Transport Infrastructure Investments Driving Dubai's Growth: Al Tayer

His Excellency Mattar Mohammed Al Tayer, Director-General, Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) confirms that investment in infrastructure is the main driver of the economy of any city in the world and Dubai is no exception.

He revealed that international studies confirmed the feasibility of spending on road projects and transport systems. A British study conducted on 300 projects concluded that the economic return on each dirham invested in those projects ranged from AED1.84 to AED4.3.

Al Tayer said: “Earlier, RTA conducted a benefit-cost study of the Dubai Metro and several road projects in collaboration with a British University. The study found that the rate of benefits to costs of Dubai Metro reached 1 in 2016 (i.e. benefits covered costs). The rate was projected to reach 4.3 in 2030.

"Recently, RTA commissioned feasibility studies of improvements of Umm Suqeim Street Project and the Airport Street Project in collaboration with an international consultant.

"The study concluded that the benefit-cost ratio of improving Umm Suqueim Street was AED 8.8 (AED8.8 of benefits per AED1 of cost), whereas the benefit-cost ratio of improving the Airport Street was AED 3.8 (AED3.8 of benefits per AED1 of cost).

“The globally acknowledged congestion metric is the Travel Time Index (TTI), which measures the ratio of travel time in the city during peak time to the travel time during off-peak time.

"Thus, the smaller the index, the lesser is the congestion level. The roads and transport projects accomplished by RTA since established contributed to a TTI of 1.23 in 2019, which is superior to the TTI of 1.33 prevailing in 10 metropolitan cities with population numbers similar to Dubai such as Los Angles, Berlin, Montreal, Sydney and Rome.

“Dubai Government investments in the infrastructure of roads and transport, which amounted to AED130 billion during 2006-2019, contributed to savings amounting to AED193.3 billion in terms of time and fuel saved."

"It also contributed to reducing road accident fatalities from 22 cases per 100,000 of the population to 2.3 cases per 100,000 of population. It also reduced carbon dioxide emissions by 661 thousand tons per annum during the period 2016-2019."

“The improved mass transit systems in Dubai was instrumental in increasing the share of public transport in people mobility from 6% in 2006 to 18.3% in 2019. These indicators enhanced Dubai’s credentials and competitiveness in hosting mega-events such as Expo 2020."

RTA has constructed an Enterprise Command and Control Centre, the most advanced in the world which handles 75 million pieces of information per day.

Al Tayer adds: “RTA is proceeding ahead with the Dubai Smart Self-Driving Transport Strategy aimed at converting 25% of total mobility journeys in Dubai to smart self-driving journeys by 2030."

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