Transport

Mall of the Emirates has announced that spaces for another 750 cars will be added to existing parking by May this year as a part of the mall’s new 40-store expansion.

“We’re expecting a lot more visitors and to make sure we can give them the most convenient trip, it was essential to increase the number of spaces too. We have placed them around the three car park levels of the mall including ground,” said Fuad Sharaf, Vice President, Mall of the Emirates.

While the expansion work has been carried out, the traffic flow within the mall has been redesigned for easier access, with more signs and customer service personnel. Customers are urged to take note of the new exits from the mall which will be effective until April. All exits from the mall to Sheikh Zayed Road will be from the ground floor and to Al Barsha from Level 1 of the Carrefour side.

“By the end of April, we expect work on the parking to be near completion, with full access to Al Barsha and Sheikh Zayed Road from all levels. In June, we will also have a brand new taxi drop-off and pick-up area at the north east corner of the mall with a refurbished entrance and lobby,” added Sharaf.

Scheduled to open at the end of the third quarter of 2010, an additional 10,500 square metres of retail space is being added to one of the most popular malls in the UAE.

The Dubai Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has announced that seven more stations on the Dubai Metro Red Line will open on April 25 2010.

The new stations opening are: Emirates HQ, Dubai International Airport Terminal 1, GGICO (Al Garhoud), Al Karama, Trade Centre, Dubai Marina, and the Ibn Battuta Mall.

The Red Line opened with 10 stations on September 9 2009. The Burj Khalifa Metro Station opened in January 2010.

The remaining 11 stations will open in the ‘following months’.

The RTA also announced that the completion date for the Green Line has been pushed back to August 2011.

Seawings are offering visitors to Dubai the chance to take their loved one on a scenic flight over Dubai for Valentine’s Day.

The package costs AED 2500 per person and includes:

• Pearl Flights
• Dinner for 2 at La Traviata
• Bottle of House wine

The offer is valid throughout February. For further details contact Seawings.

The Dubai Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) have announced that the Burj Dubai Metro Station will open on January 4 2010, coinciding with the official opening of the Burj Dubai.

It will be the 11th station to open on the Red Line and will be able to deal with 11 thousand passengers per hour in each direction.

The station will primarily serve the Downtown Burj Dubai area, home of the Dubai Mall, Burj Dubai, and numerous hotels (Address Downtown Burj Dubai, Address Dubai Mall, Palace, Al Manzil, Qamardeen, Armani etc.).

The Dubai Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) have started to accept applications for Nol Blue Cards. Applications for the cards, for use on Dubai’s integrated transport system, can be made online (www.nol.ae) and at ticket booths at Dubai Metro stations.

Nol Blue Cards are designed for frequent travellers who need to load their cards with large balances and require security of funds in case their cards are lost, stolen, or damaged.

The personalised smart cards have an e-purse that can be loaded with up to AED 500. They are valid for use on all modes of public transport and can be recharged at RTA Customer Service Centres, approved sales agents, bus stations, and Dubai Metro stations.

Applicants require a personal photo and proof of identity (passport or ID card). For online applications copies need to be uploaded.

Nol Blue Cards should be received within 10 – 15 days.

Other categories of Nol Cards are:

• Nol Red Ticket – paper ticket with no e-purse, valid for up to 10 trips
• Nol Silver Card – don’t identify the holder, contain a rechargeable e-purse
• Nol Gold Card – same as Nol Silver Card, but allow use of Dubai Metro Gold Glass cabins

A comparison of the various types of cards and fares can be found here.

The Dubai Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has announced that construction work on the 19 stations yet to open on the Red Line of the Dubai Metro is finished.

Completion of electromechanical works in the stations ranges from 80 to 97 percent, and the stations should open in February 2010.

The Dubai Metro began operations on September 9 2009 with 10 stations on the Red Line.

The Green Line is scheduled to commence operations in late 2010.

UAE telecommunications company Du has extended its wireless internet service to the Dubai Metro.

Broadband wireless internet access will be available on both trains and in stations. The service can be paid for by credit card or with a WoW recharge card, available at Du Shops and other authorised outlets.

Du has also enhanced its 2G and 3G mobile coverage at all Dubai Metro stations and along the length of the Red Line to ensure seamless connectivity on journeys.

Emirates Business 24|7 reports that the opening of Dubai Metro’s Green Line is likely to be delayed until the fourth quarter of 2010.

The Green Line was originally scheduled to open in March 2010. It will run from Al Qusais to Al Jaddaf, through Deira and Bur Dubai, connecting to the Red Line at Union Square and Khalid Bin Waleed stations.

Mashreq, one of the leading banks in the United Arab Emirates, has installed a number of ATMs at the recently opened stations on the Dubai Metro Red Line.

Cash machines have been installed at 9 stations; Rashidiya, Deira City Centre, Al Rigga, Mall of the Emirates, Financial Centre, Jafiliya, Nakheel Harbour and Tower, Union Square, and Khalid Bid Waleed.

The Dubai Metro will begin operations on September 9 2009 with 10 stations on the Red Line.

However services on the opening day will be restricted to VIPs invited by the Dubai Roads and Transport Authority (RTA). The system will open to the public the following day.

Stations opening on the first day are Rashidiya, Dubai International Airport (Terminal 3), Deira City Centre, Al Rigga, Union Square, Khalid bin Waleed, Al Jafiliya, Dubai International Financial Centre, Mall of the Emirates, and Nakheel Harbour & Tower.

The remaining stations will open over the coming months.

Throughout Ramadan the Dubai Metro service will operate from Saturday to Thursday 6 am until midnight. On Friday services will run from 2 pm to midnight.

After Ramadan the Metro service will run from Saturday to Thursday, 6.am to 11 pm, and on Fridays 2 pm to midnight.