DUBAI, United Arab Emirates: flydubai, the Dubai-based airline, has announced new dates for the launch of flights to Cluj-Napoca in Romania. The airline will operate twice-weekly flights between Dubai International (DXB) and Avram Iancu International Airport Cluj (CLJ) starting Nov. 3, 2021, according to Emirates News Agency (WAM).

flydubai operates a daily service between Dubai International (DXB) and Bucharest Henri Coanda International Airport (OTP), the service will increase to a double daily operation from November. With the start of flights to Cluj-Napoca in November, the carrier will serve the Romanian market with a total of 16 weekly flights.

Ghaith Al Ghaith, Chief Executive Officer at flydubai, said: “We first started operating to Bucharest with four flights a week in 2012. Since then, flydubai has more than tripled its operations to the market as demand has grown for commercial and cargo traffic between Romania and the UAE. We are excited to offer more options for convenient direct airlinks to the market with the start of our flights to Cluj-Napoca and we look forward to further stimulating travel and trade flows in both directions.”

Cluj-Napoca is the second largest city in Romania with one of the most dynamic economies in the country and is the largest center for innovation and business opportunities in Transylvania. Avram Iancu International Airport Cluj (CLJ) is considered an important gateway to the north-western region of Romania. Located 10 kilometres east from Cluj-Napoca’s city center, the airport is close to the most important attractions of the city; also known as “The heart of Transylvania.”

Jeyhun Efendi, Senior Vice President, Commercial Operations and E-commerce at flydubai, added: “flydubai’s new service will offer more than 3.5 million people, living within a few hours’ drive from the airport, the convenience of direct airlinks to Dubai. There is also the opportunity for passengers to connect travel beyond on our network to popular destinations like Malé and Zanzibar. The twice-weekly service will also benefit the Romanian expatriate population in the UAE to travel home more easily and offers passengers from the market a more convenient option to visit Dubai during the anticipated Expo 2020 Dubai.”

Cluj-Napoca is strategically located and borders Hungary, Moldova and Ukraine allowing passengers from these markets to take advantage of flydubai’s direct airlinks to Dubai and its aviation hub.

Cluj-Napoca, considered to be the unofficial capital of the historic region of Transylvania, is a vibrant cultural and educational city. Home to a large number of castles, fortresses, botanical gardens, museums and parks, Cluj-Napoca offers passengers from the UAE and the region a perfect holiday destination with a pleasant climate and an array of attractions to enjoy.

Emirates will codeshare on this route offering travellers more seamless connections through Dubai’s international aviation hub to 100 destinations between both the Emirates and flydubai networks including Australia, China, Indian Ocean, Japan, South Asia and the United States.

Passengers booking a flydubai flight to Dubai will enjoy a complimentary 1-Day Ticket to visit Expo 2020 Dubai, taking place from 1st October 2021 to 31st March 2022. The initiative is valid for all bookings made from 1st September for travel during the event dates.

“The Spanish people, in general, are passionate about food, so a career in the culinary field has always been an obvious choice,” said Daniel Pérez Delgado, head chef at Lola Taberna Española’s in Dubai’s Barsha Heights.

“In Spain, if you want to work while studying, there are plenty of restaurants to get the experience to apply and enhance the skills quickly,” Chef Daniel, who is from Jerez de La Frontera and has been in Dubai for the past eight years.

Lola Taberna Española’s innovative menu, offering an exciting and modern take on the Spanish classics, is the work of the hugely talented Chef Daniel.  

Passionate about food, the Spanish native realized at a young age that a career in the culinary field was the obvious choice. 

In 2002, after completing his formal education in Andalusia, southern Spain, he immediately started his professional career. Working in several restaurants throughout the country, Daniel sharpened his skills in various cuisines, determined to modernize traditional dishes and showcase the phenomenal produce of Southern Spain. 

In 2013 Daniel relocated to the UAE and played a pivotal role in the opening of two restaurants, Chamas, a Brazilian churrascaria, and French restaurant, Oscar’s Vine Society.

