Sheikh Mohammed's Surprise Visit on the Dubai Tram
A video shared by Dubai's Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) showed Sheikh Mohammed standing on the Tram platform and engaging with officials. The visit formed part of his ongoing efforts to personally oversee the development and operational progress of Dubai's public transport systems.
Several residents managed to catch a glimpse of the Dubai Ruler during his journey, with photos and videos of the encounter circulating across social media.
Since its launch in 2014, the Dubai Tram has transported more than 60 million riders. The 42 minute route connects Al Sufouh Station to Jumeirah Lakes Towers Station, serving 11 stations along Al Sufouh Road. It links key districts including Palm Jumeirah, Dubai Knowledge Village, Dubai Media City, Jumeirah Beach Residence (JBR), and Dubai Marina and is fully integrated with the Dubai Metro system.
In 2024, the RTA announced that it is exploring the introduction of a trackless tram system in eight locations across Dubai. This proposed mode of transport would be self-driving, electric-powered, and rail-free instead guided by camera-based lane tracking technology that follows a virtual path.
Hands-on leadership: Sheikh Mohammed's continued use of public transport
This isn't the first time Sheikh Mohammed has opted for public transport. Known for his hands-on approach to leadership and quality assurance, he was seen riding the Dubai Metro in 2023 as well. In fact, in 2020, he officially inaugurated the Route 2020 extension, a key line connecting the city directly to the Expo 2020 site.
صاحب السمو الشيخ محمد بن راشد ال مكتوم، نائب رئيس الدولة رئيس مجلس الوزراء حاكم دبي (رعاه الله)، خلال تجوله في دبي مستخدماً مترو دبي.HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, tours #Dubai using #DubaiMetro. pic.twitter.com/xjuJT6OAM7 — RTA (@rta_dubai) July 14, 2023
Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister, and Minister of Defence of the UAE, also took the Metro back in 2020 to mark its 11th anniversary, sharing his journey online and highlighting the importance of sustainable urban mobility.
Earlier this year, Sheikh Mohammed laid the foundation stone for the Dubai Metro's upcoming Blue Line, a transformative project aimed at enhancing connectivity across the city. Once complete, the Blue Line will include the world's highest metro station, a notable milestone in Dubai's ongoing transport expansion.
Spanning 30 kilometres, the Dubai Metro Blue Line will comprise 14 stations, with 15.5 kilometres of track running underground and 14.5 kilometres above ground. It will also feature key interchange points with the existing Red and Green Lines. According to the RTA, the Blue Line is expected to be operational by 2029.
Also read: Emirates Adds Third Daily Dubai-Mauritius Flight
Source Gulf News

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Gulf Insider
6 days ago
- Gulf Insider
Sheikh Mohammed's Surprise Visit on the Dubai Tram
Some Dubai Metro and Tram commuters were treated to a surprise sighting recently, as His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, paid a visit to one of the city's Tram stations. A video shared by Dubai's Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) showed Sheikh Mohammed standing on the Tram platform and engaging with officials. The visit formed part of his ongoing efforts to personally oversee the development and operational progress of Dubai's public transport systems. Several residents managed to catch a glimpse of the Dubai Ruler during his journey, with photos and videos of the encounter circulating across social media. Since its launch in 2014, the Dubai Tram has transported more than 60 million riders. The 42 minute route connects Al Sufouh Station to Jumeirah Lakes Towers Station, serving 11 stations along Al Sufouh Road. It links key districts including Palm Jumeirah, Dubai Knowledge Village, Dubai Media City, Jumeirah Beach Residence (JBR), and Dubai Marina and is fully integrated with the Dubai Metro system. In 2024, the RTA announced that it is exploring the introduction of a trackless tram system in eight locations across Dubai. This proposed mode of transport would be self-driving, electric-powered, and rail-free instead guided by camera-based lane tracking technology that follows a virtual path. Hands-on leadership: Sheikh Mohammed's continued use of public transport This isn't the first time Sheikh Mohammed has opted for public transport. Known for his hands-on approach to leadership and quality assurance, he was seen riding the Dubai Metro in 2023 as well. In fact, in 2020, he officially inaugurated the Route 2020 extension, a key line connecting the city directly to the Expo 2020 site. صاحب السمو الشيخ محمد بن راشد ال مكتوم، نائب رئيس الدولة رئيس مجلس الوزراء حاكم دبي (رعاه الله)، خلال تجوله في دبي مستخدماً مترو دبي.HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, tours #Dubai using #DubaiMetro. — RTA (@rta_dubai) July 14, 2023 Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister, and Minister of Defence of the UAE, also took the Metro back in 2020 to mark its 11th anniversary, sharing his journey online and highlighting the importance of sustainable urban mobility. Earlier this year, Sheikh Mohammed laid the foundation stone for the Dubai Metro's upcoming Blue Line, a transformative project aimed at enhancing connectivity across the city. Once complete, the Blue Line will include the world's highest metro station, a notable milestone in Dubai's ongoing transport expansion. Spanning 30 kilometres, the Dubai Metro Blue Line will comprise 14 stations, with 15.5 kilometres of track running underground and 14.5 kilometres above ground. It will also feature key interchange points with the existing Red and Green Lines. According to the RTA, the Blue Line is expected to be operational by 2029. Also read: Emirates Adds Third Daily Dubai-Mauritius Flight Source Gulf News


