59th UITP Congress and Mobility & City Transport Exhibition opens today

Under the auspices of HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice-President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, the 59th UITP (International Association of Public Transport) Congress and Mobility & City Transport Exhibition held under the theme “Boosting Public Transport: Action!” for the first time in the Middle East & North African Region, opens this morning (Sunday April 10th).
His Excellency Mattar Al Tayer, Chairman of the Board and Executive Director of the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), welcomed the participants and attendants of the Congress & Exhibition saying: “Under the leadership of HH Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, and his brother HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice-President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, the UAE has witnessed extensive growth in all fields shaping it into a key commercial hub with a robust and diverse economy. The UAE succeeded in attracting many investors and business leaders, thanks to its global horizon, free economic enterprise policy, focus on delivery of best-in-class services and its excellent infrastructure in all fields; particularly in transport sector which has culminated in the opening of the Dubai Metro and the commencement of Al Ittihad Rail Project.
“The UITP Congress is the pinnacle of transportation and public transport events worldwide, and the UAE has won the privilege of hosting the Congress following a fierce competition with Melbourne (Australia) and Singapore; both cities have an excellent record in transport and public transport field. Thus the UAE has become the first country in the Middle East and North Africa to win the right of hosting this Congress since the UITP was founded more than a century ago. Staging of the Congress in Dubai underpins the confidence of the international organizations and entities in the ability of Dubai to host global conventions and exhibitions, and throughout the days of the Congress Dubai will be a focal point of public transport policy makers across the globe.