April 14, 2024
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Public Transport Insights and Innovations in the Middle East from UITP MENA

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In this special episode we have guest host, and past guest, Dr. Kaan Yildizgoz hosting a live CEO roundtable from the Modaxo booth at the UITP MENA Transport Congress and Exhibition. Kaan is joined by:

  • RenĆ©e Amilcar: President of UITP & General Manager of OC Transpo, Canada
  • Abdulla Al Marzouqi: Director General ā€“ Integrated Transport Centre (ITC), Abu Dhabi
  • Mohammed Obaid Al Mulla: Member of the Board of Directors of Roads and Transport Authority & Chair of UITP MENA Division, Dubai

Kaan and his guests talked about not only public transport in the Middle East post-COVID, but also the exciting future in what has been a very car-centric region. In previous episodes of Transit Unplugged from the Middle East, one of the most interesting things has been the interweaving of taxis into the larger public transport system. Now with autonomous taxis becoming a reality, even more exciting opportunities are happening in the region.

Now with metro systems being built across the region, as well as zero emissions fleets, the Middle East is showing its colors as one of the most innovative regions in the world.

If you have a question or comment, email us at info@transitunplugged.com.

Transit Unplugged is brought to you by Modaxo and these fine folks:

  • Dr. Kaan Yildizgoz, guest host
  • Julie Gates, executive producer
  • Tris Hussey, editor and writer
  • Tatyana Mechkarova, social media

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00:00 Welcome to the Transit Unplugged CEO Live Roundtable

00:03 Introduction from Kaan Yildizgoz

00:51 Introducing the Panelists: Leaders of Global Mobility

02:32 Exploring Post-COVID Mobility Trends and Priorities

04:18 Focusing on the Middle East: Challenges and Innovations in Mobility

10:38 The Future of Mobility: Digitalization and Autonomous Taxis

19:10 Concluding Remarks and Future Aspirations in Mobility

23:42 Thank you for listening

Transcript
Kaan Yildizgoz:

Welcome to Modaxo's Transit Unplugged CEO Live

Kaan Yildizgoz:

Roundtable, recorded live at the occasion of UITP MENA Transport

Kaan Yildizgoz:

Congress and Exhibition in Dubai.

Kaan Yildizgoz:

At this episode, industry leaders RenƩ Amilcar, Mohamed Obaid Al Mulla, and

Kaan Yildizgoz:

Abdullah Al Marzouki will discuss current trends and priorities in global mobility

Kaan Yildizgoz:

with a special focus on the Middle East.

Kaan Yildizgoz:

Join us as we delve into post COVID priorities of urban mobility, Abu

Kaan Yildizgoz:

Dhabi's 230 transportation plan, decarbonization of mobility, the impact

Kaan Yildizgoz:

of digitalization, and autonomous taxis in Dubai and Abu Dhabi.

Kaan Yildizgoz:

We hope you will enjoy this episode and gain valuable

Kaan Yildizgoz:

perspectives from influential leaders of the mobility sector.

Kaan Yildizgoz:

I would like to welcome everyone.

Kaan Yildizgoz:

So it's a, it's a great day.

Kaan Yildizgoz:

We are here in Dubai, at the occasion of UITP MENA Transport

Kaan Yildizgoz:

Congress and Exhibition.

Kaan Yildizgoz:

this event is being organized during last 10 years successfully,

Kaan Yildizgoz:

between UITP and, RTA, Dubai.

Kaan Yildizgoz:

And we are in the second day of this great event, and we are very pleased to, welcome

Kaan Yildizgoz:

all of our guests to the Transit Unplugged session taking place at, Modaxo stand.

Kaan Yildizgoz:

So today, we have three very high level speakers.

Kaan Yildizgoz:

Actually, three leaders of mobility in the world.

Kaan Yildizgoz:

let me start, first introducing, Ms.

Kaan Yildizgoz:

ReneƩ Amilcar.

Kaan Yildizgoz:

ReneƩ is my former boss, when I was working for UITP.

Kaan Yildizgoz:

So you, when I mentioned the name of ReneƩ, the sound became better.

