Dubai: Dubai’s best taxi drivers and most frequent users of public transport walked away with rewards on the 13th Public Transport Day on Thursday.

Mattar Al Tayer, Director General and Chairman of the board of Executive Directors of Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) honoured 50 distinguished drivers from Dubai Taxi Corp and franchise companies under the annual Taxi Drivers Excellence Award held by the RTA for the best drivers.

Driver Mohammad Zuwaid Shaiper, from the Dubai Taxi Corporation, was honoured for his positive attitude and assisting a person in obtaining a parking ticket.

The award intends to motivate taxi drivers to excel in serving customers, step up compliance with the job and traffic rules, and boost customers’ satisfaction rating.

Al Tayer also awarded the five most frequent public transport users from the general public and people of determination as well.

Two winners tied in the first position. Elizalde Belarmino and Mohammad Abdul Kader (People of Determination) got Dh25,000 each.

The third winner was Cesar Medina, the fourth was Anvarm Sadath, and the fifth was Ali Al Jaber (people of determination).

Additionally, Al Tayer honoured the five most frequent public transport riders amongst RTA employees, based on the period between October 22 and November1.

The winner was Ahmad Fatouh Sulaiman who got Dh20,000, and the runner-up was Nabeel Ebrahim Syed Abu Taleb who received Dh15,000.

The third was Al Tayeb Al Zeer Al Tayeb, the fourth was Khaled Abdul Aziz Mahmoud Al Borno, and the fifth was Mohammad Esmail.

The winners of quizzes on the Public Transport Day were also honoured at the event.

Al Tayer noted that the support and guidance of Dubai’s leaders was the key driver of RTA’s successes.

Celebrating the day which commemorates the 13th anniversary of RTA, the authority also honoured its strategic partners comprising public entities and media organisations in recognition of their efforts and effective contribution to RTA’s drive.

Al Tayer thanked the strategic partners for their efforts and support, rendering RTA one of the most advanced and excellent entities at the local and international levels.

He also commended the role of various types of mass media in briefing the public about the projects and initiatives of RTA. He pledged to elevate this partnership to the next level of enhanced communication and coordination in delivering the vision of our government.