Keen to return to his Spanish culinary roots, he joined the acclaimed restaurant El Sur at the Westin Hotel Mina Seyahi in 2015. Over the course of his four-year tenure, he successfully led the kitchen team, the operations, and was instrumental in crafting the award-winning menus of this renowned restaurant. He then moved to Zuma Dubai and later to Jumeirah Beach Hotel, two prestigious brands in the UAE.

“Dubai has treated me so well since I came. It has been my second home. I have gained a lot of excellent experience here. I also met my family here; I have two kids who go to school. In addition, I have formed a friendship with the Latino and Spanish communities. I am very fortunate to have landed jobs that I loved doing and found employers who support their team. In Dubai, there are plenty of opportunities. You just need to work hard,” says Chef Daniel.

His life philosophy:  “Enjoy the simple things in life and be humble.”

“Live by the day. Every day is a new day to create an experience, make people happy, and make the most of what you have. Always put your heart into what you do because guests will taste the food that is cooked with love. Some of the Spanish dishes like the paella take time to cook, we can’t rush it, but as soon as it gets served on the table, you will know that it’s authentic by the taste. 

“There’s a saying that “Mama’s food is always the best.” Why? Because it was made with love, so that’s what we do at Lola. Our food is always cooked with love,” Chef Daniel said. 

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates: To support its planned ramp-up operations, Emirates has begun a worldwide campaign to recruit 3,000 cabin crew and 500 airport services employees to join its Dubai hub over the next six months.

According to a report from Emirates News Agency (WAM), the UAE’s official media outlet, these roles are Dubai-based positions and frontline customer-facing roles, and both jobs offer exciting opportunities for friendly, energetic, and service-oriented people to meet and interact with the world as Emirates’ brand ambassadors. Candidates interested in joining Emirates as cabin crew or as an airport services agent can find out more about the job requirements and submit their application on www.emiratesgroupcareers.com.

Emirates has gradually restored its network operations in line with the easing of travel restrictions around the world, and over the past months, it has been recalling pilots, cabin crew and other operational employees who were stood down when the pandemic forced a drastic reduction in flights last year, the company said.

The airline currently flies to over 120 cities, representing 90% of its pre-pandemic network, and it plans to restore 70% of its capacity by the end of the year, including bringing back more of its iconic A380 aircraft into active service.

One of the most dynamic global cities, Dubai has also led the world in its response to the pandemic thanks to its strong leadership and public-private sector cooperation. The rapid vaccination roll-out in the United Arab Emirates, and clear pandemic protocols have enabled Dubai to quickly and safely re-open to international tourism and business activities since July 2020.

Dubai continues to attract people from all over the world with its welcoming culture, tax-free environment, and leading infrastructure for living, working and recreation. (WAM/MOHD AAMIR) 

“I started life selling life insurance on the streets and in the housing estates of London,” David Thomson, vice president of The First Group Hotel Management, tells Dubai Vibes Magazine.

“Once you have done that for 12 months, frankly you can do anything and when I saw how my sales increased by adding a few advertising and marketing techniques, I became drawn to that side of the business,” he added.

Advertising, says David, was his first love. It actually took 16 years before he ventured into hospitality. “I was working for a major international ad agency when we pitched for the Hilton account. We didn’t win the account, but I was offered the job as their Director of Sales & Marketing in the Arabian Peninsula based in Dubai, having already been in the middle East previously for two years in Bahrain,” David shares, adding that his initial journey into hospitality only lasted five years because a good friend offered him the opportunity to set up an advertising agency in Dubai. 

“He was a talented creative director and between us we felt we could attract some excellent clients. We did very well and of course worked predominately with hospitality clients, including the Hilton but when we were bought out by a larger firm, my mentor and friend Gerhard Hardick, approached me to join him at JA Resorts & Hotels, where I spent the next 17 years,” said David. 

In 2018 he was approached by Rob Burns, CEO of The First Group with the opportunity to establish a hospitality management company (HMC), working with people like Mark Patten and Mariano Faz, who are the best in the business. 

“Opportunities like this don’t come along very often so I seized it with both hands,” David, who has featured regularly among the Power 50 of Hotelier Middle East’s annual ranking of the region’s most influential hotel professionals, said.