Kaan Yildizgoz:

So maybe it was waiting, the microphone or technicians were

Kaan Yildizgoz:

waiting that I introduce ReneƩ.

Kaan Yildizgoz:

So ReneƩ is the President of UITP.

Kaan Yildizgoz:

it's the first female president of the association, which is 140 years old.

Kaan Yildizgoz:

So, welcome ReneƩ.

Kaan Yildizgoz:

Thank you for joining us.

Kaan Yildizgoz:

So, we have Mr . Mohammed Obeid Al Mulla, who is the board member of Roads

Kaan Yildizgoz:

and Transport Authority of RTA, and Mr.

Kaan Yildizgoz:

Mohammed Obeid Al Mulla is also the chairman of UITP MENA division.

Kaan Yildizgoz:

Welcome, Mr.

Kaan Yildizgoz:

Al Mulla.

Kaan Yildizgoz:

And, we have also a very important leader of transportation, from, Middle East, Mr.

Kaan Yildizgoz:

Abdulla Al Marzouqi.

Kaan Yildizgoz:

He is the Director General of Integrated Transport Centre ITC Abu Dhabi.

Kaan Yildizgoz:

Mr.

Kaan Yildizgoz:

Al Marzouqi, thank you so much, for joining us.

Kaan Yildizgoz:

So Once again, thank you to all, for joining us for the

Kaan Yildizgoz:

Transit Unplugged session.

Kaan Yildizgoz:

this is a CEO Round table that is taking place in the MENA Congress and, without

Kaan Yildizgoz:

going into the, without losing more time, I will just go with my questions,

Kaan Yildizgoz:

to our, distinguished panelists and I would like to start with ReneƩ.

Kaan Yildizgoz:

so ReneƩ, after the COVID 19, what we are observing is that we see

Kaan Yildizgoz:

that the transportation is changing a lot in all around the world.

Kaan Yildizgoz:

And what we are wondering is that how, as UITP, you are seeing the

Kaan Yildizgoz:

current trends and changing priorities about mobility in the world.

Renee:

Thank you very much, Kaan and good afternoon, everyone.

Renee:

Thank you for having me here today.

Renee:

I'm very happy to be here.

Renee:

So, we already know that, COVID 19 has impacted a lot, transit, and, what we're

Renee:

seeing now, it's, different, you know, in Europe, example, I think the ridership

Renee:

is, back now and we can, easily observe, higher ridership than, 2019, it's the same

Renee:

thing in Asia, I think, and even here, the opportunity to, to speak, with, with the

Renee:

CEO of RTA and, I know that, the ridership is, increasing very well here as well.

Renee:

Unfortunately, in America, it's a little bit different and, Canada, I

Renee:

mean, USA, and, if I can, talk about, Ottawa, where I'm working, it's very

Renee:

unfortunate because, first, we, a lot of federal workers, and those, those,

Renee:

workers were very, very engaged with the public transit because they used to go,

Renee:

they, they used to take, public transit to come to work, and now, since the

Renee:

pandemic, they're still at home, Because of those federal workers, unfortunately,

Renee:

the ridership in Ottawa is, we are still approximately seven percent, from,

Renee:

when we compare with the, the pandemic.

Kaan Yildizgoz:

I think it's very interesting what you are saying, ReneƩ,

Kaan Yildizgoz:

about the trends in mobility, and then we are observing a significant change in

Kaan Yildizgoz:

the transportation landscape, globally.

Kaan Yildizgoz:

And now, we discussed about the global changes, but now I think it's important

Kaan Yildizgoz:

to focus on the Middle East region.

Kaan Yildizgoz:

And then here we have the two leaders of the transport agencies of, of Middle East.

Kaan Yildizgoz:

I would like to start with Mr.

Kaan Yildizgoz:

Obaid Al Mulla, actually because they are the host of, this,

Kaan Yildizgoz:

this Congress here in Dubai.

Kaan Yildizgoz:

Mr.

Kaan Yildizgoz:

Al Mulla, if you focus on the situation today, particularly after COVID, What

Kaan Yildizgoz:

kind of challenges you are observing in Dubai and what are your plans for the

Kaan Yildizgoz:

future to overcome from these challenges?

