They were also acquainted with the sophisticated systems in use; which are aligned with the highest global standards.

The delegation was received by Ahmed Mohammed Mahboob, Director of RTA Customers Service, who stressed the importance of these visits, considering them as key channels of achieving the single common objective of enhancing the business conduct which would be made possible through exchanging expertise with various entities across the UAE, and reviewing the best practices capable of enhancing the performance and achievement drive.

“RTA successes have made it a point of attraction for many others seeking to benefit from its advanced practices and cutting-edge programmes,” he noted.

“The Customer Service Centers feature high on the priority of the Dep’t as they are the front-end of the RTA and a point of communication between the community segments and all RTA officials. These centers provide a holistic range of diverse services that include responding to customer inquiries, and furnishing callers with a constant flow of information that concern them. Such offering is made through a sprawling network of centers spanning the Emirate enabling customers process their transactions in a handy manner without having to wait for long. After all, Customer Service Centers play a huge role in receiving customer feedbacks and constructive inputs that contribute to the enhancement of the business processes and the overall performance of RTA agencies,” added Mahboob.

The meeting was interceded by a visual presentation illustrating all sections of Customers Service Department focusing on the work mechanism of various affiliated branches and centers in Dubai along with the key services provided.

It also touched on the Call Center and its crucial role in giving a clear vision and proper destination for callers from different community segments in responding to their inquiries.

It also highlighted the careful employees’ selection mechanism in place at the Center covering assessing the professional competencies in establishing proper communication with others with a view to raising the profile of the RTA.

The Customer Service Team escorted the delegation in a tour of RTA’s Call Center as well as Umm Al Ramool Customer Service Center, and acquainted them with the latest systems in use at these sites aimed at maximizing customers’ satisfaction.

At the end of the meeting, the delegation members lauded the visit as it offered them exposure to vital and rich information about the job nature of RTA Customer Service Centers along with the applicable regulations and laws.

They stressed the importance of such meetings in strengthening the cooperative links between the two sides and exchanging expertise to leverage the business performance.

Mohammad Yousuf Al Mudharreb, Director of the Unified Automated Fare Collection at RTA Corporate Technical Support Services Sector, stressed the importance of expanding the selling points of Nol cards to serve the largest possible segment of public transport users, particularly with the launch on 9 September last year of the Dubai Metro Green Line; which played a crucial role in integrating mass transit network in Dubai, and serving numerous landmarks & key business spots in the Emirate.

“To implement this Decision, the Unified Automated Fare Collection Dep’t at RTA Corporate Technical Support Services Sector increased the number of selling outlets of various types of Nol cards following the signing bilateral agreements with Al Fardan Exchange, Al Maya Group, and Aswaq; which are amongst the leading business entities with extensive selling outlets across the UAE. Accordingly Nol cards will be available for selling at 39 outlets at Al Fardan Exchange, 30 outlets at Al Maya Group, and 7 outlets at Aswaq,” announced Al Mudharreb.

“The new selling outlets will be subject to the same terms & conditions applicable to other selling outlets since the initial offering of Nol cards; which include a stipulation of maintaining a unified price at all existing and new selling outlets.

“The RTA is always seeking to open new channels & outlets for the delivery of services & products in collaboration with a plethora of government, semi-government and private entities to keep abreast of the growing demand for RTA services by public transport users in Dubai Emirate. We have high regards for the role to be played by Al Fardan Exchange, Al Maya Group, and Aswaq as they sprawl the entire Emirates of the country,” said the Director of the Unified Automated Fare Collection in a concluding remark.

It is note-worthy that RTA has launched a special offer involving a 50% discount on personalized Nol Blue Cards on the first of January and runs through the last day of February 2012.

Cargo-Partner is one of the largest forwarding companies with private European ownership in this region. It runs a solid network of subsidiaries in Europe, USA, China, Hong Kong, Singapore, Thailand, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Malaysia and the Middle East.

Services offered by Cargo-Partner in Bahrain range from common transport business including air and sea cargo, road transports as well as insurance and customs brokerage services. Furthermore some warehouse facilities are available.