With success comes advocacies to give back and pay forward. For David, it’s fundraising for charities such as Dubai Autism, Al Noor Centre for Special Needs, Rashid Centre for the Disabled and the All As One Orphanage in Sierra Leone.  

“You must give back to the community you live in and do what you can for the less fortunate, whether that is due to physical, mental, or social challenges that they face,” David says. 

“The Dubai-based charities were an obvious place to start, but when I met someone who had adopted two children from the All As One Orphanage and heard their story, I and my colleagues at JA knew we had to help. 

“The First Group under Rob and Rashad’s leadership also has a passion for helping those in need, again both locally and overseas. We are also heavily focused on sustainability and reducing our impact on the world. Tryp, was the first hotel in the UAE to remove plastic bottles and now our sustainability program, LUVE (Love yoUr Vibrant Earth) which covers all aspects of our operation, is the standard for all the hotels operated by us and we are delighted that the Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM) have introduced their sustainability initiative for all hotel operations in Dubai,” said David, a British national who has spent more than half his life in Dubai.

Looking back, David said that if there is anything he has learned in life, it’s that “everyone makes mistakes which is OK, as long as you learn from them.

“You also have to believe in what you are doing and in yourself.”

For the younger generation, his word of advice is: “Care and be curious. Forgive your parents and don’t expect anything to be handed to you on a plate. Be passionate, be curious and be prepared to work hard.”

The First Group Hotel Management is a dynamic, integrated global property developer with a fast-growing portfolio of upscale hotels. 

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates: As the countdown to Expo 2020 Dubai begins, Emirates, the event’s premier partner and official airline, has launched its latest initiative under a global campaign to promote destination Dubai to people from all walks of life this winter season.

The airline’s Early Bird Expo 2020 Dubai deal, launched across its global markets, will enable customers to save up to 20% on fares to Dubai when they book their flights early.

Adnan Kazim, Emirates’ Chief Commercial Officer said: “Dubai truly has something for everyone and this winter, as our home city hosts Expo 2020, the excitement and range of attractions for visitors will ratchet up, including various once-in-a-lifetime experiences.”

He added: “As Dubai’s home airline, Emirates is launching a series of initiatives to make it even more compelling for travellers to plan their visit and experience Dubai. Last month, we announced that we’ll give a free Expo Day Pass to every Emirates customer travelling to Dubai during the Expo period, and we introduced an innovative ‘mile a minute’ offer for our Skywards members. 

“Today we are launching an early booking discount on flights to Dubai across all our markets. In the coming weeks, we plan to roll out offers tailored for families, a special Expo edition of our popular ‘My Emirates Pass’ product, a celebratory offer for the UAE’s 50th jubilee anniversary and more, so stay tuned.”

Whether exploring Dubai solo, as a family, or reconnecting with family and friends, there has never been a better time to visit Dubai than this winter season. Emirates’ current special promotions include:

Early bird discount: This special offer is valid on any return tickets booked to Dubai as the final destination for travel dates between Sept. 28, 2021 and 31 March 31, 2022. 

It is applicable to bookings made from Sept. 28 to Oct. 12, 2021 via Emirates.com, through Emirates call center or retail outlets, or via a travel agent. The offer applies to Emirates Business and Economy base fares; on Saver, Flex, Flex+ fare brands.*

Free Emirates Expo Day Pass: Emirates customers visiting and travelling through Dubai anytime during the much-awaited Expo 2020 mega event, will be eligible to receive a free Emirates Expo Day Pass for every flight ticket booked with the airline. For more information on this promotion, please visit the dedicated offer page.

Earn a mile a minute in Dubai: Emirates customers can earn 1 Skywards Mile for every 1 minute spent in Dubai between Oct. 1, 2021 and March 31, 2022. Existing and new Emirates Skywards members who sign up for the program before March 31, 2022, can avail of the offer on Emirates.com, and will earn up to 5,000 miles. The offer is applicable on all Emirates flight tickets purchased between Aug. 1, 2021 and March 31, 2022, for travel during Expo 2020 Dubai. Emirates-marketed, flydubai-operated flights with an Emirates (EK) flight number are also included in the offer.

As international borders reopen and travel restrictions ease, Emirates has resumed passenger services to over 120 destinations from Dubai.

