Transport

A big part of the emirate’s economic strategy is based around aviation. Building up good air connections is key to its bid to position itself as a regional business centre, attract growing numbers of tourists and, more generally, to enhance its image abroad.

One of the largest projects currently under way in Abu Dhabi concerns maritime transport. Khalifa Port (KP), a new facility to replace the emirate’s current main port of Mina Zayed, opened in September 2012, together with a new integrated industrial complex known as Kizad. These facilities are aimed at revolutionising Abu Dhabi’s transport and...

Putting a definitive end to the historic reliance on road vehicles for land transport prevalent in both the UAE and the wider Gulf region, a state-backed firm is currently in the process of building an ambitious national rail network that will significantly expand and improve freight and – in the longer term – passenger transport options across the...

For much of recent history, the emirate’s position has made it a hub for air travel. The city’s aviation history stretches as far back as 1937, when Dubai reached an agreement with the British government allowing Imperial Airways to land flying boats on the Dubai Creek in between buoys. The British carrier used the location for important flight...

Using a combination of central location and advanced infrastructure to attract trade operators from around the world, Dubai has successfully carried on its legacy as an shipping point between East and West. After the discovery of oil in 1966, the emirate benefitted from increased revenues, which authorities used to invest in upgrades to the...

If all goes according to the transport authorities’ plan, by 2030 30% of trips taken in the emirate will be handled by public transit – more than triple the 9.5% for recorded in mid-2011. Owned and operated by the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), Dubai’s public transit system includes local buses, inter-city buses, marine transport and a two-...