Infrastructure & Transport
From The Report: Sharjah 2017
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As both a national and regional transport and logistics centre, Sharjah benefits from advantages such as strong connectivity to other emirates and the wider world. The only member of the UAE federation to border all other emirates, it has the UAE’s only container port located outside the Straits of Hormuz. The importance of this facility and the emirate’s transport and logistics industry as a whole could be boosted in the long term by plans to develop a regional rail network, while its airport continues to see rapid growth, boosted by its status as the main hub for the region’s largest low-cost airline.

This chapter contains interviews with Abdullah Belhaif Al Nuaimi, Minister of Infrastructure Development, and Chairman, Federal Transport Authority; Adel Ali, CEO, Air Arabia; and Badr Jafar, CEO, Crescent Enterprises and Executive Chairman, Gulftainer.

Articles from this Chapter

Overview

Rock the boat: Expansion plans are set to make the emirate more competitive
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As both a national and regional transport and logistics hub, Sharjah benefits from advantages such as its strong connectivity to other emirates and the wider world. It is the only member of the UAE federation that borders all other emirates, and it boasts the UAE’s only container port to be located outside the Straits of Hormuz. The importance of the latter facility and the emirate’s transport and logistics industry as a whole could be boosted in the long term by plans to develop a regional…

Interview

Essential upgrades: Abdullah Belhaif Al Nuaimi, Minister of Infrastructure Development; and Chairman, Federal Transport Authority, on the importance of improving legislation
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Interview: Abdullah Belhaif Al Nuaimi What are the biggest priorities for infrastructure development and integration going forward? ABDULLAH BELHAIF AL NUAIMI: Over the last 10 years, the UAE government has worked to improve performance, implementing specific deadlines and milestones for each ministry and department. Part of this process has involved developing a forward-looking strategy, rather than looking into what we have today. In the context of the Federal Transport Authority, there are two…

Interview

Flying high: Adel Ali, CEO, Air Arabia, on strategic growth and developing competitive advantages
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Interview: Adel Ali What are the prospects for regional expansion in the industry in the coming years? ADEL ALI: We have consistently been achieving between 10% and 14% growth year-on-year (y-o-y), and I have no reason to believe that trend will not continue. Travel is part of people’s lives now and, despite what happens with regards to the geopolitics and the economy of the region, people will continue to travel. In 2017 we are expecting to grow by around 12% in terms of both fleet and operations,…

Analysis

Around the bend: New projects will lead to improved traffic flow and safety
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Traffic congestion is a significant problem in Sharjah, with traffic to and from Dubai during rush hour being a particular issue due to the large number of people that live in Sharjah and commute to the neighbouring emirate. However, a range of road construction projects aimed at boosting capacity and improving traffic flow have recently been completed or are under way. New Roads In August 2016 the Sharjah Roads and Transport Authority (SRTA) inaugurated a new 3-km-long, two-lane ring road, connecting…

Interview

Pioneering spirit: Badr Jafar, CEO, Crescent Enterprises; and Executive Chairman, Gulftainer, on the evolving logistics sector and building a regional hub
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Interview: Badr Jafar What needs to be done to consolidate Sharjah as a regional logistics centre? BADR JAFAR: There are two dimensions worth exploring here in Sharjah and in the broader UAE. The country enjoys a strategic location in the middle of the so-called new Silk Road, connecting the Far East and Central Asia with Europe and Africa. With this geographical advantage, its logistics sector has grown rapidly over the past few decades. Looking at Sharjah in particular, the emirate has always…