Sports
Now flight check-in from Dubai airport taxi
Now flight check-in from Dubai airport taxi Lily B. Libo-on / 6 March 2014 WI-FI service, LCD screens in 100 Dubai cabs Passengers heading to the Dubai International (DXB) and Dubai World Central (DWC) Al Maktoum International Airport will not have to worry about checking in on time for their flights. They can now check in and browse for travel information directly from their taxis on the way to the airport. The Dubai Taxi Corporation (DTC) has recently introduced WI-FI service and fitted 200 LCD screens in 100 taxis so that customers can log on to several websites, including Emirates Airline and Dubai Airports. AN LCD touchscreen in one of the airport taxis. — Supplied photo In an interview with Khaleej Times , Mansour Rahma Al Falasi, Acting CEO of DTC, said the project started in December last year and the DTC awarded a three-year contract to Techno Line Company for introducing smart technology and LCD smart screens in taxis. “By the end of April this year, we will finish fitting all these interactive screens in all our 3,914 taxi.” He said the DTC has started work on two projects for its taxi fleet this year, one is the Taxi Light with smart screens to be completed by the end of March, and the other is the installation of smart LCD screens and WIFI technology in all DTC cabs by the end of April. “These projects are in line with Dubai’s e-government’s campaign to give premium services and use the latest available technology in upgrading various services and bringing them at par with the best international standards. This also reflects DTC’s keenness to provide services in smooth, express and transparent manner to address the needs of customers from various sectors of the community, especially making the most luxurious and exquisite transport in Dubai,” Al Falasi said. He said this is the time to keep pace with state-of-the-art technologies and avail the technology of WI-FI, mobile, and Internet connectivity. “Customers can also access the internet service on their own devices – iPhones, Windows, smart phones and Android – to see different DTC and RTA advertisements, marketing and promotional offers made by various interested public and private institutions, which buy or rent such advertising spaces in direct coordination with Techno Line Company. They can also file complaints, submit suggestions, thank cabbies and avail special offers through these interactive screens,” he added. He also said the interactive LCD screens carry DTC’s corporate identity and display various information about taxi fares, prices of services, events and activities organised by DTC both internally and externally. “They also show icons for questionnaires conducted by the DTC to find out customer’s views and public opinion on services offered in different seasons.” Al Falasi said that the taxis are also fitted with speed limiter for the safety of tourists and residents of Dubai, hiring the DTC taxis. lily@khaleejtimes.com For more news from Khaleej Times, follow us on Facebook at facebook.com/khaleejtimes , and on Twitter at @khaleejtimes Continue reading
Thick fog blankets UAE, motorists warned
Thick fog blankets UAE, motorists warned 6 March 2014 Authorities have warned motorists to proceed with caution and drive with headlights or fog lights to ensure safety on the roads. Thick fog covered most parts of Dubai and neighbouring emirates on Saturday morning as motorists reported near-zero visibility. The National Centre for Meteorology and Seismology (NCMS) has warned motorists to be more cautious while driving due to low horizontal visibility owing to fog. Authorities have warned motorists to proceed with caution and drive with headlights or fog lights to ensure safety on the roads. According to NCMS, mild weather during the daytime with slight increase in temperatures, pleasant to rather cold by night over the internal and the mountainous areas. Weather will be fair to partly cloudy at times over some areas. Light to moderate winds in general. The relative humidity is likely to increase during night and early morning over internal and coastal areas, with a chance of fog formation. Share your pictures of the fog with us at talktous@khaleejtimes.ae . For more news from Khaleej Times, follow us on Facebook at facebook.com/khaleejtimes , and on Twitter at @khaleejtimes Continue reading
1,000 Dubai govt services to go smart in three years
1,000 Dubai govt services to go smart in three years (Wam) / 6 March 2014 A strategy to transform Dubai into a ‘Smart City’ was launched by His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, on Wednesday. Shaikh Mohammed, Shaikh Hamdan and senior officials during the launch of Smart Dubai Strategy at the Dubai International Exhibition and Convention Centre on Wednesday. — KT photo by Shihab The strategy features six key pillars and 100 initiatives on transport, communications, infrastructure, electricity, economic services, urban planning. Under the strategy, 1,000 government services will go smart in the next three years. Shaikh Mohammed affirmed: “Our country is today ushering into a new era for the improvement and development of quality of life through this gigantic project which got underway through an unprecedented public-private partnership to make a new reality for all and change the concept of city which the human being lives in so as to live with him through his smart phone and who will be its key pivot.” “Our ambition is that this project touches the life of everyone in our country, or every mother in her house, or every employee in his work, or every investor in his project, or every child in his school, and doctor in his clinic. Our goal is to bring about happiness to all. May Allah help us in achieving this end,” Shaikh Mohammed said. The launch ceremony was attended by Shaikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and General Supervisor of Dubai Smart City Project; Shaikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai; Shaikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman of Dubai Civil Aviation Authority and Chairman of Emirates Group; Shaikh Hasher bin Maktoum Al Maktoum, Chairman of Dubai Information Department; Shaikh Mansour bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Mohammed Abdullah Al Gergawi, Minister of Cabinet Affairs and Chairman of the Higher Committee for Dubai Smart City, and a number of senior officials. For more news from Khaleej Times, follow us on Facebook at facebook.com/khaleejtimes , and on Twitter at @khaleejtimes Continue reading