Mr. Stefan Krauter, CEO of the Cargo-Partner Group said: “Bahrain’s strategic location in the heart of the Gulf along with the proximity to the region’s largest market Saudi Arabia was one of the main reasons that made us decide to have a presence in Bahrain. Further advantages are the Kingdom’s world class logistics infrastructure and excellent road network. Bahrain offers a well established open economy and an easy access to a pool of educated and productive workforce along with a liberal and advanced ICT infrastructure, which makes the Kingdom a business friendly environment.”

Cargo-Partner has opened its first office in the GCC region in Jebel Ali in 2010, this was followed by offices in Dubai and Bahrain. These offices are run by well experienced management and operations team offering competitive services to the customers.

Cargo-Partner is an international forwarding company, represented in the whole world and specialized in providing complex services in the area of transport and warehousing. The fast growth has been achieved by providing air, sea and road transports for international and domestic customers. Services of Cargo-Partner are also focused on the optimization of storage capacities.

The Cargo-Partner group is present around the world with more than 100 offices and 2,400 employees in 29 countries and achieved a 2011 turnover of 470 million Euros.

Thisagreement comes as a result of the combined efforts between ADPC and ADT to provide IRSHAD with an allocated land area anddedicated berthsto supportthe construction and management of the Zakumoffshore oilfield project.

Commenting on the signing, Capt. MohamedJuma Al-Shamisi, Vice President PortsUnit at the Abu Dhabi Ports Company, said: “It gives ADPC great pleasure to facilitate and support the construction and management of one of the world’s largest offshore living structures.This agreement is an additional testament to ADPC’s role in providing its partners with the facilities required for the success of their projects and businesses.”

Martijn Van de Linde, Chief Executive Officer of Abu Dhabi Terminals, stated: “We are pleased and proud to sign this agreement. Not only does it facilitate IRSHAD’s business, but it is also a testament to the continued strong cooperation between ADPC as the regulator and port authority, and ADT as the operator to create a joint value proposition that helps Abu Dhabi’s businesses grow and develop.”

Khalifa Al Qubaisi, General Manager of IRSHAD, said:

“It is an honour and privilege to be part of this new business venture with ADPC and that we, Abu Dhabi Petroleum Ports Operating Company(IRSHAD),express our eagerness to developthe new temporary terminal at the New Free Port in Mina Zayed which is expected to be completed by June 2012as well as providing2 new passenger vesselsthat will transport up to 400 people daily to and from the Zakum field.”

The two parties are looking at diversifying and pursuing commodities along with short sea shipping of containers to and from Vancouver Island.

The current commodities handled at the three berth Port of Nanaimo facilities consist of traditional forest products along with salt and kaolin. The facility also handles cruise ship passengers at a newly built berth opened for the cruise season 2011.

Today, Vancouver Island is one of the world’s highest population, non-road connected islands without any lo-lo (lift-on, lift-off) container terminal facilities, instead relying on inefficient ro-ro (roll on, roll off) services. The short sea shipping project will ensure greater connectivity for trade to and from Vancouver Island.

DP World currently operates more than 60 marine terminals around the world, including general cargo and container handling facilities, as well as cruise terminals.

Bernie Dumas, President, Nanaimo Port Authority said: “We are very pleased to be working with DP World over the coming years. The port wants to import and export a greater variety of commodities and our agreement with DP World with its extensive experience in both container and commodity handling allows us to explore new business opportunities and to reduce our reliance on a single market.”

Matthew Leech, Senior Vice President and Managing Director, DP World, Americas, said:

” At DP World we have extensive global experience and expertise that we will apply at the Port of Nanaimo to help customers expand their businesses efficiently, contributing to the growth of the local economy in Vancouver and Canada as a whole. We are excited to be given the opportunity to expand our capability in this growing and dynamic market and look forward to working in partnership with the Port of Nanaimo into the future.”

According to the Deputy Director of Vehicles Licensing Abdullah Abdul Rahman, a number of rules and regulations have been drawn up in line with the principles applicable in the Emirate of Dubai which aim at protecting the rights of all concerned parties.

“These controls have been developed in the light of the Decision issued by HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Dubai Crown Prince and Chairman of the Executive Council, regulating the trading in vehicles number plates; which have prompted us to work out an integrated work plan in coordination with the Department of Economic Development in Dubai to conclude to an optimal implementation of the Decision,” he said.

