Dubai Informer
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Friday, November 23, 2007
Soon, one will not have to pay in cash to a taxi driver or for using buses but just ‘flash’ the card before a machine and go one’s way.
The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) in Dubai yesterday announced the introduction of a Unified Automated Card Project which would cover all modes of transport, including buses, taxis and abras, and parking.
The project costing Dh102 million would be completed in phases. The project is being handled by Electronic Document Centre (EDC).
The fourth quarter of 2008 would see its introduction in buses, taxis, abras and waterbuses. Phase two would see the Dubai Metro also starting to accept the card.
RTA sources told Khaleej Times that there would be a system at a later stage in which the same card could be used to buy things like movie tickets and fill petrol.
According to the RTA officials, there would be two types of cards. One, known as the plastic cards, would be for people who use public transport services on a permanent basis. The second, called the Paper Ticket, would be for a short term basis valid upto a maximum of one week.
Ali Mahdi, Director of the Unified Automated Card of Transport Systems, said, “The cost of the cards has not been decided yet.”
The system works like this. If a person is travelling in the metro, he would just need to wave the card in front of a machine near the exit gate when he is coming out. The machine would automatically calculate the fare and deduct the amount from the card. Once the money in the card is over, one can top it up just like the phone cards. “Recharging could be done in any of the metro and bus stations,” Ali Mahdi said.
He said the parking metres in Dubai would also be upgraded so that the cards could be used.
“We are not going to change the existing system at the moment. Gradually, we would stop the manufacture of the existing parking cards. The new cards would replace them,” added the official.
“This card is safe, difficult to counterfeit and modelled on worldwide practices. In the future, it could be sold at the commercial outlets, petrol stations and ATMs. This will make it accessible to our customers and enhance their confidence in the services delivered by the RTA,” said Mattar Al Tayer, Chairman of the Board and Executive Director of the RTA.
Ali Mahdi said the top-up method would be made easier. “Facilities will also be provided for ‘auto top-up’ where cards are linked to a designated credit or debit account of the cardholder for debiting the recharge amount. Internet top-ups will also be available.”
All transactions, including sales, top-up and usage transactions, would be processed through a central clearing house operated under the direct control of RTA, through the Unified Card Department, said the official.
The unified card service would be launched for public buses, water buses, taxis and parking metres in the fourth quarter of 2008.
In the third quarter of 2009, the unified card would be launched in Dubai Metro, whereas in the fourth quarter of 2009, more customer care-related services would be introduced on the web, including online recharging (topping up) and automatic reloading to start using the same card on the Metro.
The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) in Dubai yesterday announced the introduction of a Unified Automated Card Project which would cover all modes of transport, including buses, taxis and abras, and parking.
The project costing Dh102 million would be completed in phases. The project is being handled by Electronic Document Centre (EDC).
The fourth quarter of 2008 would see its introduction in buses, taxis, abras and waterbuses. Phase two would see the Dubai Metro also starting to accept the card.
RTA sources told Khaleej Times that there would be a system at a later stage in which the same card could be used to buy things like movie tickets and fill petrol.
According to the RTA officials, there would be two types of cards. One, known as the plastic cards, would be for people who use public transport services on a permanent basis. The second, called the Paper Ticket, would be for a short term basis valid upto a maximum of one week.
Ali Mahdi, Director of the Unified Automated Card of Transport Systems, said, “The cost of the cards has not been decided yet.”
The system works like this. If a person is travelling in the metro, he would just need to wave the card in front of a machine near the exit gate when he is coming out. The machine would automatically calculate the fare and deduct the amount from the card. Once the money in the card is over, one can top it up just like the phone cards. “Recharging could be done in any of the metro and bus stations,” Ali Mahdi said.
He said the parking metres in Dubai would also be upgraded so that the cards could be used.
“We are not going to change the existing system at the moment. Gradually, we would stop the manufacture of the existing parking cards. The new cards would replace them,” added the official.
“This card is safe, difficult to counterfeit and modelled on worldwide practices. In the future, it could be sold at the commercial outlets, petrol stations and ATMs. This will make it accessible to our customers and enhance their confidence in the services delivered by the RTA,” said Mattar Al Tayer, Chairman of the Board and Executive Director of the RTA.
Ali Mahdi said the top-up method would be made easier. “Facilities will also be provided for ‘auto top-up’ where cards are linked to a designated credit or debit account of the cardholder for debiting the recharge amount. Internet top-ups will also be available.”
All transactions, including sales, top-up and usage transactions, would be processed through a central clearing house operated under the direct control of RTA, through the Unified Card Department, said the official.
The unified card service would be launched for public buses, water buses, taxis and parking metres in the fourth quarter of 2008.
In the third quarter of 2009, the unified card would be launched in Dubai Metro, whereas in the fourth quarter of 2009, more customer care-related services would be introduced on the web, including online recharging (topping up) and automatic reloading to start using the same card on the Metro.
Labels: Dubai, Dubai Metro, Holiday, Society
Tuesday, November 13, 2007
Plane sales soared to new heights in the first two days of the Dubai Airshow, with orders topping $80 billion (about Dh293 billion) on Monday.
Deals for the purchase of more than 515 aircraft were announced at the world's third largest aerospace event. They include two letters of intent by Dubai Aerospace Enterprises (DAE) involving 200 aircraft, split between Airbus and Boeing and the rest are firm orders including options.
The number of firm orders reached 206 including Emirates's 93, Qatar Airways's 57, Air Arabia's 34 and Saudi Arabian Airline's 22, and about 103 were options at last count. These exclude the DAE's 200 which are not firm orders.
European manufacturer Airbus secured more orders, 310 out of the 515, while Boeing managed 205.
"Day Two sent the show's record sales tally soaring when Dubai Aerospace Enterprise signed a $13.5 billion (about Dh49 billion) letter of intent with Airbus for up to 100 aircraft, which included an associated deal with Rolls-Royce for Trent XWB engines to power the A350 XWBs," organisers said.
"Within hours DAE capital went on to sign a letter of intent for 100 aircraft, worth approximately $13.7 billion (about Dh50 billion) with Boeing, for 70 Boeing 737 next generation aircraft and 30 widebody planes with the price incorporating a deal with General Electric for engines to power the aircraft."
Boeing won an order, worth around $972 million, (about Dh3.5 billion) for six additional 787-8 Dreamliners from Dubai-based LCAL, an aircraft leasing company.
Emirates set the stage with its $34.9 billion (about Dh128 billion) orderbook for 131 Airbus and 12 Boeing planes, closely followed by a $13.5 billion (about Dh49 billion) order for 57 Boeing aircraft with 30 on option.
Deals for the purchase of more than 515 aircraft were announced at the world's third largest aerospace event. They include two letters of intent by Dubai Aerospace Enterprises (DAE) involving 200 aircraft, split between Airbus and Boeing and the rest are firm orders including options.
The number of firm orders reached 206 including Emirates's 93, Qatar Airways's 57, Air Arabia's 34 and Saudi Arabian Airline's 22, and about 103 were options at last count. These exclude the DAE's 200 which are not firm orders.
European manufacturer Airbus secured more orders, 310 out of the 515, while Boeing managed 205.
"Day Two sent the show's record sales tally soaring when Dubai Aerospace Enterprise signed a $13.5 billion (about Dh49 billion) letter of intent with Airbus for up to 100 aircraft, which included an associated deal with Rolls-Royce for Trent XWB engines to power the A350 XWBs," organisers said.
"Within hours DAE capital went on to sign a letter of intent for 100 aircraft, worth approximately $13.7 billion (about Dh50 billion) with Boeing, for 70 Boeing 737 next generation aircraft and 30 widebody planes with the price incorporating a deal with General Electric for engines to power the aircraft."
Boeing won an order, worth around $972 million, (about Dh3.5 billion) for six additional 787-8 Dreamliners from Dubai-based LCAL, an aircraft leasing company.
Emirates set the stage with its $34.9 billion (about Dh128 billion) orderbook for 131 Airbus and 12 Boeing planes, closely followed by a $13.5 billion (about Dh49 billion) order for 57 Boeing aircraft with 30 on option.
Saturday, November 03, 2007
A talking point at the new Raffles Dubai will be the Raffles Sky Garden, its one-hectare-large tropical garden.
Located on the third level of the hotel, it features 129,090 plants including the Traveller’s Palm which has long been associated with the Raffles name.
The garden, designed by Singapore Garden City, comprises of four themed garden areas, based on the four essential elements of life: fire, wind, water and earth.
Flowers in fiery crimson and luscious reds make up the fire garden, while bamboo, weeping willows and ferns that bend in the breeze feature in the wind garden, and low-growing shrubs dominate in the Earth garden. The Water garden houses a stream that gathers into a pond, where a display of water hyacinth takes centre stage.
Paths around the four themed gardens will allow residents to wander through Raffles Sky Garden and enjoy the array of tropical plants.
The gardens converge on the centrepiece, The Eye of Horus, a large glass dome that looks into Café Raffles, adjacent to Wafi City Mall.
Planning for Raffles Sky Garden commenced in 2005. More than 70 per cent of the garden’s plants come from Asia, with the remaining from Dubai.
“Our residents have often commented how much they appreciate the landscaped gardens at other Raffles properties, such as Raffles Hotel Singapore and Raffles Grand Hotel d’Angkor in Siem Reap,” said Diana Ee-Tan, managing director, Raffles Hotels & Resorts.
“Raffles Sky Garden, with its exceptional concept and location, will be well-loved by residents and patrons at Raffles Dubai. With this unique feature, and the high standards of hospitality, service and cuisine that Raffles is renowned for, Raffles Dubai will become a treasured landmark in the Middle East.”
Located on the third level of the hotel, it features 129,090 plants including the Traveller’s Palm which has long been associated with the Raffles name.
The garden, designed by Singapore Garden City, comprises of four themed garden areas, based on the four essential elements of life: fire, wind, water and earth.
Flowers in fiery crimson and luscious reds make up the fire garden, while bamboo, weeping willows and ferns that bend in the breeze feature in the wind garden, and low-growing shrubs dominate in the Earth garden. The Water garden houses a stream that gathers into a pond, where a display of water hyacinth takes centre stage.
Paths around the four themed gardens will allow residents to wander through Raffles Sky Garden and enjoy the array of tropical plants.
The gardens converge on the centrepiece, The Eye of Horus, a large glass dome that looks into Café Raffles, adjacent to Wafi City Mall.
Planning for Raffles Sky Garden commenced in 2005. More than 70 per cent of the garden’s plants come from Asia, with the remaining from Dubai.
“Our residents have often commented how much they appreciate the landscaped gardens at other Raffles properties, such as Raffles Hotel Singapore and Raffles Grand Hotel d’Angkor in Siem Reap,” said Diana Ee-Tan, managing director, Raffles Hotels & Resorts.
“Raffles Sky Garden, with its exceptional concept and location, will be well-loved by residents and patrons at Raffles Dubai. With this unique feature, and the high standards of hospitality, service and cuisine that Raffles is renowned for, Raffles Dubai will become a treasured landmark in the Middle East.”
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