Dubai safely re-opened for international business and leisure visitors in July 2020, and it remains one of the world’s most popular holiday destinations. From sun-soaked beaches and heritage activities to world class hospitality and leisure facilities, Dubai offers a variety of world-class experiences. 

It was one of the world’s first cities to obtain Safe Travels stamp from the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) – which endorses Dubai’s comprehensive and effective measures to ensure guest health and safety. Customers can book their holiday to Dubai, including Expo-themed packages through Emirates Holidays or create their own itinerary with Dubai Experience.

Expo 2020 Dubai

Dubai will host the world for Expo 2020 between October 2021 and March 2022. Through the theme of Connecting Minds, Creating the Future, Expo 2020 Dubai aims to inspire people by showcasing the best examples of collaboration, innovation and cooperation from around the world.

Expo 2020 Dubai is the first World Expo ever hosted in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia (MEASA) region. Its six-month program is packed with experiences to suit all ages and interests, including a rich line-up of themed weeks, entertainment, and edutainment. Art and culture fans as well as food and technology enthusiasts can explore exhibits, workshops, performances, live shows and more. 

Visitors can also drop by their national pavilion for a taste of home or experience the 190 other country pavilions. Architecture aficionados can look forward to soaking in the many inspiring designs throughout the Expo 2020 site, while those interested in future innovations that are making a difference in tomorrow’s world can stop by the various thematic and special pavilions.

Health measures

Health and wellbeing: Keeping the health and wellbeing of its passengers as top priority, Emirates has introduced a comprehensive set of safety measures at every step of the customer journey. The airline has also recently introduced contactless technology and scaled up its digital verification capabilities to provide its customers even more opportunities to utilise the IATA Travel Pass this summer.

Travel assurance 

Emirates continues to lead the industry with innovative products and services that address traveller needs during a dynamic time. The airline has taken its customer care initiatives further with even more generous and flexible booking policies, an extension of its multi-risk insurance cover, and helping loyal customers retain their miles and tier status.

Customers are encouraged to check the latest government travel restrictions in their country of origin and ensure they meet the travel requirements of their final destination. For more information on entry requirements for international visitors to Dubai visit: https://www.emirates.com/english/help/covid-19/dubai-travel-requirements/

 NOTES: 

• * Terms and Conditions apply
• Sale period closes at 23.59 GST on 12 October 2021. Travel period must be between 28 September 2021 up to 31 March 2022 inclusive.
• Economy special brand is excluded. Stopover: Not applicable.
• The offer is not applicable on industry discounted tickets or group discounted tickets.
• All fares and flights are subject to availability.

Dubai, United Arab Emirates: The third Mai Dubai City Half Marathon, organized in cooperation with Dubai Sports Council, is all set for a thrilling return on Oct. 15, 2021, providing long-distance runners and fitness enthusiasts with a chance to compete in the classic 5km, a flat-and-fast 10km, and the ultimate 21-km challenge.

To ensure a safe and successful marathon, organizers announced major COVID-19-related requirements and protocols to be observed before, during and after the event.

Those interested can register through the Promoseven website:-
https://www.promosevensports.com/race/mai-dubai-registration/. Registrations will close on October 10.

The half marathon is open to participants aged 16 years and above. Interested individuals, however, are required to have completed their COVID-19 vaccines before they can participate. Enhanced sterilizing and cleaning of critical areas and high-touch surfaces will also be implemented, with staggered race times to ensure the safe management of runners.

Alexander van ‘t Riet, CEO, Mai Dubai, said, “Now in its third year, the Mai Dubai City Half Marathon is returning to provide our running community in the UAE and all those who embrace healthy living with the best and safest outdoor event yet. We are confident of a high turnout, with an expectation of surpassing our previous record regarding the number of participants. Our confidence is rooted in the fact that more and more individuals today are continuously stepping up their efforts to lead a healthy lifestyle.”

Like earlier, the race route will start and finish in front of the Gate Building. The runners will loop around the picturesque Dubai International Financial Centre, allowing them to have breathtaking views of the city’s well-known architectural marvels.

