Work on the Dubai Metro project is continuing on schedule. Trial runs will commence within three or four months and in September 2009, the first of these driverless trains will be whizzing across Dubai.
"The trial run is crucial to ascertain the operational readiness of the train and ensure functionality of all control systems under various working conditions," said Mattar Al Tayer, Chairman of the Board and Executive Director of the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), when he recently inspected the progress of the Jebel Ali Depot Project, which occupies 110,000 square metres and is now about 60 per cent complete.
But what happens when the metro is in operation? How will it affect cars?
Will the Metro improve people's lives and ease traffic woes? Will some of them stop using their cars and take the Metro? Will automobile dealers experience a slump in sales?
People's opinion
Fatma Al Midfa, Branch Manager Emirates Bank International, which employs a large number of UAE nationals, says, "I don't think we will use the Metro immediately after it starts.
Maybe after all the lines are in operation and we hear from people using it that the Metro is convenient and good, we might revise our opinions.
We like our cars we will not let go of them." Hussain Haidery, photo journalist who moves around Dubai constantly on photo assignments says, "I am going to use the Metro 100 per cent.
I can save a lot of money that I now pay for parking and Salik. I need not be scared of fines too. But I will still use my car to travel inter-emirate." Hugh Bigley, General Manager of Deco Interiors, loves the idea of the Metro and will definitely be using it.
He says, "If you look at the scenario in Bangkok, when the Skytrain was introduced they had many reservations, but now everyone wants to live near Skytrain stations.
I think that is what will happen to Dubai also. The Metro will bring down the number of cars on the road and will become the favourite mode of transport."
Financial sense
Nancy Abar, Accounts Executive at Dulsco, says, "I will continue driving as the Metro does not connect Satwa to Al Quoz where I live and work.
Those who live in Bur Dubai and Deira near Metro stations probably will use the Metro more." Rami Halawani, Group Account Director at ASDA'A considers the Metro a great idea. "If I can get from the airport to Jebel Ali and not bother about car parking that will be wonderful.
The authorities will have to take into consideration the practicality and the financial factor for Metro users to make the Metro popular.
And I will not stop driving my car altogether." Janardhan Krishnan, Product Manager in Gulf Scientific Corporation, is not very optimistic about his lot when the Metro comes as he lives in Sharjah and works in Jebel Ali.
"I will continue driving, as the Metro is not going to help me or many others who live in Sharjah. Driving to the Metro station, probably paying for parking your car, then paying to go in the Metro and then taking a taxi to your workplace doesn't make financial sense.
"Nadege Noblet, Assistant General Manager of MPJ, says, "I will definitely be using the Metro because I am staying beside a station in Al Barsha and my new office will be near another station in Jumeirah Lake Tower.
I will be using my car less thereby contributing less toxic emissions to the environment."
Jassim Al Awadhi, Managing Director of Dubai Security Group, is disturbed about the number of cars and traffic jams on Dubai roads.
He is also concerned that youngsters with no knowledge of safety procedures on the roads while driving or not are given licences to drive.
He feels that students should be taught such things right from school so that they are responsible drivers on the road.
He says, "I will use the Metro more than my car.
Everyone in Dubai must make use of it. They have to be made aware about the convenience and environment-friendly nature of the Metro. If it keeps some of the impatient drivers off the road, I consider that a big success of the Metro."
A. J. Kamal, General Manager of Western Auto says that the Metro will not affect the business of the company.
"We provide transportation for labourers and school children and that will not be affected by the Metro. I believe that the transportation services in Dubai will improve and it will soon be like that of Hong Kong. But cars will be very much on the roads."
Car lovers Yasser Al Sayed, Call Centre Agent at Trading Enterprises says, "I don't think anything will change where sales of cars are concerned.
We will continue to be popular with buyers." Ahmed Makled, Manager of Bin Daher Enterprises that represents Seat cars, puts it thus, "We sell sporty, trendy, high quality, high performance and high technology European cars and our customers, who enjoy driving their cars will not stop buying them when the Metro comes.
If the Metro does affect sales, it will only be a very limited one on sales of a certain category of cars." While almost everyone is sure that the Metro will change the way people commute, all agree that cars will not disappear from Dubai. The love of cars is a longstanding one and the Metro, however beautiful, smooth, convenient and quick it may be, will be challenged to change that.
