The car-heavy Middle East is about to welcome in a public transport revolution as governments pledge billions in post-pandemic funding, according to a leading expert.
Khalid Alhogail, president of the International Association of Public Transport (UITP) told The National there is a hunger for a first-rate public transport service across Mena nations.
Population surges in cities, heavy traffic congestion, and public demand for more sustainable travel options are chief among the reasons for the heavy investment into the sector.
The Mena area was not recognised for its public transportation options but that is going to change
Khalid Alhogail,
president of the International Association of Public Transport
Another key factor behind the emerging interest in public transport is the private car sector losing its lustre with the price of fuel continuing to increase.
“There is about $100 billion being invested in public transport projects in the Mena region right now,” said Mr Alhogail, who was at the UITP regional congress, taking place in Dubai’s World Trade Centre on Monday.
The pandemic saw huge numbers of people working from home.
While many have already made the move back to the office, with many more expected to follow, Mr Alhogail believes people will no longer accept being stuck in heavy traffic for long periods during rush hour.
That, coupled with the expected population surge in the region’s cities, makes it the perfect time for countries across the region to invest in public transport networks, he said.
“People are realising they can save time if they take rapid public transportation options rather than get stuck in traffic,” said Mr Alhogail, who is also general manager of Saudi Arabia Public Transport Company.
“That’s what is going to convince them to move from private to public transportation.
“Until now, the Mena area was not recognised for its public transportation options but that is going to change.”
Driving your own private car was no longer perceived to be the attractive option it might have once been, Mr Alhogail said.
“The regulation across the region is changing to make it more attractive to take public transport,” he said.
“It’s no longer the case that you get cheap fuel, toll-free roads and don’t have to pay for parking.
“It’s changing. In fact, it’s changing everywhere across the globe not just in this region.”
He cited a number of schemes across the Mena region as being flagship projects for public transport.
Bahrain metro work progresses
The Dubai Metro line was recently expanded to integrate with the Expo 2020 site.
Etihad Rail has also announced it will soon transport passengers across the emirates, eventually linking up with other countries in the region.
The emirate also launched an urban master plan to divide the city into five key areas, making it a global leader in sustainable transport options.
A 76-kilometre metro line became operational in Doha in 2019, timed to welcome visitors to the Qatari capital before the Fifa World Cup later this year.
The first two tramlines in Casablanca, Morocco, began transporting passengers in 2019, with another two lines due to go live later this year.
Bahrain is also pushing ahead with its own metro network, which will see all major population hubs connected across a 110km track.
The country recently announced the signing of a deal that would see 200 of its cities connected by a new bus service running across 76 routes.
A desire to see transportation become more sustainable has also created opportunities for the region to make progress, said another speaker at the UITP congress.
“New cities are being built from scratch in the region and they are being done so with a clear strategy to be energy affordable and eco-friendly,” said Rumaih Al Rumaih, president of the Public Transport Authority in Saudi Arabia.
“Neom City and the Red Sea Project have clear strategies to make sure the technology they adopt is sustainable.”
Both projects are viewed as key components of the Saudi Arabian Vision 2030, which aims to help the country diversify its oil-based economy.
Neom is a $500 billion megaproject that will be home to cities, towns, ports and tourist hotspots.
The Red Sea Project is currently under construction on more than 90 islands on Saudi Arabia’s west coast.
Etihad Rail – in pictures
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Real estate tokenisation project
Dubai launched the pilot phase of its real estate tokenisation project last month.
The initiative focuses on converting real estate assets into digital tokens recorded on blockchain technology and helps in streamlining the process of buying, selling and investing, the Dubai Land Department said.
Dubai’s real estate tokenisation market is projected to reach Dh60 billion ($16.33 billion) by 2033, representing 7 per cent of the emirate’s total property transactions, according to the DLD.
UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
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Creators: Matt Sazama, Burk Sharpless, Irwin Allen
Stars: Molly Parker, Toby Stephens, Maxwell Jenkins
Rating: 4/5
Match info
Uefa Nations League Group B:
England v Spain, Saturday, 11.45pm (UAE)
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The seven points are:
Shakhbout bin Sultan Street
Dhafeer Street
Hadbat Al Ghubainah Street (outbound)
Salama bint Butti Street
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Rabdan Street
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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Electric scooters: some rules to remember
- Riders must be 14-years-old or over
- Wear a protective helmet
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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ELIO
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The major Hashd factions linked to Iran:
Badr Organisation: Seen as the most militarily capable faction in the Hashd. Iraqi Shiite exiles opposed to Saddam Hussein set up the group in Tehran in the early 1980s as the Badr Corps under the supervision of the Iran Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC). The militia exalts Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei but intermittently cooperated with the US military.
Saraya Al Salam (Peace Brigade): Comprised of former members of the officially defunct Mahdi Army, a militia that was commanded by Iraqi cleric Moqtada Al Sadr and fought US and Iraqi government and other forces between 2004 and 2008. As part of a political overhaul aimed as casting Mr Al Sadr as a more nationalist and less sectarian figure, the cleric formed Saraya Al Salam in 2014. The group’s relations with Iran has been volatile.
Kataeb Hezbollah: The group, which is fighting on behalf of the Bashar Al Assad government in Syria, traces its origins to attacks on US forces in Iraq in 2004 and adopts a tough stance against Washington, calling the United States “the enemy of humanity”.
Asaeb Ahl Al Haq: An offshoot of the Mahdi Army active in Syria. Asaeb Ahl Al Haq’s leader Qais al Khazali was a student of Mr Al Moqtada’s late father Mohammed Sadeq Al Sadr, a prominent Shiite cleric who was killed during Saddam Hussein’s rule.
Harakat Hezbollah Al Nujaba: Formed in 2013 to fight alongside Mr Al Assad’s loyalists in Syria before joining the Hashd. The group is seen as among the most ideological and sectarian-driven Hashd militias in Syria and is the major recruiter of foreign fighters to Syria.
Saraya Al Khorasani: The ICRG formed Saraya Al Khorasani in the mid-1990s and the group is seen as the most ideologically attached to Iran among Tehran’s satellites in Iraq.
(Source: The Wilson Centre, the International Centre for the Study of Radicalisation)
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Electoral College Victory
Trump has so far secured 295 Electoral College votes, according to the Associated Press, exceeding the 270 needed to win. Only Nevada and Arizona remain to be called, and both swing states are leaning Republican. Trump swept all five remaining swing states, North Carolina, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin, sealing his path to victory and giving him a strong mandate.
Popular Vote Tally
The count is ongoing, but Trump currently leads with nearly 51 per cent of the popular vote to Harris’s 47.6 per cent. Trump has over 72.2 million votes, while Harris trails with approximately 67.4 million.
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5pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 1,600m
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The National selections: 5pm: Flit Al Maury, 5.30pm: Sadah, 6pm: RB Seqondtonone, 6.30pm: RB Money To Burn, 7pm: SS Jalmood, 7.30pm: Dalaalaat
Labour dispute
The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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