Kaan Yildizgoz:

Mohammed Obaid Al Mulla: First of all, I would like to thank all of you,

Kaan Yildizgoz:

congratulate everybody for, successful of, Congress of UITP in Dubai.

Kaan Yildizgoz:

This is, last version and I think since it started, UITP, RTA from 2007 till

Kaan Yildizgoz:

now, we had, this is the last version, which is number five and I think Day

Kaan Yildizgoz:

by day, growing the public transport in Dubai and all over the world.

Kaan Yildizgoz:

It is one of the most important issues.

Kaan Yildizgoz:

It is the challenge which we are facing daily, especially when it comes to

Kaan Yildizgoz:

the development of the, manufacturer, especially focusing on the technology.

Kaan Yildizgoz:

Since I started RTA, almost, it is 20 years, and I think the development going,

Kaan Yildizgoz:

taking place, One of the major issues is the population is growing in the Middle

Kaan Yildizgoz:

East, day by day, and affecting the plan, affecting the number of buses, number

Kaan Yildizgoz:

of spaces within the public transport.

Kaan Yildizgoz:

So based on this information, RTA is planning all the time ahead for

Kaan Yildizgoz:

the future, and the technology is developing day by day, and these are

Kaan Yildizgoz:

the challenges which we are facing.

Kaan Yildizgoz:

Ready and plan for the future, even above expectation, because all the

Kaan Yildizgoz:

time, we are since it started, we are developing day and night to reach

Kaan Yildizgoz:

desirable people to satisfy them.

Kaan Yildizgoz:

On the other hand, to develop and grow with the people demand.

Kaan Yildizgoz:

These are the change, always the public transport, it is playing

Kaan Yildizgoz:

a big role in the Middle East, especially in Dubai these days.

Kaan Yildizgoz:

We are since it started, it was number of the people who use public

Kaan Yildizgoz:

transport was very small number.

Kaan Yildizgoz:

Today, we are reaching over 22 percent of the people using public transport, and

Kaan Yildizgoz:

we are very proud that's around nearly 2 million people using public transport.

Kaan Yildizgoz:

Based on the demand of the people, people requirement, and we are at the service

Kaan Yildizgoz:

of the people, and we see the level of satisfaction on the eyes of the people.

Kaan Yildizgoz:

Thank you.

Kaan Yildizgoz:

Thank you so much, Mr.

Kaan Yildizgoz:

Al Mulla.

Kaan Yildizgoz:

now we have also, Mr.

Kaan Yildizgoz:

Al Marzouqi, joining us, and it won't be wrong if I call Abu Dhabi as a rising

Kaan Yildizgoz:

star in the mobility, in the, in the region, with very important, projects.

Kaan Yildizgoz:

And then what we know is that Abu Dhabi prepared a Transportation

Kaan Yildizgoz:

Mobility Management Plan for 2030.

Kaan Yildizgoz:

So my question is to you, Mr.

Kaan Yildizgoz:

Al Marzouqi, what are the key elements of Abu Dhabi's 2030 plan regarding

Kaan Yildizgoz:

objectives about transportation?

Kaan Yildizgoz:

Abdulla Al Marzouqi: Thank you, Dr.

Kaan Yildizgoz:

Kaan for the invitation.

Kaan Yildizgoz:

And I believe that such an event is supporting all the parties in any

Kaan Yildizgoz:

equation to ensure that they are having the right, technology and, exchanging

Kaan Yildizgoz:

the knowledge and exchanging ideas.

Kaan Yildizgoz:

Regarding ITC in Abu Dhabi, we are starting our mobility strategy.

Kaan Yildizgoz:

It's built in, several pillars.

Kaan Yildizgoz:

And I believe that each pillar have opportunity to enhance the quality

Kaan Yildizgoz:

of life and at the same time create opportunity for the private sector

Kaan Yildizgoz:

and for the government to ensure that they are delivering right.

Kaan Yildizgoz:

The first pillar in our mobility strategy is sustainability.

Kaan Yildizgoz:

We are committed in UAE on the sustainability.

Kaan Yildizgoz:

We are, extend our commitment to towards sustainability.

