Dubai 2040 plan: We'll need people to use more public transport, says metro boss

Latest: Abu Dhabi-Dubai passenger trains will transform UAE, says eco-traveller

Dubai is on course to make its ambitious urban master plan a reality by the year 2040, said a leading figure in the UAE transport sector.

Bernard Tabary, chief executive of Dubai Metro operator Keolis, said he was confident the plan would help transform the emirate into a global leader when it came to sustainable transport options.

The Dubai 2040 Urban Masterplan will divide the city into five key areas, which will have far-reaching implications for the future of transport in the emirate.

“The 2040 plan is a clear path forward and this city, and this country, have consistently shown its ambitions are not just dreams,” said Mr Tabary.

How do you move away from a world where some people live in households with two to three cars? It’s our job along with the RTA to convince people to take up public transport instead

Bernard Tabary,
chief executive of Keolis

“If you take a look at where Dubai was just 15 years ago, it was nothing like it is now.

“I am confident it is going to happen.”

The urban transformation is set to play out against an explosion in Dubai’s population. The number of people living in the emirate is expected to grow by two million, meaning close to six million people are expected to call it home by the year 2040.

The city will be split into five urban areas. Deira and Bur Dubai will represent the emirate’s tradition and heritage; Downtown and Business Bay will symbolise the business and financial sector; Dubai Marina and JBR will serve as the hospitality and leisure centre of the city.

Two new zones are to be added – Expo 2020, which will offer affordable housing and will also be home to exhibitions and conferences, and Silicon Oasis, which has been earmarked as the new home of science and technology.

Al Rashidiya metro station at the southern end of Dubai's Red Line has been renamed Centrepoint, after the department store.
The newly named Sobha Realty metro station on the Red Line.
Al Jafiliya station has been renamed Max Fashion.
Dubai’s metro system consists of three lines – Red, Green and Route 2020.
The Route 2020 stations – Jebel Ali, The Gardens, Discovery Gardens, Al Furjan, Jumeirah Golf Estates, Dubai Investment Park and Expo 2020 – are more futuristic than the original network.
Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Crown Prince of Dubai, visits a monitoring suite for the transport network.
The Red Line starts at Centrepoint station and ends at UAE Exchange. The route has 29 stations – 24 elevated, four underground and one at ground level.

Mr Tabary was speaking on the sidelines of the opening day of the International Association of Public Transport (UITP) regional congress at Dubai World Trade Centre on Sunday.

One of the major challenges ahead is educating people and convincing them to swap their cars for public transport, he said.

“How do you move away from a world where some people live in households with two to three cars?” said Mr Tabary.

“It’s our job along with the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) to convince people to take up public transport instead.”

One upside of the pandemic was people were more open to exploring alternative modes of transport.

“Public transport is essential to the attraction of living in any territory,” he said.

“The pandemic has seen an evolution in the patterns of mobility.

“There has been a significant rise in the number of people walking and using e-scooters for example.”

Many people who had to work from home due to the pandemic were reluctant to return to driving in gridlocked traffic during peak hours to reach the office, he said.

The inevitability that people needed to return to the office created opportunities for the public transport sector, according to Mr Tabary.

“People are eager to be together again,” he said.

“The opportunities for the public transport sector have evolved and we have to adjust to match that.”

He said the fact the congress was finally taking place in Dubai, after being postponed several times due to the pandemic, was further proof people were eager to meet in person to conduct business.

The transport industry in Dubai has no choice but to adapt to the ever-evolving needs of a growing population, said Mohammad Al Mulla, UITP chairman in the Mena region and RTA board member.

“There are plans for huge changes here and part of the reason for that is the number of people who want to live here,” he said.

“They want to come here because it’s one of the most secure cities in the world.

“Dubai is a global leader when it comes to delivering on what it has promised.”

Two products to make at home

Toilet cleaner

1 cup baking soda

1 cup castile soap

10-20 drops of lemon essential oil (or another oil of your choice)

Method:

1. Mix the baking soda and castile soap until you get a nice consistency.

2. Add the essential oil to the mix.

Air Freshener

100ml water

5 drops of the essential oil of your choice (note: lavender is a nice one for this)

Method:

1. Add water and oil to spray bottle to store.

2. Shake well before use.

Washmen Profile

Date Started: May 2015

Founders: Rami Shaar and Jad Halaoui

Based: Dubai, UAE

Sector: Laundry

Employees: 170

Funding: about $8m

Funders: Addventure, B&Y Partners, Clara Ventures, Cedar Mundi Partners, Henkel Ventures

What are the main cyber security threats?

Cyber crime - This includes fraud, impersonation, scams and deepfake technology, tactics that are increasingly targeting infrastructure and exploiting human vulnerabilities.
Cyber terrorism - Social media platforms are used to spread radical ideologies, misinformation and disinformation, often with the aim of disrupting critical infrastructure such as power grids.
Cyber warfare - Shaped by geopolitical tension, hostile actors seek to infiltrate and compromise national infrastructure, using one country’s systems as a springboard to launch attacks on others.

Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026

1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years

If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.

2. E-invoicing in the UAE

Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption.

3. More tax audits

Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks.

4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime

Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.

5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit

There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.

6. Further transfer pricing enforcement

Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes.

7. Limited time periods for audits

Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion.

8. Pillar 2 implementation

Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.

9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services

Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations.

10. Substance and CbC reporting focus

Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity.

Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer

Labour dispute

The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.

- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law