RAS AL KHAIMAH // The emirate's first local bus service will begin next month after a series of delays.
Plans for the service were first announced in September 2008 but delayed until January last year, when it was put back again. A scheduled launch in May this year was postponed when the RAK Transport Authority (Rakta) said it did not have enough buses.
"Since the paperwork was being shuffled between departments it took some time," said Jason Farhat, Rakta's director of commercial and investment affairs. "Now the process is going very smoothly."
The one-way fare, set at Dh5 for the proposed May launch, will now be Dh7. Mr Farhat attributed the increase to higher fuel prices. A taxi from Nakheel to Sha'am, the northernmost town, on the Oman border, costs Dh40.
The service will include three 14-passenger buses running every 45 minutes from the Jumbo intersection in Nakheel to Sha'am via Khor Khwair and al Rams. The second and third routes, which will begin at a later date, will follow the airport road to the Fujairah border and the coastal road to Jazirat al Hamra. As many as 12 buses will be used. "We will start as a pilot test after Eid," Mr Farhat said.
Workers have had few options since Rakta stopped share taxis from running three years ago in favour of three private taxi companies. The extra expense has been hard on low-wage workers.
While the services will travel through outlying areas, there are no plans to introduce buses within RAK city.
azacharias@thenational.ae
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Director: Matty Brown
Stars: Nadine Labaki, Ziad Bakri, Zain Al Rafeea, Riman Al Rafeea
Rating: 2.5/5
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Founders: Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi
Total funding: Self funded
Company profile
Company: Verity
Date started: May 2021
Founders: Kamal Al-Samarrai, Dina Shoman and Omar Al Sharif
Based: Dubai
Sector: FinTech
Size: four team members
Stage: Intially bootstrapped but recently closed its first pre-seed round of $800,000
Investors: Wamda, VentureSouq, Beyond Capital and regional angel investors
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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TICKETS
For tickets for the two-day Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL) event, entitled Dubai Invasion 2019, on September 27 and 28 go to www.meraticket.com.
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Name: The Concept
Founders: Yadhushan Mahendran, Maria Sobh and Muhammad Rijal
Based: Abu Dhabi
Founded: 2017
Number of employees: 7
Sector: Aviation and space industry
Funding: $250,000
Future plans: Looking to raise $1 million investment to boost expansion and develop new products
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Billie Holliday: for the burn and also the way she told stories.
Thelonius Monk: for his earnestness.
Duke Ellington: for his edge and spirituality.
Louis Armstrong: his legacy is undeniable. He is considered as one of the most revolutionary and influential musicians.
Terence Blanchard: very political - a lot of jazz musicians are making protest music right now.
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- Golden circle - Dh995
- Floor Standing - Dh495
- Lower Bowl Platinum - Dh95
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COMPANY PROFILE
Name: HyperSpace
Started: 2020
Founders: Alexander Heller, Rama Allen and Desi Gonzalez
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Entertainment
Number of staff: 210
Investment raised: $75 million from investors including Galaxy Interactive, Riyadh Season, Sega Ventures and Apis Venture Partners
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More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
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Rating: 1/5
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Engine: 4.0-litre flat-six
Torque: 450Nm at 6,100rpm
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Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
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Article 15
Produced by: Carnival Cinemas, Zee Studios
Directed by: Anubhav Sinha
Starring: Ayushmann Khurrana, Kumud Mishra, Manoj Pahwa, Sayani Gupta, Zeeshan Ayyub
Our rating: 4/5
The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
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Price, base / as tested: Dh182,178
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Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
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Price, base / as tested Dh137,000 / Dh189,950
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