To start with, traders in vehicles licensing plates have to obtain the required permit for practicing this business from the Department of Economic Development, following which they can interact online through RTA portal and follow the steps leading them to obtain a full permit for practicing this line of business. They will be enabled to open their own files and add the previously owned plates to the newly acquired ones to streamline the selling & buying process with their potential customers. Hence this e-permit will be the first of its kind in the Emirate of Dubai; which echoes our on-going initiatives to enhance our online drive in keeping with the customer needs.

“These new controls, which will be put into effect early this year, are set to generate a huge positive response among the traders of vehicles number plates as they will enable them the possibility of obtaining an unlimited number of plates from the RTA compared to the previous situation where they can obtain only a number of plates,” said the Deputy Director of Vehicles Licensing in a concluding remark.

A number of traders in vehicle number plates taking part in the meeting commended these insightful decisions and rules being developed by the RTA in cooperation with the Department of Economic Development in Dubai aimed at achieving the best deliverables that satisfy the needs of all parties in a hassle-free environment.

Ahmed Mahboob, RTA Director of Customer Service, said, “We are continuously endeavouring to provide best-in-class services and figure out best solutions to clients for the timely clearance of transactions as required, without delay. This has prompted us to divert the tasks entrusted to our centers - including Umm Al Ramool Main Center, Al Tawar Municipal Center, Deira Licensing, Al Karama Municipal Center, Al Barsha Center, Al Manara Municipal Center, Al Al Ittihad Co-op - Al Safa, Al Awir Licensing, and Financial Services Center at the Head Office - to other alternative centers affiliated to our partners/stakeholders where customers can have their transactions processed.”

Mahboob named the alternative centers that will be receiving and processing customer transactions, which include: Tasjeel Al Qusais, Tasjeel Jebel Ali, Tasjeel Al Warsan, EPCO Hatta, Tasjeel Al Barsha, Tasjeel Awir, Shamil Al Aadid, Shamil Muhaisna, Shamil Nad Al Hamar, Al Kindi Company “Tamam”, Wasel Belhasa, Wasel vehicles Inspection, and The Automobile and Touring Club of the UAE. A large number of electronic services will also be available, besides the Call Center’s toll-free number 8009090, or through some insurance companies and eyesight testing centers.

“A forum will be organized to communicate with some 130 customer service center’s employees during the centers’ closure day. This forum is an integral part of the “We are all at front end” program aimed at communicating with officials and employees to uplift the business conduct, and improve all services capable of enhancing RTA’s strategic goals highlighted by “Customers’ first,” noted the Director of Customer Service.

To brief employees on various events, the Forum will include a visual presentation on the nature and achievements of customer service along with the effective and diverse role it plays across various community spectrums. Another presentation will review the results of customer satisfaction surveys, and the mystery shoppers, in a addition to communicating with human resources towards responding to employees’ queries, and holding various quizzes echoing the Forum’s theme: “We are all at front end”.

Last year, Emaar estimated that around half a million people had congregated in the Downtown area to watch a midnight fireworks display at the Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest building.

However, congestion at Dubai Metro stations and gridlock on the roads – particularly around Defence Roundabout – meant that thousands opted to walk home.

This year, the RTA has announced that the Metro will be running services on the Red Line every three minutes between 12am and 5.30am. In addition, extra gates have been installed at Burj Khalifa station, and the agency says it has also streamlined movement at the Financial Center and Business Bay stations.

 To ease congestion in the Downtown area, the RTA has also set up a park and ride scheme, creating around 10,000 parking spaces at several sites including Meydan, Dubai World Trade Center and Zabeel Park, all of which will be served by 63 extra buses.

There will be an extra 4,000 taxis deployed during the night.

“The Boulevard Street at Burj Khalifa will be closed once the parking slots are full to avoid potential traffic congestions in the area,” said RTA chairman and executive director Mattar Al Tayer.

“RTA will also reset the programmed timing of the key light signals on the Financial Center Street to fit the traffic volumes generated during the peak hours, and deploy makeshift virtual messaging signs on the main roads to alert commuters about the condition of the parking space in Dubai Mall.”

