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Steeds on show at Arabian Horse Championships
Arabia's finest stallions were put on display at the Dubai International Arabian Horse Championships
Dubai to get 100 pedestrian bridges by 2012
More than 100 pedestrian bridges by 2012 will include 47 metro station bridges when all the Metro stations on the Red and the Green Line open by the end of 2011.
Dubai will have more than 100 pedestrian bridges within the next two years, as stated in Gulf News.
The move comes as part of Dubai Pedestrian Safety and Mobility Action Plan launched by the Dubai Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) at the end of 2008. The plan involves infrastructure and policy improvements to create a safe walking culture.
The three-year-goal of the plan is to reduce pedestrian accidents by 30 per cent and achieve an increase of 20 per cent in pedestrian traffic by 2012.
"We are well on track as we will have around 100 pedestrian bridges in addition to tens of dozens of normal crossings by 2012 compared to 16 pedestrian bridges in 2007," a senior RTA official told Gulf News.
He added that the RTA built eight pedestrian bridges in 2008, bringing the total number to 22. The number of pedestrian bridges increased to 40 by the end of 2009, including the bridges linked to the Dubai Metro stations.
The official said that construction on at least 16 pedestrian bridges is on the cards. There are slight changes in the specifications and the completion time has been extended. The more than 100 pedestrian bridges by 2012 will include 47 metro station bridges when all the Metro stations on the Red and the Green Line open by the end of 2011.
Most of the new bridges will be air-conditioned and have escalators and elevators. Existing crossings will be replaced with new ones in phases.
"Our long-term vision is to have ‘zero fatalities' with regard to pedestrian fatalities from the road network," the official added.
According to RTA statistics, 69 pedestrians were killed on Dubai Roads in 2001. There were 145 deaths in 2007, which accounted for 44 per cent of the total road fatalities.
Pedestrian fatalities dropped 27 per cent to 106 in 2008 and fell to 70 in 2009, thanks to new pedestrian bridges and zebra crossings equipped with signals.
"Reduced pedestrian fatalities is a big achievement and we are well on target to make Dubai pedestrian-friendly city," said the official.
Pedestrians have been warned that crossing the road in undesignated areas, especially on a road that has a speed limit above 80 km per hour, carries a fine of Dh200.
Mattar Al Tayer, Chairman of the Board and Executive Director of the RTA said: "The excellent cooperation and coordination between the RTA and the Ministry of Interior, Dubai Police General HQ and driving institutes has resulted in a drop in traffic accidents fatality rate in Dubai from 21 cases per 100,000 of population in 2005 to about 12.7 cases per 100,000 cases of population in 2009."
Source
Dubai will have more than 100 pedestrian bridges within the next two years, as stated in Gulf News.
The move comes as part of Dubai Pedestrian Safety and Mobility Action Plan launched by the Dubai Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) at the end of 2008. The plan involves infrastructure and policy improvements to create a safe walking culture.
The three-year-goal of the plan is to reduce pedestrian accidents by 30 per cent and achieve an increase of 20 per cent in pedestrian traffic by 2012.
"We are well on track as we will have around 100 pedestrian bridges in addition to tens of dozens of normal crossings by 2012 compared to 16 pedestrian bridges in 2007," a senior RTA official told Gulf News.
He added that the RTA built eight pedestrian bridges in 2008, bringing the total number to 22. The number of pedestrian bridges increased to 40 by the end of 2009, including the bridges linked to the Dubai Metro stations.
The official said that construction on at least 16 pedestrian bridges is on the cards. There are slight changes in the specifications and the completion time has been extended. The more than 100 pedestrian bridges by 2012 will include 47 metro station bridges when all the Metro stations on the Red and the Green Line open by the end of 2011.
Most of the new bridges will be air-conditioned and have escalators and elevators. Existing crossings will be replaced with new ones in phases.
"Our long-term vision is to have ‘zero fatalities' with regard to pedestrian fatalities from the road network," the official added.
According to RTA statistics, 69 pedestrians were killed on Dubai Roads in 2001. There were 145 deaths in 2007, which accounted for 44 per cent of the total road fatalities.
Pedestrian fatalities dropped 27 per cent to 106 in 2008 and fell to 70 in 2009, thanks to new pedestrian bridges and zebra crossings equipped with signals.
"Reduced pedestrian fatalities is a big achievement and we are well on target to make Dubai pedestrian-friendly city," said the official.
Pedestrians have been warned that crossing the road in undesignated areas, especially on a road that has a speed limit above 80 km per hour, carries a fine of Dh200.
Mattar Al Tayer, Chairman of the Board and Executive Director of the RTA said: "The excellent cooperation and coordination between the RTA and the Ministry of Interior, Dubai Police General HQ and driving institutes has resulted in a drop in traffic accidents fatality rate in Dubai from 21 cases per 100,000 of population in 2005 to about 12.7 cases per 100,000 cases of population in 2009."
Source
Countdown to the Dubai World Cup
It's the world's richest horse race attracting the creme de la creme of the racing community and it's back.
Celebrating 15 years of racing action and off-track style, The Dubai World Cup is the "must-attend" event on the social calendar.
