Belhasa to operate driving institute

In a bid to encourage privatisation, the Dubai Modern Driving Institute (DMDI) run by the Dubai Police is being leased to the Belhasa Driving Centre (BDC) from Saturday. The contract was signed on Tuesday between the two bodies, that will now see the driving centre being run privately.

Saif Ahmed Belhasa, chairman of BDC, said that Dubai Police and Brigadier Abdul Rahman Rafeeq, Director of the Traffic Department, are keen on privatisation. He said: "The premises will stay the same and registration of students will commence from September 10."

The existing staff of the institute have been transferred to the Traffic Department, and BDC will be hiring new employees to replace them.

Belhasa said that DMDI was operating at a low-key level until now but he hopes to make it a more large scale operation. He intends to start with around 40 cars and increase it to 200 vehicles and an equal number of instructors in a year's time.

The lease is a five-year contract and is automatically renewable, said Belhasa. He added that the centre will be able to cater more effectively to students from Jebel Ali, Dubai Internet City, Jumeirah, Karama and Bur Dubai.

Students will be provided transport facilities from all locations to attend their classes at the driving institute, according to Belhasa.