The half marathon is in partnership with Mai Dubai as title partner; Dubai International Financial Centre, official venue partner; parachute.ae, official e-commerce partner; and Al Laith, official logistics partner. Promoseven Sports Marketing is organising the event. (WAM/Tariq alfaham/Hatem Mohamed)

Dubai, United Arab Emirates: With about two weeks left to Dubai Expo 2020, organizers have announced enhanced entry measures to ensure a safe and exceptional event as this international city that never sleeps prepares to welcome millions of visitors to the largest global gathering since the start of the pandemic amid renewed demand for international travel, Emirates News Agency (WAM), official media outlet of the UAE, has reported.

Visitors aged 18 and above will be required to present proof of any vaccine recognized by their national government or a negative PCR test taken within the previous 72 hours. Non-vaccinated ticket-holders who have not been tested within this period can test at the PCR testing facility adjacent to the Expo 2020 Dubai site. Moving forward, a network of testing centers across the city will be available and can be found on the Expo 2020 Dubai website. On presentation of any valid Expo 2020 Dubai ticket, alongside an Expo 1-Day or Multi-Day Pass, the PCR test will be free of charge.

Reem bint Ibrahim Al Hashemy, Minister of State for International Cooperation and Director-General of Expo 2020 Dubai, said, “The UAE continues to drive the global tourism recovery, and Expo 2020 Dubai will be the only global gathering of this size and cultural diversity since the start of COVID-19. By updating our vaccination and testing requirements, we are opening up a world of discovery and education for every visitor from every corner of the planet, enabling the world to experience Expo 2020’s incredible offering in a safe and secure manner.

“As we prepare to welcome tourists to the UAE and visitors to Expo 2020 Dubai, we need to build on our successes in combating COVID 19, where we have seen a decline of nearly 84 percent in cases in the past eight months. Our commitment to the health and safety of all visitors, participants and staff will remain our number one priority. We will continue to follow the guidance of the leading science and medical experts, adjusting our measures as appropriate in our commitment to hosting an exceptional experience that all the world can enjoy. This enhanced measure is responsible, agile and necessary as we prepare to open our doors to the world.”

The measures align with wider strategies across the UAE, including the strict COVID-19 measures and testing programs operated by the UAE’s world-class airports and ports. As of September 2021, the UAE has administered almost 19 million vaccination doses and fully immunized 80 percent of its population. Dubai has seen a steady influx of visitors since it reopened to tourists in July 2020, and the emirate welcomed 2.85 million visitors in the first half of 2021, with numbers predicted to accelerate in the fourth quarter, boosted by Expo 2020 Dubai and the UAE’s Golden Jubilee celebrations.

Dimitri Kerkentzes, Secretary-General of the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE), the governing body of World Expos, said, “Dubai’s effective strategy to manage COVID-19 has allowed Expo 2020 Dubai preparations to progress smoothly, and the enhanced requirements announced by Expo 2020 Dubai organisers today strengthen the Expo’s goal of bringing everyone back together to join the making of a new world. In the face of the pandemic, our collective resolve for solidarity has only been strengthened as the UAE and all international participants have persevered in their commitment to realising a safe and meaningful World Expo.”

Expo’s robust plans include the mandatory vaccination of all Expo 2020 Dubai and International Participant staff, volunteers, contractors and service providers. On site sanitisation stations, mandatory face-masks both indoor and outdoor and two-meter social distancing will be maintained.

Running from 1st October 2021 until 31st March 2022, Expo 2020 Dubai will invite everyone to join the making of a new world as visitors reconnect through a six-month celebration of creativity, innovation, human progress and culture. (WAM/Amjad Saleh)

Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has announced the resumption of the E101 bus shuttle between Dubai and Abu Dhabi. 

The operation of this inter-city bus service is coordinated with Abu Dhabi’s Integrated Transport Center  for serving passengers between the two emirates. 

Adel Shakri, Director of Planning and Business Development, Public Transport Agency, RTA said that Route E101 will start from Ibn Battuta Bus Station in Dubai and head to the Central Bus Station in Abu Dhabi, Emirates News Agency (WAM) reported.