Recognised on a global scale as an annual event just as much about fashion and style as the racing, it's not only the horses who grab the limelight.
A new home, fancy new hotel, spa and restaurants, The Dubai World Cup also marks the official launch of Meydan - the shiny new race course which replaces Nad Al Sheba.
Expect an opening extravaganza featuring a sensorial, historical and emotional journey through Dubai's history, equine heritage and the creation of Meydan.
Better yet, look forward to a breath-taking firework display courtesy of Phil Grucci - the man behind the pyrotechnics at the Beijing Olympics and the opening of Atlantis The Palm.
Recognised on a global scale as an annual event just as much about fashion and style as the racing, it's not only the horses who grab the limelight.
A new home, fancy new hotel, spa and restaurants, The Dubai World Cup also marks the official launch of Meydan - the shiny new race course which replaces Nad Al Sheba.
Expect an opening extravaganza featuring a sensorial, historical and emotional journey through Dubai's history, equine heritage and the creation of Meydan.
Better yet, look forward to a breath-taking firework display courtesy of Phil Grucci - the man behind the pyrotechnics at the Beijing Olympics and the opening of Atlantis The Palm.
Water scarcity and quality remain biggest problems
The biggest problem with water is, and will remain, scarcity and quality says Dr Rashid Ahmad Bin Fahd, Minister of Environment and Water
Dubai: UAE residents are still among the largest water consumers in the world, with a daily consumption of around 550 litres per day three times the global average, according to experts.
The biggest problem with water is, and will remain, scarcity and quality said Dr Rashid Ahmad Bin Fahd, Minister of Environment and Water. Speaking to commemorate World Water Day, Bin Fahd said water is essential for urban development and plays a fundamental role in life.
World Day for Water is celebrated by the General Assembly of the United Nations every March 22. The slogan being observed for 2010 is, "Clean Water for Healthy World".
The day aims to raise awareness on the sustainable ecosystems and human well-being and addressing the growing challenges in the field of water management in order to achieve better water quality.
"The issue of water quality and the rationalisation of consumption is not only the responsibility of the State and all its bodies, but also certainly the responsibility of all residents. Children should be taught within the family the importance of non-pollution of water and correct the wrong behaviours that cause waste and extravagance of this vital resource," he said.
"The emphasis is also on the private sector to conserve water and minimise pollution during industrial activities."
Bin Fahd added that governments, organisations and communities all over the world should be encouraged to assume proactive roles on this issue and act to prevent pollution and set up clean-up activities.
To save water the ministry has constructed 114 dams to store a capacity of 118 million cubic metres of water. It is estimated that 19.2 million cubic metres of water per year is needed to feed the aquifers with fresh water.
Desalination, a necessary but energy-intensive technology, produces 1.3 billion cubic metres of fresh water to meet the needs of the population and industry. Around 400 million cubic metres of water is produced from treated greywater to irrigate parks.
In collaboration with the International Centre for Biosaline Agriculture, the ministry is looking to develop fodder grown in saline water.
The Emirates Wildlife Society, in association with the World Wide Fund for Nature, which launched the ‘Heroes of the UAE' water campaign, urging residents to adopt simple tips to reduce their water wastage, just a few simple changes could save each household up to 46 per cent, or 252 litres of water per person.
Source
The biggest problem with water is, and will remain, scarcity and quality said Dr Rashid Ahmad Bin Fahd, Minister of Environment and Water. Speaking to commemorate World Water Day, Bin Fahd said water is essential for urban development and plays a fundamental role in life.
World Day for Water is celebrated by the General Assembly of the United Nations every March 22. The slogan being observed for 2010 is, "Clean Water for Healthy World".
The day aims to raise awareness on the sustainable ecosystems and human well-being and addressing the growing challenges in the field of water management in order to achieve better water quality.
"The issue of water quality and the rationalisation of consumption is not only the responsibility of the State and all its bodies, but also certainly the responsibility of all residents. Children should be taught within the family the importance of non-pollution of water and correct the wrong behaviours that cause waste and extravagance of this vital resource," he said.
"The emphasis is also on the private sector to conserve water and minimise pollution during industrial activities."
Bin Fahd added that governments, organisations and communities all over the world should be encouraged to assume proactive roles on this issue and act to prevent pollution and set up clean-up activities.
To save water the ministry has constructed 114 dams to store a capacity of 118 million cubic metres of water. It is estimated that 19.2 million cubic metres of water per year is needed to feed the aquifers with fresh water.
Desalination, a necessary but energy-intensive technology, produces 1.3 billion cubic metres of fresh water to meet the needs of the population and industry. Around 400 million cubic metres of water is produced from treated greywater to irrigate parks.
In collaboration with the International Centre for Biosaline Agriculture, the ministry is looking to develop fodder grown in saline water.
The Emirates Wildlife Society, in association with the World Wide Fund for Nature, which launched the ‘Heroes of the UAE' water campaign, urging residents to adopt simple tips to reduce their water wastage, just a few simple changes could save each household up to 46 per cent, or 252 litres of water per person.
Source
