Etihad Rail, the developer and operator of the UAE National Rail Network, and ride-hailing app Uber have signed an initial agreement to collaborate on expanding passenger transport options in the country and share mobility data to better serve the market.
As part of the pact signed during the Middle East Rail event last week, they will seek to enhance first and last mile initiatives and expand services across the UAE, Uber said on Monday.
They will also “explore opportunities to integrate e-hailing services and assess the possibility of creating an Uber dedicated pick-up and drop-off area for passengers within stations to enable passengers to unify their journey planning”, the company said.
The pact aims to support Etihad Rail’s efforts to provide “accessible and integrated transportation across the UAE, including in areas with limited accessibility”, said Nicolas Petrovic, Etihad Rail Mobility chief executive.
“Our goal is to improve the living standards and welfare of the residents and facilitate commuting among all areas of the country quickly, efficiently, comfortably and affordably,” said Mr Petrovic.
Etihad Rail, which formally launched freight services in February, is set to begin passenger operations soon — although no date has been announced as yet.
The passenger trains will travel at speeds up to 200kph and carry about 400 people between 11 cities and areas across the UAE from Al Sila in the west to Fujairah in the north.
Passengers will be able to travel from Abu Dhabi to Dubai in 50 minutes, Dubai to Fujairah in 50 minutes, and Abu Dhabi to Fujairah in 100 minutes.
Carriages will be equipped with Wi-Fi, entertainment systems and charging points, catering to all people in the UAE, from families to workers and tourists, according to officials.
The railway will be integrated with existing public transport such as buses and the metro. There are also plans to introduce a unified ticket and journey planning system.
As part of the pact, Etihad Rail and Uber will collaborate to understand passenger activity and movement between cities in the UAE.
Travel patterns between emirates, such as trip length and distances, will be studied and travel hot spots between cities in the UAE, including bus and metro stations, and the distribution of trips from these transportation hubs analysed, said Uber.
“Public transit is the backbone of any city and is indispensable for moving more people around efficiently, preventing congestion and limiting pollution,” Frans Hiemstra, director and regional general manager, Uber Middle East and Africa, said.
“But the way people use public transport is changing, and technology has a big role to play in that to help us solve complex transport challenges.”
Etihad Rail signed several agreements during Middle East Rail, including a pact with drone cargo specialist SkyGo and one with Italian luxury hospitality company Arsenale for a luxury rail service.
A launch date was not revealed for the luxury service, which has been called a “rail cruise”, but it is expected to cross the UAE from Fujairah to the Liwa desert in Abu Dhabi. The train will consist of 15 luxury carriages being built in Puglia and Sicily, Arsenale said.
Etihad Rail also signed a 20-year partnership agreement with DHL Global Forwarding to set up a joint venture as part of the country's efforts to strengthen its freight network.
The joint venture will enable DHL to use Etihad Rail’s network to conduct operations within the UAE.
Islamophobia definition
A widely accepted definition was made by the All Party Parliamentary Group on British Muslims in 2019: “Islamophobia is rooted in racism and is a type of racism that targets expressions of Muslimness or perceived Muslimness.” It further defines it as “inciting hatred or violence against Muslims”.
Read more about the coronavirus
German intelligence warnings
- 2002: "Hezbollah supporters feared becoming a target of security services because of the effects of [9/11] ... discussions on Hezbollah policy moved from mosques into smaller circles in private homes." Supporters in Germany: 800
- 2013: "Financial and logistical support from Germany for Hezbollah in Lebanon supports the armed struggle against Israel ... Hezbollah supporters in Germany hold back from actions that would gain publicity." Supporters in Germany: 950
- 2023: "It must be reckoned with that Hezbollah will continue to plan terrorist actions outside the Middle East against Israel or Israeli interests." Supporters in Germany: 1,250
Source: Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution
Sinopharm vaccine explained
The Sinopharm vaccine was created using techniques that have been around for decades.
“This is an inactivated vaccine. Simply what it means is that the virus is taken, cultured and inactivated," said Dr Nawal Al Kaabi, chair of the UAE's National Covid-19 Clinical Management Committee.
"What is left is a skeleton of the virus so it looks like a virus, but it is not live."
This is then injected into the body.
"The body will recognise it and form antibodies but because it is inactive, we will need more than one dose. The body will not develop immunity with one dose," she said.
"You have to be exposed more than one time to what we call the antigen."
The vaccine should offer protection for at least months, but no one knows how long beyond that.
Dr Al Kaabi said early vaccine volunteers in China were given shots last spring and still have antibodies today.
“Since it is inactivated, it will not last forever," she said.
The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
Who's who in Yemen conflict
Houthis: Iran-backed rebels who occupy Sanaa and run unrecognised government
Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council
Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south
Habrish 'rebels': Tribal-backed forces feuding with STC over control of oil in government territory
What can victims do?
Always use only regulated platforms
Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion
Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)
Report to local authorities
Warn others to prevent further harm
Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence
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'The worst thing you can eat'
Trans fat is typically found in fried and baked goods, but you may be consuming more than you think.
Powdered coffee creamer, microwave popcorn and virtually anything processed with a crust is likely to contain it, as this guide from Mayo Clinic outlines:
Baked goods - Most cakes, cookies, pie crusts and crackers contain shortening, which is usually made from partially hydrogenated vegetable oil. Ready-made frosting is another source of trans fat.
Snacks - Potato, corn and tortilla chips often contain trans fat. And while popcorn can be a healthy snack, many types of packaged or microwave popcorn use trans fat to help cook or flavour the popcorn.
Fried food - Foods that require deep frying — french fries, doughnuts and fried chicken — can contain trans fat from the oil used in the cooking process.
Refrigerator dough - Products such as canned biscuits and cinnamon rolls often contain trans fat, as do frozen pizza crusts.
Creamer and margarine - Nondairy coffee creamer and stick margarines also may contain partially hydrogenated vegetable oils.
The UAE's journey to space
