Kapoor, Rajesh Sharma
Rating: Two out of five stars
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
Specs
Engine: Duel electric motors
Power: 659hp
Torque: 1075Nm
On sale: Available for pre-order now
Price: On request
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Our legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants
