Dubai’s Transport Infrastructure Projects Save $60b Between 2006-2020
His Excellency Mattar Mohammed Al Tayer, Director-General, Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) revealed that the massive investments of the Dubai Government in improving the infrastructure of roads and transport contributed to saving about $60 billion in terms of time and fuel wasted through traffic congestions during the period 2006-2020.
In contrast, the total investment in the improvement of roads and transport during the same period amounted to $40 billion.
Al Tayer made these statements in his keynote speech to the 18th IRF (International Road Federation) World Meeting and Exhibition, entitled: Roads to Tomorrow: Dubai’s Pathway to Sustainable Mobility.
Attendees of the session included several high-ranking officials as well as representatives of concerned entities.
Numbers and Achievements
Al Tayer reviewed the elements of excellence in managing infrastructure projects, which form part of the key drivers of the sweeping development and the economy.
Al Tayer said: “Under the directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President, Prime Minister of the UAE, Ruler of Dubai, and His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of the Executive Council, and His Highness Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, RTA has achieved mega projects in a record time highlighted by the Dubai Metro project, which had been delivered in just four years, and the Dubai Water Canal project that had been completed in less than three years.
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“We have more than doubled our road network from 8,715 in 2006 to 18,255 lane km in 2020 and increased the number of vehicle bridges and tunnels 5 folds from 129 in 2006 to 844 in 2020.
"Similarly, we have increased the number of pedestrian bridges and tunnels by 4 times from 26 to 125 around the same time and extended our cycling track network from 9 km in 2006 to 463 km in 2020, and is expected to reach 668 km by 2025.
“RTA’s projects have cemented the competitiveness of the UAE, which had consequently been ranked no. 1 in Road Quality Worldwide for 5 years in a row.
"RTA’s joint efforts with the General HQ of Dubai Police have reduced road accident fatalities from almost 22 cases to 1.8 cases per 100 thousand during the period 2006-2020 and reduced pedestrian fatalities per 100,000 population from 9.5 to 0.5 between 2007 and 2020.”
In his speech, Al Tayer touched on the efforts of the Dubai Government to achieve sustainable urban development in the context of the human-centric Dubai Urban Plan 2040 aimed to improve the wellbeing of people and make Dubai the best city for living in the world.
According to the plan, 55% of the expected population will live within 800 meters of metro stations. It adopts a “20-minute city” concept to allow residents to access 80% of daily services within 20 minutes by walking and cycling. 60% of the Emirate’s total area will be nature reserves and rural areas.
Al Tayer concluded by emphasising that Dubai’s journey of excellence in the field of roads and transport is underpinned by key success factors, the most important of which are effective leadership, clear vision, making the right and timely decisions as His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, said: “We are building a new reality for our people, a new future for our children, and a new model of development.”
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