Kaan Yildizgoz:

This is the second year of sustainability.

Kaan Yildizgoz:

After, we are hosting the COP 28.

Kaan Yildizgoz:

And, it is just to show that we are committed to sustainability

Kaan Yildizgoz:

to ensure quality of life.

Kaan Yildizgoz:

And Abu Dhabi.

Kaan Yildizgoz:

We start, I will give some example about one of the few steps we

Kaan Yildizgoz:

take regarding the sustainability.

Kaan Yildizgoz:

Already we start with our green, assessment program, which is to ensure

Kaan Yildizgoz:

that we are adapting in our, public transport electrical and hydrogen buses.

Kaan Yildizgoz:

We are targeting to have within the coming years to have Abu Dhabi as a green island.

Kaan Yildizgoz:

What do I mean by a green island?

Kaan Yildizgoz:

An island that can be served by electrical or friendly buses and public transport.

Kaan Yildizgoz:

The second pillar is safety, because the safety of people is very important.

Kaan Yildizgoz:

And this is a very, very important pillar.

Kaan Yildizgoz:

Abu Dhabi was recognized as one of the safest capitals in the world.

Kaan Yildizgoz:

And one of the responsibility to maintain this position is to

Kaan Yildizgoz:

ensure safety within the mobility.

Kaan Yildizgoz:

Third, which is I think that something to touch the life of everyone,

Kaan Yildizgoz:

how we can have smart mobility.

Kaan Yildizgoz:

Smart mobility is not about having a smart application.

Kaan Yildizgoz:

Smart mobility is to do all the operation in a very smart

Kaan Yildizgoz:

way, ensuring that efficiency, effectiveness, and ensuring added

Kaan Yildizgoz:

value for our main people in our city.

Kaan Yildizgoz:

We are, for example, in Abu Dhabi, always we are proud, even in UAE, that

Kaan Yildizgoz:

we are a big family of 200 nationalities.

Kaan Yildizgoz:

Everyone come with expectation, with a dream.

Kaan Yildizgoz:

And our duty in ITC, for example, in Abu Dhabi, to ensure that everyone have

Kaan Yildizgoz:

the right service, that can, can, from that service, he can achieve his dream.

Kaan Yildizgoz:

He feel that he is in second home.

Kaan Yildizgoz:

He can grow his family in very safe and sustainable and smart environment.

Kaan Yildizgoz:

So mobility can make your day good or can make your day bad.

Kaan Yildizgoz:

So we are targeting very small mission that every day we can, we need to make

Kaan Yildizgoz:

the, your, your mood is very good by avoiding congestion, provide alternative

Kaan Yildizgoz:

for you and easy of doing business and to reach your work in very good mood.

Kaan Yildizgoz:

So I think any boss can, have the same.

Kaan Yildizgoz:

Actually, that's a great conclusion of your

Kaan Yildizgoz:

contribution to this question.

Kaan Yildizgoz:

Actually, it's really, when I was in last time in Abu Dhabi, we were

Kaan Yildizgoz:

really seeing great projects in different fronts, especially the

Kaan Yildizgoz:

green bus program is really ambitious.

Kaan Yildizgoz:

So, thank you.

Kaan Yildizgoz:

I mean, Mr.

Kaan Yildizgoz:

Al Marzouqi for this leadership on this ambitious program.

Kaan Yildizgoz:

I think I go back to ReneƩ, because one of the key trends now what we see in the

Kaan Yildizgoz:

mobility in the world is digitalization.

Kaan Yildizgoz:

So, the agencies all around the world, they use the technology

Kaan Yildizgoz:

more and more day by day.

Kaan Yildizgoz:

So, how do you see digitalization could be helping to the

Kaan Yildizgoz:

authorities and operators in it?

Kaan Yildizgoz:

Because you were also leading a bus company in Canada.

Kaan Yildizgoz:

So, how do you use it as well?

Renee:

Thank you.

Renee:

Bus company and a light rail as well.

Renee:

So, definitely, with the COVID 19, you know, I used to compare that

Renee:

with what happened with the vaccine.