The agency will be hoping that the new precautions will avoid a repeat of last year, which saw the public transport system overwhelmed by the sheer weight of traffic.

“The staff at the Metro could not handle the load and hurriedly shut down operations a couple of hours after midnight,” one visitor told Arabian Business.

“Given the limited capacity of the train itself, there were hundreds stranded outside the stations – old people in wheelchairs and babies in strollers. It was freezing and the roads were jammed with traffic. As a result, no-one got a cab lift.”

A statement to this effect was made during a recent visit made to the RTA by the delegation members who were received by Dr. Khalid Mohammed Al Zahid, Director of Development & Corporate Performance at the Strategy & Corporate Governance Sector as well as several employees of the Dep’t. The visiting delegation comprised of Prof. Moustafa Hassan, Dean of e-School of Health & Environmental Studies; Dr. Souma Al Haj, Director of e-TQM Institute; and Nadia Kamali, Director of Marketing and Communication.

“The RTA always stands ready to receive delegations from government, semi-government and academic institutions to exchange ideas & visions and share with the best practices adopted by the RTA at world-class standards in all fields with a view to enhancing the performance, honing skills and furthering the expertise of the concerned parties in a way that contributes to better customer service experience,” said Dr. Al Zahid.

The Director of Development & Corporate Performance was delighted with the visit of the delegation of the Hamdan Bin Mohammed e-University as it commands a nation-wide respectable reputation, particularly in the fields of Excellence & Quality. He reiterated the importance of leveraging the partnership and permanent cooperation with the academic institutions in general and those specialized in excellence & quality in particular.

Members of the Hamdan Bin Mohammed e-University briefed the staff of RTA Development & Corporate Performance Dep’t on several global awards in the field of leadership excellence, and outlined the conferences & events being held in this line of the industry in Dubai. They also touched on key educational programs offered by the HBMeU to interested students, especially those relating to Excellence & Quality. Meanwhile, the delegation commended the strategic achievements & initiatives already made or being made by the RTA in mass transit system and all affairs pertinent to this vital service sector.

The Dubai Health Authority (DHA) reports states that accidents in Dubai account for 63 per cent of all child deaths, which is higher than the global percentage of 22.3 per cent. Drawing insight from this statistic and in line with RTA’s vision of “Safe and smooth transport for all”, the campaign goes to ensure safety of children while traveling.

Mr. Yousef Al Ali, Acting CEO, Dubai Taxi Corporation said: “There has been complete coordination achieved between DTC’s various departments and Babyshop for the implementation of this campaign with child car seats having been successfully distributed to over 50 taxis. Also, Babyshop helped greatly in providing training to taxi drivers on the proper procedure of installing child seats to maintain safety norms.

“The promotion of this initiative will occur through advertisements placed on all taxis. We hope that the future will see child seats fitted into every car that transports children thus keeping them safe and out of harm’s way.”

Specifically available in cabs for families and ladies; customers can now request for these special car seat equipped taxis by contacting the booking and dispatch center at 04-2080808.

Vinod Talreja, CEO of Babyshop said: “Babyshop is very pleased to partner with the Dubai Taxi Corporation and Road and Transport Authority to ensure child safety on the road since traffic accidents have been reported to be the leading cause of infant mortality in the UAE.

“Despite the fact that most modern vehicles are equipped with child safety features; it is important to take certain precautionary steps that go beyond fastening the seatbelt. We have been concentrating our efforts to design a number of functional products that ensure children’s protection while providing them with highest levels of safety when travelling.  At Babyshop, we have the largest number of brands of car seats under one roof including Graco, Maxi Cosi, and Ferrari, while Safety First and First Years are brands which have an array of additional products. Our collaboration with DTC and RTA marks one in a series of our child safety campaigns since 2005.”

The partnership has also led to the launch of booklets featuring practical information and tips on the safety of children in vehicles including the type of car seats available for the front seat, instructions on the installation of child seats in vehicles and also safety guidelines for children inside and outside of the vehicle. 

Copies of these booklets in Arabic and English have been distributed to all Babyshop stores throughout the Emirates with logos of the Dubai Taxi Corporation and Graco Corporation, the retail distributor of child car seats to baby shops.