Abu Dhabi, Sep 14th, 2011 (WAM)–A workshop on the federal law number 9 of year 2011, on the land transport, issued recently by President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan was held here today at Rotana Beach Hotel.

The workshop was held upon the directives by Sheikh Hamdan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Public Works, Chairman of the Board of National Transport Authority, in line with the framework of coordination and cooperation with strategic partners in the UAE.

The law includes five chapters, which include 40 items; they define the conditions for granting licence to practice, regulate and control the land transport sector in the country. The bylaws specify the regulations to obtain a licence.

Inaugurated by Eng. Abdullah Salem Al Katheri, Executive Director for the Land Transport Sector at the Authority, the workshop was attended by a number of local and federal institutions, among others, the Ministries of Interior, Public Works, Environment and Water and Foreign Trade.

Al Katheri delivered an opening speech in which he welcomed the audience. “National Transport Authority will tackle in this workshop with the strategic partners the initial outlook of the bylaws of the law and agreement on subsequent steps to implement it in the framework of continuous coordination and cooperation with the partners to attain the objectives in line with future vision of the UAE President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan and the directives by the Vice President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum”.

The workshop viewed the stages of the law preparation. The draft law of land transport was prepared in 2002 in coordination with the authorities, federal and local departments. It was reviewed in the light of changes and the latest developments, especially the system of National Transport Authority, which was issued by the Cabinet Resolution number 52 of year 2006.

During the preparation of the draft law of land transport, the laws and experiences of other countries were taken into account. The workshop discussed the provisions of the law, among others, transport of passengers and goods in the UAE. It also tackled the international transport in this respect, as well as penal codes for violators.

The participants also discussed the land transport systems and laws in the country, and achievement of economic growth in the transport sector, and the highest safety, security standards in the land transport sector. They also tackled impediments, protection of environment and statistical report regarding the land transport sector in the UAE