Renee:

We know that because of the COVID, a lot of good companies have,

Renee:

worked together and arrived with a vaccine very, very quickly.

Renee:

I think the same thing happened, on public transit as well because we,

Renee:

we can see now a lot of, very, good improvement and, a lot of new tools.

Renee:

And even if I compare it just with Ottawa, we didn't have the deferred

Renee:

payment, the open permit, in the past.

Renee:

And very quickly we came with that and we can pay now with our credit card or debit

Renee:

card, which is great because we don't need it anymore to exchange tickets, you know.

Renee:

And, I think definitely it's the trend.

Renee:

It's important for public transit.

Renee:

It's important as well to listen to our customers because we have

Renee:

to bring some new technologies.

Renee:

We have to bring those tools, but we have to listen to them because

Renee:

we have to accommodate them.

Renee:

And we have to make sure that they can follow us as well, because at the end of

Renee:

the day, they want to go from the point A to B and they need those technologies,

Renee:

they want them to make their lives easier, but they want as well to be non captive,

Renee:

they want to stay passive, because you know, most of the time they are still

Renee:

sleeping when they take the transit, and they want the transfer to be very easy,

Renee:

so we have to think about it absolutely.

Kaan Yildizgoz:

Thank you so much, ReneƩ.

Kaan Yildizgoz:

I think when we are talking about the technology and it is support for public

Kaan Yildizgoz:

transport, one very important mode of mobility is certainly taxi transportation.

Kaan Yildizgoz:

And then if you ask me, I mean, maybe some of you are knowing that I'm a taxi

Kaan Yildizgoz:

expert, former taxi expert of UITP.

Kaan Yildizgoz:

and then I could be easily telling you that one of the best taxis running

Kaan Yildizgoz:

in the world are here in UAE, in Dubai, in Abu Dhabi, there are very

Kaan Yildizgoz:

efficient taxi systems are being used.

Kaan Yildizgoz:

And I want to start with, I mean, Mr.

Kaan Yildizgoz:

Al Mulla on this one, because he was one of the leaders who made the transformation

Kaan Yildizgoz:

in the taxi transport in Dubai.

Kaan Yildizgoz:

I mean, what is currently the role of taxis in urban transport in Dubai?

Kaan Yildizgoz:

And then how do you see it as future?

Kaan Yildizgoz:

Because Dubai is now even also implementing autonomous, cars

Kaan Yildizgoz:

in the taxi transport and so on.

Kaan Yildizgoz:

Mohammed Obaid Al Mulla: I think, taxi industry in Dubai or in any

Kaan Yildizgoz:

place in the world playing a big role.

Kaan Yildizgoz:

For the connectivity and connecting between all the modes of transport,

Kaan Yildizgoz:

the flexible, it is a taxi.

Kaan Yildizgoz:

And, if you go any city in the world, any city, first of all, you don't

Kaan Yildizgoz:

know how, how to reach any place.

Kaan Yildizgoz:

So you, you, what you do, you get a taxi.

Kaan Yildizgoz:

And now, the taxi is affected by the technology, especially when it

Kaan Yildizgoz:

comes to the, involvement of the demand of the taxi through your

Kaan Yildizgoz:

telephone, through your mobile.

Kaan Yildizgoz:

So you, it, it's affected in deep.

Kaan Yildizgoz:

And I think limousine is playing also a big role in any city.

Kaan Yildizgoz:

The number of limousine is growing more than the taxi all over the world.

Kaan Yildizgoz:

And I think this is also the normal because of the technology is taking

Kaan Yildizgoz:

place in the pocket of the people or in the life of the people because

Kaan Yildizgoz:

you have your, your pocket is full of the, the, the information

Kaan Yildizgoz:

about the, anything you require.

Kaan Yildizgoz:

So your telephone is reaching anything based on this, I think taxi industry you

Kaan Yildizgoz:

need to have, lots of, the development in terms of the technology because technology

Kaan Yildizgoz:

is growing up everywhere in the world, so you're required to have even high

Kaan Yildizgoz:

tech, high tech, high technology for high touch, so you need to have driver also

Kaan Yildizgoz:

to be upgraded because these are the most important element that most of the area

Kaan Yildizgoz:

around the world, they're taking care of the car, they forgot about the driver.

