H.H. Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, President of the National Olympic Committee and Chairman of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation, today honoured the winners of the ninth Dubai Award for Sustainable Transport 2016 in an event held at the Dubai World Trade Centre, under the patronage of H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of the Executive Council.

The Dubai Award for Sustainable Transport, DAST, is one of the initiatives rolled out by Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority, RTA, to encourage public and private sector entities to contribute towards easing traffic congestion and conserving the environment.

The Department of Municipal Affairs and Transport in Abu Dhabi emerged the winner in the Mobility Management category for the Darb app. Al Rostamani Car Hire Company came second for its digital management of leasing and delivery system through mobile devices. Emirates Airlines was third for its initiative called Local Mobility.

In the Mobility Safety category, the Emirates Authority for Standardisation and Metrology won the top spot for streamlining trading in auto tyres, using electronic chips for tracking and controlling vehicle tyres posters. Emirates Transport was the runner-up with its Road Support initiative and Dubai Municipality finished third with its Safe and Secure Transport initiative.

Dubai Electricity and Water Authority, DEWA, emerged winner with its waste management green initiatives. Al Ahli Driving Centre finished second for the use of CNG in driving training vehicles and Emirates Authority for Standardisation and Metrology won the third spot for its Green Journeys initiative, empowering migration to CNG as a clean fuel for vehicles.

In the category marking initiatives by the disabled, Al Fujairah Police GHQ was the winner for its Makanidevice, Dubai Corporation for Ambulance Services came second for the disabled ambulance initiative and the award for the third place was suspended.

Mohammed Rabah from Al Khaleej daily won the Best Journalist Award. The UAE News Team at Dubai Media Inc. won the Best Media Team award for their role in publishing news and media coverage of topics covered by the Award such as promotion of public transport, conserving the environment and enhancing safety of transit systems.

Dr Arafat Al Duwaik from Khalifa University won in the Best Academic Research category. In the Best Student Project category, the winner was Bakheeta Mohammed Ali Al Ketbi for the Rules of My Bus project. Rameez Omar Abdul Sattar from Manipal University came second with the design and operation of a dual-power air compressor for air conditioning. Shweta Krishna Murthy from Amity University came third for smart mobility management by using micro control systems.

H.H. Sheikh Ahmed and the attendees also watched a movie about the evolution of DAST that highlighted the RTA’s efforts in conserving the environment and implementing the principles of sustainable development. It also shed light on the RTA’s efforts in providing mass transit systems that served more than 543 million commuters in 2016.

Bertrand Piccard, the initiator, chairman and co-pilot of Solar Impulse Aircraft initiative, delivered a speech, highlighting the role of sustainable transport in driving economic, commercial and social advancement of cities. He also reflected on the role of the UAE in promoting the sustainable transport concept.