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Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has signed an agreement with Emirates Desert Group for constructing two Truck Stops (Rest Stops) at Dubai Industrial City (near Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Rd) and Dubailand (near Emirates Rd) under the Public Private Partnership (PPP) Model. The agreement, which is the first of its kind in Dubai, fulfils all stipulations of the Dubai Public-Private Partnership Law No (22) for 2015.
HE Mattar Al Tayer, Director-General and Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of RTA signed for RTA, and HE Khalifa Mattar Al Mazroui, Chairman of Emirates Desert Group, signed for on behalf of the Group in the presence of several officials from both parties.
Al Tayer was delighted with the agreement under which the Company will construct and operate two Truck Stops. Each facility spans an area of 5000 hectares and can accommodate 100 trucks, and provides service amenities to meet the needs of both trucks and drivers including a technical testing centre.
“Through constructing these facilities, RTA aims at minimizing the practice of parking trucks on highways and in residential areas, besides meeting the growing demand for the service.” he explained.
“Trucks make about 145 thousand trips per day in Dubai lifting about three million tons a day. The two stations will step up the traffic safety, reduce associated accidents, and improve the traffic movement during the prohibited timings of trucks movement. The project also demonstrates RTA’s keenness to engage the private sector in constructing infrastructure and service projects.”
“The project generates additional financial income source for RTA through sharing proceeds with the investor and at the same time avail the investor a chance to diversify its investment projects portfolio. It also enables improving the quality of public services, transferring knowledge & expertise from the private to the public sector, and training government employees on managing and following up this sort of long-term projects through BOT Model,” added Al Tayer.
Glimpse into Future
“RTA gives paramount attention to land transport in view of its immense role in driving the economic development. It has commissioned comprehensive studies of trucks movement in Dubai involving field surveys, interviews and workshops. RTA has developed a schematic chart anticipating the traffic movement in future and examined the need for dry ports and cargo assembly centres. Studies also covered the existing prohibited truck movement policy, prohibited timing & routes, truck-dedicated roads, and organisational aspects relating to traffic management and goods movement in Dubai,” concluded Al Tayer.
HE Khalifa Mattar Al Mazroui, Chairman of Emirates Desert Group, said, “Investing in the development and operation of Truck Stops is part of the investment strategy developed by the Group at the highest standards. These Stops will be environment-friendly, meet the needs of the local market, and contribute to the improvement of land projects. The project complies with the relevant standards and guidelines and sets a model for all Stops to be constructed in future. Such type of projects will support the sustainable development and make the UAE among the global pioneers in establishing Rest Stops for heavy vehicles.
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