Saudi transport ministry delegation visits TransAD

A DELEGATION from the Saudi Ministry of Transport toured the Center for Regulation of Transport by Hire Cars (TransAD) to conclude its highly successful participation at the recently held GITEX Dubai 2016. The MoT delegation were briefed on TransAD’s many regulatory and operational guidelines that govern its operation, such as laws and bylaws that regulate the taxi transport business, penalties that apply in the emirate of Abu Dhabi, exclusivity contracts granted to operators, and the technologies employed at the center and in taxi cabs. They were also introduced to the methods and mechanisms through which laws and penalties are applied, and how new taxicab operators are handled. The MoT’s booth at GITEX proved extremely popular among visitors who were particularly interested in Wasl, the ministry’s app-based vehicle command and control platform. “The visit was a great success,” said Turki Al Toaimi, Advisor to Minister, Director General of Marketing and Communications at the Saudi Ministry of Transport. “We learned about the rules and regulations the center employs, and we briefed them on our newly issued transport command and control law. We also agreed to continue our cooperation and the exchange of visits.” Al Toaimi stressed the ministry’s intent on bolstering its presence at international events to grab every possible opportunity to obtain experiences, expertise, and technology. At GITEX, the Ministry showcased some of the benefits the Wasl platform has to offer to users and utilizers, backed up with reports and statistics about occupied and vacant mileages, the types of vehicles being used in transporting people and the size of the demand for these vehicles. All of this data should prove instrumental in conducting studies to find ways to regulate and measure the sector and bolster competition for better customer service. The Ministry also showcased its new Naql gateway, which offers a range of e-services that cover transportation by land for individuals and corporations in the first phase. The second phase is set to expand to maritime transportation. — SG