Dubai transport award to cover all emirates

Dubai: The Dubai Award for Sustainable Transport (Dast) will now accept applications from across the UAE instead of being confined to Dubai.

Shaikh Hamdan Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of the Executive Council, directed to hold the fourth edition of the Dast organised by the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) along that line.

Shaikh Hamdan also directed to broaden the categories to cover the entire UAE, following three editions which were limited to Dubai.

Dast is a true manifestation of the Dubai Strategic Plan, which is aligned with the emirate's vision in the field of infrastructure, lands and environment. It also epitomises RTA's strategic goals of protecting lives, safeguarding properties, conserving the environment and natural resources, and improving the safety level.

Solid base

Mattar Al Tayer, Chairman of the Board and Executive Director of the RTA, said: "The decision to broaden the scope of the awards to span all emirates of the country culminates the successes made by the awards over the past three editions limited to Dubai. It underscores RTA's attention to diffuse the culture of sustained transport across the UAE, and pave the way for the largest possible contribution by authorities, organisations and entities operating in the UAE towards establishing a solid base for sustainable transport concept together with all associated benefits to the environment and public health alike."

The awards aim at educating and encouraging community organisations to play an active and positive role in supporting RTA's efforts to achieve its sustainable transport objectives, highlight the role of the RTA in establishing partnerships and boosting cooperation with all organizations, and bring the issue of sustainable transport to the core attention and concern of local entities and media.

"RTA is seeking to uplift the business of the Higher Dast Organising Committee to keep pace with the huge development resulting from all RTA projects and initiatives.

Evolution

"The award has witnessed expansion and evolution across the board, and excellence has become a theme for all the past three editions. The number of participants has soared remarkably in every round, and more opportunities are being offered to a large number of government and semi-government bodies as well as private businesses to contribute to the advancement of sustainable transport in Dubai and shape the future of the emirate in line with RTA's efforts in this field," he said.

Categories: Sustainable transport

Dubai Award for Sustainable Transport (Dast) currently comprises five key categories:

- Special Needs Transport category meant to address the mobility requirements of special needs persons

- Mobility Management focuses on the applied practices and initiatives that contribute to boosting the use of various types of transport modes

- Conserving the Environment intended to minimise the impact of mass transit modes on the environment

-  Transport Safety concerned with the initiatives and practices that contribute to raising the security and safety of mass transit users

- School Transport aimed at encouraging the managements of schools and companies in the School Transport Sector to care for the safety and security of school buses

In its second edition, the Award approved two new categories under Special Recognition — the Best Media Coverage; which is aimed at promoting the knowledge of the Award, and the Best Academic Research in the field of Sustainable Transport.

— Staff Report