RTA’s Higher Organizing Committee of the Dubai Award for Sustainable Transport (DAST) has announced the extension of the deadline for receiving submissions from public, semi-public and private entities across the UAE to November 15th, 2018. RTA has taken this step in response to several requests received from public and private entities across the UAE interested in making submissions to the forthcoming 11th edition of the Award.

“RTA opted to extend the deadline for the submissions to DAST to allow more time for submissions and enrich the Award as well. The Committee has completed several stages in preparation for this year’s edition of DAST,” said Abdul Rahman Al Janahi, Secretary General of DAST.

“Registration in various categories of DAST is made simple through the Award’s website (https://www.dastawards.com/). The procedure saves time & effort and consolidates the Smart Government practices advocated by the Dubai Government to facilitate transactions for all customers. Our intention is to bring happiness to people, and enrich their DAST experience rendering it a smooth, useful and enjoyable exercise,” he added.

“Through launching this Award, RTA intends to hit several objectives including educating & encouraging individuals and social organisations to play an active role in supporting the fruition of RTA’s objectives of improving the infrastructure and public transport means. The award contributes to highlighting the leading role of RTA in bolstering the partnership with various entities & strategic partners in the fields of transport, safety and conserving the environment.

“Objectives sought by RTA through the Award include highlighting the importance of sustainable transport to make it part of the key concerns of various business organisations. It seeks to raise the awareness, sense of responsibility and the initiative spirit amongst various community segments particularly firms and establishments. The Awards aim to support successful initiatives in the fields of mobility, safety & environment and promote them across the business community. They also intend to motivate creativity, pioneering spirit and initiatives in a host of mobility aspects to maximise the benefit of all parties,” continued Al Janahi.

DAST consists of two main divisions: Main Categories and Special Categories. Main categories comprise four awards; the first is Mobility Management Award, which focuses on applied practices & initiatives that have contributed to raising the efficiency of using various mass transit systems. The second is the Mobility Safety Award, which is concerned with practices & initiatives that contribute to raising the security & safety of riders of various transit means. The third is the Environmental Conservation Award, which is devoted to any practice or initiative capable of reducing the negative impact of transit systems on the environment. The fourth is People of Determination Initiatives Award.

The special categories comprise four awards as well; the first is the Best Academic Research Award for academicians submitting the best research on sustainable transport. It is open to all community members, provided that the scientific research standards are complied with. The second is the Best Student Project Award; which relates to the best students project in the field of sustainable transport in the UAE in the field of sustainable transport. The third is the Best Media Coverage Award; which targets members of media who made the best media coverage of sustainable transport nation-wide. The fourth award is the Best Media Team Award; which aims at identifying the media team that has made the best coverage of sustainable transport across the country.