Scott Olson, the inventor of Rollerblades, is proposing a human-powered transport system for the country's major tourist areas and, perhaps, Abu Dhabi's clean-technology hub Masdar City.
The futuristic proposal is basically a monorail with pods propelled by passengers pedalling or "rowing" the capsules.
Mr Olson's company, SkyRide Technology, also plans to include electric capsules that travel on rails using energy drawn from solar panels. The company has a presence at the World Future Energy Summit in Abu Dhabi this week.
Mr Olson suggests his system could also be used at university and corporate campuses and even for large-scale urban transport.
"Hopefully this will change how people think about transportation and … get people off the ground and off of the roads," he said.
"People are always looking for things to do," said Adam Meyer, SkyRide's chief marketing officer."It could be looked at as a tourist attraction or an activity for people with the mentality of being active, healthy or fit," he said.
"Of course, for everyday use or for people not interested in manual effort, there will be alternatives."
The company has discussed the technology with officials at Masdar, the Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce, Ferrari World and several other organisations.
Paul Bierman-Lytle, the director of sustainability development for the contracting and consulting firm IMCC, based in Abu Dhabi, said he was considering SkyRide's human-powered system for several projects in which his company was involved. He is drawing up plans to potentially incorporate it at Al Forsan International Sports Resort, which will eventually include a shooting club, hotel and residential villas.
"This is such a unique concept, and would certainly draw a lot of attention from around the world," he said.
A similar human-powered system operates in New Zealand. Last September, Google invested US$1 million (Dh3.67m) in Shweeb, which built The Shweeb monorail ride at the country's Agroventures Park, to promote transit research and development.
SkyRide is just coming to market. It has so far drawn interest from special-needs centres, ski resorts and other tourism-related facilities. One small town in Minnesota is considering installing the monorail as a way for residents to pass over a busy intersection.
Each fibreglass pod rides on four 3cm diameter wheels along a steel track, which allows lane changes. The current model allows riders to reach up to 35kmh.
econroy@thenational.ae
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
Started: 2021
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
Based: Tunisia
Sector: Water technology
Number of staff: 22
Investment raised: $4 million
The alternatives
• Founded in 2014, Telr is a payment aggregator and gateway with an office in Silicon Oasis. It’s e-commerce entry plan costs Dh349 monthly (plus VAT). QR codes direct customers to an online payment page and merchants can generate payments through messaging apps.
• Business Bay’s Pallapay claims 40,000-plus active merchants who can invoice customers and receive payment by card. Fees range from 1.99 per cent plus Dh1 per transaction depending on payment method and location, such as online or via UAE mobile.
• Tap started in May 2013 in Kuwait, allowing Middle East businesses to bill, accept, receive and make payments online “easier, faster and smoother” via goSell and goCollect. It supports more than 10,000 merchants. Monthly fees range from US$65-100, plus card charges of 2.75-3.75 per cent and Dh1.2 per sale.
• 2checkout’s “all-in-one payment gateway and merchant account” accepts payments in 200-plus markets for 2.4-3.9 per cent, plus a Dh1.2-Dh1.8 currency conversion charge. The US provider processes online shop and mobile transactions and has 17,000-plus active digital commerce users.
• PayPal is probably the best-known online goods payment method - usually used for eBay purchases - but can be used to receive funds, providing everyone’s signed up. Costs from 2.9 per cent plus Dh1.2 per transaction.
Real estate tokenisation project
Dubai launched the pilot phase of its real estate tokenisation project last month.
The initiative focuses on converting real estate assets into digital tokens recorded on blockchain technology and helps in streamlining the process of buying, selling and investing, the Dubai Land Department said.
Dubai’s real estate tokenisation market is projected to reach Dh60 billion ($16.33 billion) by 2033, representing 7 per cent of the emirate’s total property transactions, according to the DLD.
GAC GS8 Specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh149,900
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
The 12 Syrian entities delisted by UK
Ministry of Interior
Ministry of Defence
General Intelligence Directorate
Air Force Intelligence Agency
Political Security Directorate
Syrian National Security Bureau
Military Intelligence Directorate
Army Supply Bureau
General Organisation of Radio and TV
Al Watan newspaper
Cham Press TV
Sama TV