“This route is critical to the integration of mass transit means between the two emirates and the smooth movement of passengers. RTA stresses the importance of complying with all the applicable precautionary measures, such as physical distancing and wearing of masks to curb the spread of the Covid-19. It calls upon all Dubai Bus and Intercity Bus riders to observe these measures for the public health of the UAE community,” noted Shakri.

“Riders have to comply with the precautionary measures enforced by the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, which state that individuals allowed to enter Abu Dhabi Emirate are: vaccinated individuals whose status is shown as green on Al Hosn App and designated by letter E or Star. 

“Unvaccinated individuals will be allowed to enter Abu Dhabi within 48 hours of receiving the Covid-19 test result. Riders heading to Abu Dhabi must not use DPI test results to enter the Emirate two successive times. Such requirements must be reflected on Al Hosn App and in compliance with any new precautionary measures that might be introduced by the concerned bodies in the Emirate.” 

“When I pass away,” says Mai Elsayed, NextGen MENA Committee member, clinical hypnotherapist with psychotherapy skills, “I want to be remembered as the person who eased people’s pain, the one who helped people turn their wounds into wisdom.”

“I want to be remembered as the person who finds the opportunity in every challenge,” says Mai, also an internationally published author and a public relations manager.

Mai, whose book, “Disappear,” tackles the heartbreaking issue of ghosting, said she wants to “change the world to become a better place and make a difference in people’s lives.

“It is my mission to eliminate mental health stigma and empower those who are struggling to face their demons by making them feel accepted, heard, and most importantly, understood,” she said.

“People will almost always remember how you made them feel and when I see that the work I am doing really makes a difference and impacts my clients’ lives and even the general public, I really feel motivated to go the extra mile and add value to my community,” said Mai, whose higher educational journey started with a Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communication from the American University of Sharjah.

Ghosting

Dubai Vibes Magazine asked Mai what inspired her to write “Disappear,” and this was her reply: “The concept of grieving due to the death of a dear one is widely discussed in psychology. But people barely, if ever, talk about grieving because of being ghosted. 

“Imagine losing a person to void, you are unable to contact or reach them in any way. Yet somehow you know they are still alive. It can be detrimental especially in long-term distance relationships. It is one of those taboo topics that the world does not discuss because we don’t know how common it is.” 

Mai said victims of ghosting “fear expressing it and their friends and family often do not realize how painful it is for an individual to get ghosted and not be able to get the closure needed to move on.”

She said the novel “shows how our thoughts, feelings and behaviors are linked while walking the reader through the different stages of grief.”

Mai also stressed that “victims of ghosting should understand that the way a person chooses to exit the relationship is a reflection of who they are. 

“In no way does it necessarily define the value and worth of the ghosted individual.”

She said some people resort to ghosting because they fear confrontation. 

“They don’t have the courage to break up with their companion and find it easier to leave in silence with the assumption that their partner will eventually move on. This behavior could very much come from a good place and with good intention such as not wanting to hurt their partner’s feelings.

“In extreme cases, the ghosted can be dangerous, narcissistic and toxic and therefore the ghoster prefers to leave in silence to avoid the drama and pain,” Mai said.

Diagnosis

Mai, who has been in Dubai for the past 20 years, said she was, at a very young age, diagnosed with fibromyalgia and seronegative arthritis. 

“All my dreams of becoming a gymnast and a ballerina were shattered when the doctor told me that I am not allowed to engage in any intense physical activity as my body was fragile,” she recalls.     

But she just wouldn’t take it. 

“Something did not add up. How can a girl my age suffer with arthritis?” Mai said. And so she did a lot of research till she came up with a damning question: “‘If psychological distress leads to physical ailments, what would happen if I tried to shift my mindset and practice mindfulness?’ I thought to myself time and time again. 

“I decided to get off all medicines. I made my mind up to hold the steering wheel of my life. I decided to stop being a victim to the circumstances. I chose to stop living a life of reaction and start living a life of action. 

“All it took was for me to take initiative, hold the pen and change the narrative by writing my own storyline. The plot twist was that it worked…like magic. I found out how powerful the human mind was in reversing illness and, manifesting goals.

“I managed to cure my body by healing my mind and today I’m a gymnast, completely arthritis-free and not taking any medication!” says Mai.

Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has announced the deployment of 126 public buses called, “Expo Rider” to serve Expo 2020 Dubai visitors for free from nine locations across the city. 

