The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has worked out a comprehensive plan for managing the traffic movement and mass transit means in Dubai as part of preparations for serving the needs of the public and road users during the upcoming Eid al-Adha holiday. The objective is to deliver best-in-class services, and avail the public access to safe and smooth transport aboard public or private means.

Engineer Maitha bin Udai, CEO of RTA Traffic and Roads Agency, and head of the team responsible for the management of traffic movement and handling of operational plans during annual events, said: "The RTA has worked out operational plans for serving riders during the holiday of Eid al-Adha; which always experiences traffic congestion. The plan is focused on Burj Khalifa district, where 55 directional signs will be installed to guide the traffic in several directions from and to Burj Khalifa district. It covers Oud Metha Road through Al Asayel Road, which has recently been opened, bridges of Zabeel across Al Sa'ada Road, or the internal roads network at the Business Bay district up to the Sheikh Zayed Road, and Al Khail Road to ease the pressure on the Financial Centre Road. The traffic signs will be monitored to ensure the smooth traffic flow during peak hours; the light signals on the Financial Centre Road will be monitored and controlled at the Financial Centre Road to achieve optimal traffic flow."

Handling Traffic Movement Maitha anticipated that the traffic flow on the Financial Centre Road to improve this time around as alternative entry and exit points have been added to the road which has recently been opened for traffic from and to Burj Khalifa. As a contingency for the lack of parking spaces in Dubai Mall after being fully occupied, visitors will be directed to alternative parking spaces (Zabeel Park parking lot, Al Jafiliya Station parking area). In this regard a new bus route will be opened to commute the public to the Dubai Mall.

Timing and Facilities The CEO of Traffic and Roads Agency stated that a team of competent engineers and inspectors would be fully ready to make any emergency repairs within the Emirate during the Eid holiday, and wished a pleasant and accident-free holiday for all community members.

In this regard the RTA is also launching an extensive campaign to promote the environmental safety within the right-of-way covering streets, open yards, parking slots, bridges, tunnels and the locality of affiliated projects. The campaign comes in the context of partnering with the community in Eid al-Adha festivities and the need to turn out the city in the best shape for the occasion. It also reflects RTA's commitment to nurture a clean, safe and pure environment to the satisfaction and convenience of residents and visitors of the city, particularly as Dubai attracts huge numbers of visitors and tourists from within the UAE and abroad during Eid holidays and other events.

Adel Shakri, Director of Planning and Business Development, head of the public transport in the team responsible for the management of traffic movement & the handling of operational plans during annual events, said: "10 standard buses will commute to the public from and to Dubai Mall and Al Jafiliya Metro Station. Bus operation time will be from 8.00 pm up to 12.00 midnight during the first three days of Eid al-Adha."

Shakri urged the public to use the smart app "Sharekni"; which has been launched, enabling individuals to share vehicles in traveling around the city in a bid to slash the number of vehicles on Dubai roads, offer smooth mobility, and reduce tailbacks at areas where Eid celebrations take place.

Coordination with Franchise Companies As regards the taxi sector Shakri said: "We have coordinated with the franchise companies in the Emirate (Dubai Taxi, Cars Taxi, Arabia Taxi, National Taxi, Metro Taxi and City Taxi) to ensure the operational efficiency of taxis such that the number of taxicabs operated during Eid al-Adha holiday is not less than 95% of the taxi fleet (9341 vehicles). Besides that, taxicabs will be distributed to Dubai districts, especially tourist sites, malls & festivity areas.

"All limo companies will be allowed to lift riders during Eid days from malls witnessing high density visitors, such as the most prominent tourist destination the Dubai Mall. The Booking and Distribution Centre will be ready to offer 24-hour service for clients by receiving booking requests, deploying Hala Taxi cabs to serve clients of the centre, and establishing a link between the Centre & staffs at site in support of external events as well," added Shakri.

The Dubai Taxi Corporation has set up an ad hoc team to provide administrative support during Eid al-Adha to serve the needs of all customers, visitors, service users, motorists and taxi riders. Alternatives plans and mini teams have been set up to support the main team as required by the nature of services. Plans include supporting Dubai Airports (T1, 2 and 3 in addition to Al Maktoum Airport), Dubai Mall, Metro Stations and different events in the Emirate in coordination with the customers' service section at the Agency and other entities such as the Civil Aviation, Dubai Airports and the Booking & Dispatch Centre at the RTA.