Dubai, 10 April 2011. The 59th World Congress and Exhibition of the International Association of Public Transport (UITP), hosted by the Dubai Roads & Transport Authority (RTA), was officially inaugurated today in the presence of HH Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. Under the slogan ‘Boosting public transport: Action!’, the event is a key milestone of the UITP ‘PTx2’ strategy, which aims at doubling the public transport market share worldwide by 2025.

Only two years after the launch of ‘PTx2’ at the 58th UITP World Congress and Exhibition in Vienna, many cities and organisations around the world have already taken up the challenge and are working towards doubling the public transport market share worldwide by 2025. The 2,000 delegates from 80 countries and the 300 exhibitors coming from 37 countries are gathering in Dubai to assess the achievements made so far towards PTx2.

“With growing urbanisation, cities will be stuck if we do nothing. Public transport is a vital part of the solution as it alleviates congestion, helps the planet breathe, connects everyone everywhere and empowers the economy,” said Alain Flausch, UITP President. “The 59th UITP Congress and Exhibition is a key milestone in the UITP ‘PTx2’ programme and marks a global move towards more sustainable cities.”

His Excellency Mattar Al Tayer, Chairman of the Board and Executive Director, Roads & Transport Authority stated: “Since the RTA was established in 2005, our goals have been simple but ambitious. We want to increase our public transport market share from 8% in 2010 to as much as 30% in 2020 and develop mass transit modes with the aim of making them the favourite means of resident mobility across the city. The future holds more projects including an integrated rail network of around 300km of additional rail lines, a comprehensive bus line and service improvement plan and a comprehensive marine passenger transport plan. These plans in addition to our efforts directed to the implementation of different relevant transportation policies will help us achieve our challenging public transport mode share target. Dubai increased its ridership by 90% over five years increasing the number of passengers who used public transportation from 163 million in 1995 to 309 million in 2010.”

“Dubai was selected to host the UITP 59th World Congress and Exhibition because it is at the heart of one of the most promising regions in terms of public transport development, namely the Middle-East and North Africa region. It is one of our PTx2 champions,” said Hans Rat, UITP Secretary General.

“For the industry, ‘PTx2’ is an excellent prospect which we support wholeheartedly because it will generate more business and more jobs in our branch,” said Hartmut Schick, Head of Evobus, Daimler Buses and Chairman of the UITP Industry Assembly.

The 59th UITP World Congress and Exhibition is taking place at the Dubai World Trade Center from 10 to 14 April 2011.

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Notes to Editors

UITP (International Association of Public Transport) is the international network for public transport authorities and operators, policy decision-makers, scientific institutes and the public transport supply and service industry. It is a platform for worldwide cooperation, business development and the sharing of know-how between its 3,400 members from 92 countries. UITP is the global advocate for public transport and sustainable mobility, and the promoter of innovations in the sector. For more information, please visit www.uitp.org. For more information about the 59th UITP World Congress and Mobility & City Transport Exhibition, please visit http://www.uitpdubai2011.org.

For more information about the Roads and Transport Authority of Dubai (RTA), please visit www.rta.ae.

UITP Press contact: Sarah D'Angelo | Press Junior Manager

Direct phone: +32 (0)2 6636639 | Fax: +32 (0)2 6601072 | sarah.dangelo@uitp.org