Additionally, two routes will be launched to lift Expo visitors from hotels directly to the site of Expo. RTA will likewise deploy buses to lift visitors within Expo from the parking area to the Gates in addition to another bus service to lift riders between Expo Gates. 

According to RTA, buses will run 1,956 direct daily trips from Saturday to Wednesday and the number of trips will rise to 2,203 direct trips on Thursdays and Fridays. The service frequency varies from three minutes to 60 minutes.

His Excellency Mattar Mohammed Al Tayer, Director-General, Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of the Roads and Transport Authority, confirmed RTA’s readiness to provide a unique, smooth and express transit service for Expo 2020 visitors from various locations in Dubai and across the UAE through the deployment of 203 buses. 

These buses feature high safety and luxury standards, and comfortable seats. They are compatible with Euro 6 low-carbon emission standards, making them the first of their kind in the MENA region. Through deploying these high-quality buses in a wide geographical coverage, RTA seeks to make mass transit means the ideal choice of mobility for Expo visitors. 

Movement from Dubai to Expo

His Excellency Al Tayer explained that the RTA had allocated 57 buses to commute Expo 2020 visitors from various locations in Dubai through operating 455 to 476 trips per day. RTA identified nine stations to serve passengers heading to and from Expo. 

The first station is Palm Jumeirah, where six buses have been allocated to run 54 trips per day in both directions from Saturday to Wednesday, and 57 trips per day in both directions on Thursdays and Fridays. The service frequency will be 15 minutes.

The second station is Al Baraha, where seven buses have been allocated to run 62 trips per day in both directions from Saturday to Wednesday, and 68 trips per day in both directions on Thursdays and Fridays. The service frequency will be 30 minutes.

The third station is Al Ghubaiba, a station characterized by integrated various mass transit modes spanning the metro, public buses, marine transport, and taxis. Twelve buses have been allocated to run 74 trips per day in both directions from Saturday to Wednesday, and 76 daily trips in both directions on Thursdays and Fridays. The service frequency will be 15 minutes. 

The fourth station is Etisalat, adjacent to Etisalat Metro Station on the Green Line. Eight buses have been allocated to run 70 trips per day in both directions from Saturday to Wednesday, and 72 trips per day in both directions on Thursdays and Fridays. 

The fifth station is the Global Village where three buses have been allocated to run 10 trips daily on all weekdays. The service frequency will be 60 minutes. 

The sixth and seventh stations are the International City and the Dubai Silicon Oasis Station. Eight buses have been allocated to both stations to run 78 trips per day in both directions from Saturday to Wednesday, and 82 trips per day in both directions on Thursdays and Fridays. The service frequency will be 15 minutes. 

The eighth station is the Dubai Mall where five buses have been allocated to run 55 trips per day in both directions from Saturday to Wednesday, and 59 trips per day in both directions on Thursdays and Fridays. The service frequency will be 30 minutes.

The ninth station is the Dubai International Airport, where eight buses have been allocated to run 52 trips per day in both directions, seven days a week. The service frequency will be 20 minutes.

Movement within Expo

His Excellency Al Tayer explained that RTA will also provide two additional services to Expo 2020 visitors. The first service is Expo Parking Shuttle to transport visitors from the car parks to the three Expo Gates (Opportunity, Mobility and Sustainability). RTA has allocated 57 buses for this service to run 1,191 trips per day from Saturday to Wednesday, and 1377 trips on Thursdays and Fridays. The service frequency will range from 3 to 7 minutes. 

The second service is Expo People Mover to transport visitors between Expo Gates. RTA has allocated 15 buses for this service to run 310 daily trips from Saturday to Wednesday, and 350 trips on Thursdays and Fridays. 12 additional reserve busses have been allocated as well.

RTA had previously announced its plan to transport visitors to Expo 2020 from different emirates. The plan identifies nine locations in Abu Dhabi, Al Ain, Sharjah, Fujairah, Ajman, and Ras Al Khaimah. Seventy-seven buses have been allocated for this service to run 193 trips per day on all days of the week, and the number of trips will rise to 213 trips per day on Thursdays and Fridays.