Gulf Insider
13-07-2025
- Gulf Insider
Dubai's Emirates Airline To Enable Crypto Payments
Dubai's international airline Emirates signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with to integrate Pay into the airline's payment infrastructure, with implementation expected next year. The signing ceremony took place in the presence of His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, chairman and chief executive of Emirates Airline & Group, the airline announced on Wednesday. The MoU was signed by Adnan Kazim, Emirates' deputy president and chief commercial officer, and Mohammed Al Hakim, president of UAE operations. 'This strategic move is in line with Dubai's vision to be at the forefront of financial innovation while at the same time providing our customers with greater flexibility and choice in how they transact with Emirates,' Kazim said. Beyond payment integration, the two companies will collaborate on promotional campaigns to raise awareness and drive user adoption once the service goes live. A spokesperson confirmed to Cointelegraph that the integration is set for the last quarter of the year. 'The initial phase will focus on technical readiness, compliance alignment, and customer experience mapping,' the spokesperson said. Furthermore, Emirates and will determine whether the rollout will begin on select routes, regional markets, or through a global launch, with pilot phases likely to precede wider implementation. The spokesperson also confirmed that crypto payments from customers will be converted instantly to fiat (AED) using real-time exchange rates at the point of transaction. 'Emirates will not hold any cryptocurrency on its books; settlements will occur in AED, ensuring compliance and minimal FX exposure,' they said. also said it continues to explore regional and international airline integrations as part of a broader travel and commerce strategy. 'The goal is to build a universal crypto travel layer bringing seamless, secure, and compliant payment experiences to travelers across air, retail and hospitality sectors.' The integration comes amid Dubai's push to lead in crypto, as the city seeks to establish itself as a primary hub for blockchain and digital asset projects. Backed by regulatory clarity and a pro-innovation environment, several industries in the emirate, from real estate to telecommunications, have already opened their doors to cryptocurrency payments. Earlier this year, Tether partnered with UAE-based Reelly Tech to expand the use of its USDt stablecoin in real estate transactions. The deal allows buyers to use USDt to purchase property through 30,000 Reelly Tech agents globally. Last month, the Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA), the financial regulator in charge of the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), approved Ripple's RLUSD stablecoin. DIFC companies can now use the RLUSD stablecoin for various virtual asset services. The Dubai Multi Commodities Centre free zone has attracted over 600 crypto companies, with more firms flocking to the Dubai International Financial Centre and One Central district as the country positions itself as a leader in digital finance. Dubai's real estate market reached new highs in May, with sales totaling 66.8 billion dirhams (around $18.2 billion) across 18,700 transactions, a 44% increase in value year-on-year. The surge came amid an accelerating push into real estate tokenization. In May alone, multiple initiatives, including a $3 billion RWA deal involving MultiBank Group, real estate giant MAG and blockchain infrastructure provider Mavryk, were launched by government and industry players. On May 19, the Virtual Asset Regulatory Authority, Dubai's crypto regulator, updated its guidelines to include provisions for real-world asset (RWA) tokenization. Lawyer Irina Heaver told Cointelegraph these rules give issuers and exchanges a clear path to launch and trade tokenized real estate assets.


Daily Tribune
18-06-2025
- Daily Tribune
Bahrain Pushes Aviation Frontiers at 55th Paris Air Show
AB Bahrain's Minister of Transportation and Telecommunications, Dr. Shaikh Abdullah bin Ahmed Al Khalifa, took part in the opening of the 55th edition of the Paris Air Show (Le Bourget), one of the world's most prestigious aviation events. The event, held under the patronage of French President Emmanuel Macron, marked a key step in strengthening Bahrain-France relations in the aviation sector. Dr. Shaikh Abdullah participated in the event at the official invitation of French Transport Minister Philippe Tabarot. His visit also comes as part of ongoing efforts to prepare for the 8th Bahrain International Airshow, scheduled to take place at Sakhir Air Base from November 18 to 20, 2026, under the Royal Patronage of His Majesty the King. The event has helped Bahrain gain global recognition as a hub for aviation exhibitions and has attracted major international companies and key industry decision-makers. Promoting Global Collaboration and Innovation On the sidelines of the air show, Dr. Sheikh Abdullah held a series of meetings with representatives from international delegations and major aviation companies. He explored the latest developments in aviation technology, including eco-friendly aircraft, advanced ground handling systems, and modern air navigation tools that are set to enhance the global travel and tourism experience. Key Agreements for Bahrain International Airport During the exhibition, three important Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) were signed to upgrade Bahrain International Airport and its services. These include: An MoU with French engineering firm Artelia to improve operational readiness and air traffic transition (ORAT). An agreement with Texel Air to expand aircraft maintenance hangars. A partnership with Vallo Aviation to develop facilities for private jets and VIP aircraft services. Strengthening Gulf Cooperation In a significant regional gesture, Dr. Sheikh Abdullah also welcomed Saudi Arabia's Minister of Transport and Logistics Services, Eng. Saleh bin Nasser Al-Jasser, and the head of the Saudi General Authority of Civil Aviation, Mr. Abdulaziz Al-Duailej, at Bahrain's official chalet. They discussed ways to deepen aviation cooperation within the Gulf and boost joint initiatives in air transport. Outreach to Global Industry Leaders The minister also met with leaders from major aviation companies including Airbus, Thales, and Safran, to explore collaboration with Gulf Air and to extend invitations to participate in the upcoming Bahrain International Airshow. Additionally, extensive talks were held with representatives from Boeing, GE Aerospace, RTX, Gulfstream, COMAC (China), Embraer (Brazil), and Rolls-Royce, discussing future commercial partnerships and the potential to use Bahrain's airshow as a platform for business growth and regional outreach. About the Paris Air Show The Paris Air Show, held every two years, is among the largest and oldest airshows in the world. This year's edition features more than 1,500 exhibitors, over 400 VIP chalets, and 10+ exhibition halls showcasing cutting-edge aviation and space technologies. With both static and flying displays, the event is a global hotspot for major aerospace deals and innovations. Bahrain's strong presence at the show reflects its growing role as a regional aviation leader and a strategic bridge between East and West.