Kaan Yildizgoz:

The driver needs also training, the driver needs also customer

Kaan Yildizgoz:

service, should be oriented.

Kaan Yildizgoz:

And on the other hand, you're required to also to focus on what's required

Kaan Yildizgoz:

on the taxi for the people demand.

Kaan Yildizgoz:

So you need to have, now I think, taxis around the world, especially in the UAE,

Kaan Yildizgoz:

playing a big role with the security.

Kaan Yildizgoz:

Because now, the taxi driver is moving around 400 to 500 up to 600 kilometers.

Kaan Yildizgoz:

So they have lots of information about everything.

Kaan Yildizgoz:

And there is also huge, involvement of, information which we transfer

Kaan Yildizgoz:

from the taxi to another organization, which is, gives a lots of information.

Kaan Yildizgoz:

These are the things, it is a part of the security.

Kaan Yildizgoz:

And I think, this is something, is a very, in advance to have in any place

Kaan Yildizgoz:

in the world to help any entities that they require Anything related to the

Kaan Yildizgoz:

maintenance, related to the street lighting, related to the also anything

Kaan Yildizgoz:

related to, to other organizations.

Kaan Yildizgoz:

Thank you.

Kaan Yildizgoz:

so much, Mr.

Kaan Yildizgoz:

Al Mulla.

Kaan Yildizgoz:

Now, I think, I want to continue with the same direction with Mr.

Kaan Yildizgoz:

Al Marzouqi, because Abu Dhabi, you are also very ambitious in

Kaan Yildizgoz:

terms of the driverless taxis.

Kaan Yildizgoz:

And then you put the first driverless taxi, if I'm not wrong, in Yas Island.

Kaan Yildizgoz:

It works now.

Kaan Yildizgoz:

I'm wondering what's the initial reaction of the riders, users about

Kaan Yildizgoz:

this driverless taxi experience in Abu Dhabi and in Maybe you can also

Kaan Yildizgoz:

add some fevers about your objectives regarding, further digitalization of

Kaan Yildizgoz:

the mobility in the city of Abu Dhabi.

Kaan Yildizgoz:

Abdulla Al Marzouqi: Thank you.

Kaan Yildizgoz:

I will, elaborate more about our, trial of having AV taxi and,

Kaan Yildizgoz:

vehicles in, one of, two area, actually in Yas Island and Sa'diyat.

Kaan Yildizgoz:

you know, the AV is, part of the future.

Kaan Yildizgoz:

Everyone, I believe, in mobility know that, AV cars is part of the future.

Kaan Yildizgoz:

And some of the cities believe that this is the far future.

Kaan Yildizgoz:

In Abu Dhabi, we believe that we need to be ready by launching that and bring

Kaan Yildizgoz:

the far future to be the near future.

Kaan Yildizgoz:

This is the reason we came with our partner to start the AV cars in Yas.

Kaan Yildizgoz:

And I will not say it's commercially, but it was fully operated.

Kaan Yildizgoz:

And our record, we ran it for more than one year.

Kaan Yildizgoz:

And this support us first enhance our regulation.

Kaan Yildizgoz:

Enhance our understanding about this technology because we saw that

Kaan Yildizgoz:

some of the technology, we keep discussing it in very high level.

Kaan Yildizgoz:

I think, put it in the trial, make everything clear.

Kaan Yildizgoz:

And this is what we did in Abu Dhabi.

Kaan Yildizgoz:

We put it in operation for one year, we collected a lot of information,

Kaan Yildizgoz:

we enhanced a lot of surface, and we believe that we are ready now by

Kaan Yildizgoz:

the regulation that already issued.

Kaan Yildizgoz:

And with the partner network we created by this trial.

Kaan Yildizgoz:

and the preparation of the team regarding the, gain of a lot

Kaan Yildizgoz:

of knowledge and the skills.

Kaan Yildizgoz:

We are ready to launch it as even commercially.

Kaan Yildizgoz:

And I believe that, you know, people, they like something new.

