Dubai: Urban planners and transport experts from across the world are in Dubai for the third UITP MENA Transport Congress and Exhibition that starts today.
Organised jointly by the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) and the UITP (International Association of Public Transport) the three-day event will see more than 70 speakers from 21 countries addressing various sessions, while the accompanying exhibition features exhibitors from 17 countries.
Being held at the Dubai World Trade Centre, the event will kick off with a keynote address by Brent Toderian, an international thinker and expert of urban planning and sustainable transport.
The opening session will also see Mattar Al Tayer, RTA’s Director General and Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors and Pere Calvet, President, UITP, addressing the gathering.
During the session, the winners of the Public Transport Hackathon will be honoured.
“The UITP Mena Transport Congress and Exhibition is one of the biggest gatherings of public transport industry. It brings together transport officials, policymakers, legislators, developers, consultants, operators and manufacturers under one roof to examine futuristic solutions for public transport means,” said Al Tayer.
RTA also hosted two previous editions of the congress in 2014 and 2016.
“Over three days, the congress will discuss a host of issues related to public transport in developing countries, management and funding of public transport, use of energy, school transport, and creativity in delivering public transport services,” added Al Tayer.
The event includes four key sessions, eight parallel sessions, and three specialist sessions involving the participation of 70 speakers from 21 countries.
Topics under discussion include the provision of excellent services, improving governance and regulation, finance means and management, adoption of modern technologies, safety and security systems, reducing carbon emissions, cycling, happiness and smart services among others.
The line-up of speakers includes Dr Abdullah Mohammad Bel Haif Al Nuiami, Minister of Infrastructure Development; Dr Hisam Arafat, Minister of Transport, Egypt; Saad Al Khalb, Deputy Minister of Transport, Saudi Arabia; Rumaih Al Rumaih President, Public Transport Authority, Saudi Arabia; Dr Aisha Bin Bishr, Director General, Smart Dubai Office; Dr Abdullah Al Karam, Director-General and Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of the Knowledge and Human Development Authority in Dubai; Khaled Al Hogail, Chairman of the Executive Office of the UITP Mena and Director General of SAPTCO, Saudi Arabia.
