Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has taken part in a remote video webinar held recently by the International Federation of Public Transport (UITP) – MENA. RTA’s participation entitled: The Economic and Financial Impacts of Covid-19 and Precautionary Measures. During the event, the UITP MENA Centre for Transport Excellence, in collaboration with RTA, released a report entitled: The Economics of Public Transport in MENA region.

During the UITP webinar, RTA reviewed its unprecedented precautionary measures to tackle Covid-19 as part of the National Disinfection Programme introduced by the UAE from March to mid-May this year, to cope with this global pandemic. The webinar attracted a considerable number of participants from UITP members.

Commenting on UITP MENA report, Mohammad Obaid Al Mulla, RTA Board Member and Chairman of the Coordinative Committee of the business of MENA Centre for Transport Excellence with RTA, who represented RTA, said,

“MENA report focused on the business of public transport in the MENA region by identifying the legislative, operational, funding, tariff, revenues and partnership practices in four MENA cities namely Cairo, Casablanca, Dubai and Muscat. The report detailed different types of business models adopted in the delivery of public transport service in the said four cities.”

Reflecting on the exceptional precautionary measures RTA had taken to tackle Covid-19, Al Mulla said, “Our focus has been on customer’s happiness and satisfaction. Accordingly, the Government of Dubai, employers, and private organizations launched several online media engagement and awareness initiatives to keep customers and employees engaged.

“RTA’s current focus is on the awareness of employees and customers during these times as it is very important to guide customers properly. RTA’s leadership and management relayed communication messages to employees about their safety and work at home tips to keep them engaged. Such messages aimed to maintain the business continuity and deliver services via smart apps 24/7 hours,”

he added.

“RTA was extremely concerned and focused on the compliance of both public transport riders and operators with the rules of physical distancing and the compliance with the precautionary measures enforced aboard public transport means and in stations. Commuters were obliged to wear protective face masks and public transit means underwent daily disinfection,”

noted Al Mulla.

“RTA managed to transform the crisis into a challenge, and the challenge into a promising opportunity to further improve services under such exceptional conditions, thanks to the solid cooperation with strategic partners such as government and semi-government entities as well as private companies and community members. RTA’s first defence line heroes worked day and night to support the national efforts and maintain the health of people. We attach much weight to the need for uniform policies and precautionary measures to fight Covid-19 and at the same time endeavour to improve on the level of services on offer,”

concluded Al Mulla.

News Source: https://mediaoffice.ae/en/news/2020/July/21-07/RTA-measures-to-tackle-COVID19-highlighted-in-UITP-Webinar