Kaan Yildizgoz:

You know, all the new generation, they are doing a lot of things in,

Kaan Yildizgoz:

computer, phones, AVs, whatever.

Kaan Yildizgoz:

So, I think that we are providing something.

Kaan Yildizgoz:

It will not change, by the way, the, the taxi game, or it's not game changer,

Kaan Yildizgoz:

but it's very important element will be in any city that to have the service.

Kaan Yildizgoz:

Which is already implemented in Abu Dhabi.

Kaan Yildizgoz:

Regarding the smart technology in public transport and taxi, I can, I

Kaan Yildizgoz:

totally agree with Ubaid here, that the taxi is the first, it can create a

Kaan Yildizgoz:

good impression about the city or not.

Kaan Yildizgoz:

In Abu Dhabi and Dubai, for example, one of the main, uh, users is our,

Kaan Yildizgoz:

uh, tourism that come into the city.

Kaan Yildizgoz:

And a lot of them is coming for the first time.

Kaan Yildizgoz:

So we need to ensure that usually the first comer for any city, he use the taxi.

Kaan Yildizgoz:

We need to ensure that this service is comfortable, clean, and we are

Kaan Yildizgoz:

training our driver to ensure to be our ambassador to introduce the city

Kaan Yildizgoz:

in very, very good way because they can build the impression for the people.

Kaan Yildizgoz:

You know, this is a big challenge.

Kaan Yildizgoz:

If you build a impression negative about the city, you will be not able

Kaan Yildizgoz:

to attract more visitors for your city, which is against our strategy.

Kaan Yildizgoz:

In Abu Dhabi and UAE, mainly, we are trying all the time to ensure

Kaan Yildizgoz:

that all the domains, it's ready to welcome everyone to work, to visit,

Kaan Yildizgoz:

to live in Abu Dhabi and in UAE.

Kaan Yildizgoz:

So one of them is the taxi.

Kaan Yildizgoz:

So smart taxi.

Kaan Yildizgoz:

Smart training for the drivers is something mandatory and we are keeping

Kaan Yildizgoz:

watching this in a very close manner.

Kaan Yildizgoz:

Thank you so much, Mr.

Kaan Yildizgoz:

Al Marzouqi.

Kaan Yildizgoz:

So I'm in the last round of questions, but I will not ask a

Kaan Yildizgoz:

specific question in the last round.

Kaan Yildizgoz:

I would like to ask our speakers, in case you have any additional points that you

Kaan Yildizgoz:

would like to raise, maybe we can do a very quick tour, if there is anything

Kaan Yildizgoz:

that you want to add on, on what we discussed before we close, ReneƩ, maybe.

Kaan Yildizgoz:

Any message that you would like to give as a UITP president before we close?

Renee:

Thank you very much.

Renee:

For sure I would say continue to the excellent job that you are doing because

Renee:

this is why we exist and it's important to, to bring people from their cars

Renee:

to buses and all technologies, all new buses that will help us very much.

Renee:

Thank you very much for being here and advocating for public transit.

Renee:

It's a very important as well.

Renee:

Mohammed Obaid Al Mulla: Thank you very much.

Renee:

First of all, I would like to A very important message for the, everyone that

Renee:

public transport, whether people they like or they don't like, at the end,

Renee:

public transport will take responsibility at any city because most of the people,

Renee:

they're facing a lot of challenges.

Renee:

And I think with any city require, a backbone, which

Renee:

is the most important issue.

Renee:

It's the metro.

Renee:

On the other hand, without metro, without metro, bus cannot, cannot work.

Renee:

Without bus, metro cannot work.

Renee:

So these two modes of transport, it's interrelated, so require both of them

Renee:

should be in any city, and then you cannot evaluate any city without metro.

Renee:

So that means backbone.

Renee:

On the other hand, taxi and limousine and monorail and also the

Renee:

other mode of transport is helping these major two towards any city.

Renee:

So the bus require dedicate line to reach on punctuality, taking responsibility

Renee:

of the time, taking responsibility of the comfortability, affordability,

Renee:

also something very important.

Renee:

Any city to want to be succeed, they need to have to make

Renee:

successful the public transport.

Renee:

Public transport require also huge, dedicate line.

Renee:

On the other hand, I would like to mention that Dubai also facing the, in the future.

Renee:

taxis, and maybe it goes to other modes of transport.

Renee:

And I think in the future also, because of the technology is getting developed

Renee:

every day, day by day, so maybe bus, the metro, the tram, the other mode, the

Renee:

limousine, and also taxis will take place in the city, in the city without driver.

Renee:

Not now, but in the future.

Renee:

Abdulla Al Marzouqi: Thank you.

Renee:

Thank you.

Renee:

I want first to mention that In Abu Dhabi we have a big aspiration, we have a big

Renee:

objective, and as any city, when any city identifies itself and where it needs

Renee:

to be positioned in the rank of all the cities, mobility comes as main pillar to

Renee:

identify the experience within the city.

Renee:

In Abu Dhabi and ITC we are committed to provide and to enhance our mobility

Renee:

experience and for that we are, we are.

Renee:

We are coming to this event.

Renee:

We are asking you to support us by building a strength partnership.

Renee:

And I believe that the future, they mentioned that if you

Renee:

want to go fast, you go alone.

Renee:

If you want to go far, you go together.

Renee:

So I'm requesting everyone participating in this event and UITP is to come together

Renee:

in Abu Dhabi and UAE Let's walk far in this journey about what the level of

Renee:

mobility we need to create in our city.

Renee:

Let's go far, and we are ensuring that in ITC we are willing to listen for a

Renee:

new idea, to adopt any new technology, and to whatever enhance the experience

Renee:

in Abu Dhabi, we are committed to discuss and explore and to do it,

Renee:

to bring it to the capital of UAE.

Renee:

So, Please, you are most welcome to come to ITC, to Abu Dhabi, let's go

Renee:

together, let's go far in this journey and to achieve something maybe the first

Renee:

time achieved in the mobility sector.

Renee:

Thank you.

Kaan Yildizgoz:

Thank you so much, Mr.

Kaan Yildizgoz:

Al Marzouki, Mr.

Kaan Yildizgoz:

Al Mulla, Ms Amilcar and I would like to ask a round of applause

Kaan Yildizgoz:

from our, participants for our distinguished, panelists and speakers.

Kaan Yildizgoz:

Before I close, actually, I also want to thank them them on behalf of

Kaan Yildizgoz:

Transit Unplugged at the Modaxo that is hosting, the Transit Unplugged.

Kaan Yildizgoz:

and what I can tell is that you will be able to visit the Transit

Kaan Yildizgoz:

Unplugged website that you can be, later on, listen, this, this, this,

Kaan Yildizgoz:

this panel, discussion and we will have, a paper about the summary of

Kaan Yildizgoz:

what was discussed here to share and disseminate with The further people.

Kaan Yildizgoz:

. Tris Hussey: Hi, this is Tris Hussey editor of the Transit Unplugged podcast.

Kaan Yildizgoz:

Thank you for listening to this special bonus episode.

Kaan Yildizgoz:

The live CEO round table recorded at UITP MENA Transport Congress and

Kaan Yildizgoz:

Exhibition that was held in Dubai.

Kaan Yildizgoz:

Now stay tuned because we have another special episode that was recorded at

Kaan Yildizgoz:

the UITP MENA conference and expo.

Kaan Yildizgoz:

It'll be coming up later this month in April.

Kaan Yildizgoz:

If you want to stay in touch with everything that's going on with Transit

Kaan Yildizgoz:

Unplugged on social media or newsletter or Transit Unplugged TV, make sure

Kaan Yildizgoz:

you visit trends and unplugged.com.

Kaan Yildizgoz:

You can sign up for the newsletter.

Kaan Yildizgoz:

Check out our social profiles and catch up on some episodes you

Kaan Yildizgoz:

might have missed in the past.

Kaan Yildizgoz:

Transit Unplugged is brought to you by Modaxo.

Kaan Yildizgoz:

At Modaxo, we're passionate about moving the world's people.

Kaan Yildizgoz:

And at Transit Unplugged, we're passionate about telling those stories.

Kaan Yildizgoz:

So until next time, ride safe and ride happy.