DUBAI // New legislation is needed to govern the role of public-private partnerships in government departments, says Mattar Al Tayer, chairman and executive director of the Roads and Transport Authority.
He and other RTA executives met yesterday with business experts who argued the Government needed a centralised unit to oversee all public-private partnerships (PPP).
“I agree that risks must be shared by both parties, I agree that the Government, to allow growth, must allow more private sector participation in their projects,” said Mr Al Tayer.
“But I don’t see how a centralised unit can have the experience to address all the different projects.”
He gave an example of the Dubai Metro – a PPP project that cost Dh28 billion to develop in partnership with at least five multinational corporations. Even the everyday running of the Metro is handled by a PPP between the RTA and the British government service company, Serco.
But Mr Al Tayer said the process was severely hampered at first by companies who wanted to dictate the price of fares – something the Government wanted to keep low to attract more users to public transport.
“When we started negotiation with businesses we faced multiple challenges highlighted by the intervention of companies in fixing the transit rate,” he said.
“Imposing a high fare would have meant the Dubai Metro was doomed to fail in achieving its cherished objectives.”
The debate on PPP was part of the RTA’s annual best practices forum.
“Dubai should look at examples of better governance models and use these as a base to establish their own model,” said Ludo Van der Heyden, professor in corporate governance and strategy at Insead, one of the world’s largest and most prestigious graduate business schools with campuses around the globe.
David Harris, an adviser at the foreign investment office of Dubai Foreign Direct Investment, which is part of the Dubai Department of Economic Development, gave the example of Canada’s centralised unit, which handles all PPP projects.
“An independent centralised government unit could better facilitate the private sectors needs and address their concerns while also ensuring transparency and that risks are shared by all parties,” said Mr Harris.
RTA officials voiced strong disagreement. They said government departments were too dynamic and had too wide a range of expertise and experience to cede decision making to a central body.
Samuel Magid, a senior expert on infrastructure practices at global management consulting firm McKinsey and Company, proposed a central unit that would advise and not run individual projects.
All agreed that one of the main problems in PPP projects is the overpriced bids made by the private sector.
“Transparency in the project pipeline would allow the private parties to better plan their future investments,’’ said Mr Magid.
“This would also give the Government a better selection of partners.”
malkhan@thenational.ae
The specs
AT4 Ultimate, as tested
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Power: 420hp
Torque: 623Nm
Transmission: 10-speed automatic
Price: From Dh330,800 (Elevation: Dh236,400; AT4: Dh286,800; Denali: Dh345,800)
On sale: Now
2025 Fifa Club World Cup groups
Group A: Palmeiras, Porto, Al Ahly, Inter Miami.
Group B: Paris Saint-Germain, Atletico Madrid, Botafogo, Seattle.
Group C: Bayern Munich, Auckland City, Boca Juniors, Benfica.
Group D: Flamengo, ES Tunis, Chelsea, Leon.
Group E: River Plate, Urawa, Monterrey, Inter Milan.
Group F: Fluminense, Borussia Dortmund, Ulsan, Mamelodi Sundowns.
Group G: Manchester City, Wydad, Al Ain, Juventus.
Group H: Real Madrid, Al Hilal, Pachuca, Salzburg.
BORDERLANDS
Starring: Cate Blanchett, Kevin Hart, Jamie Lee Curtis
Director: Eli Roth
Rating: 0/5
The Brutalist
Director: Brady Corbet
Stars: Adrien Brody, Felicity Jones, Guy Pearce, Joe Alwyn
Rating: 3.5/5
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre flat-six
Torque: 450Nm at 6,100rpm
Transmission: 7-speed PDK auto or 6-speed manual
Fuel economy, combined: 13.8L/100km
On sale: Available to order now
About RuPay
A homegrown card payment scheme launched by the National Payments Corporation of India and backed by the Reserve Bank of India, the country’s central bank
RuPay process payments between banks and merchants for purchases made with credit or debit cards
It has grown rapidly in India and competes with global payment network firms like MasterCard and Visa.
In India, it can be used at ATMs, for online payments and variations of the card can be used to pay for bus, metro charges, road toll payments
The name blends two words rupee and payment
Some advantages of the network include lower processing fees and transaction costs
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
COMPANY PROFILE
Initial investment: Undisclosed
Investment stage: Series A
Investors: Core42
Current number of staff: 47
UAE jiu-jitsu squad
Men: Hamad Nawad and Khalid Al Balushi (56kg), Omar Al Fadhli and Saeed Al Mazroui (62kg), Taleb Al Kirbi and Humaid Al Kaabi (69kg), Mohammed Al Qubaisi and Saud Al Hammadi (70kg), Khalfan Belhol and Mohammad Haitham Radhi (85kg), Faisal Al Ketbi and Zayed Al Kaabi (94kg)
Women: Wadima Al Yafei and Mahra Al Hanaei (49kg), Bashayer Al Matrooshi and Hessa Al Shamsi (62kg)
The Vines - In Miracle Land
Two stars
The specs
Engine: Dual 180kW and 300kW front and rear motors
Power: 480kW
Torque: 850Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh359,900 ($98,000)
On sale: Now
Mercedes-AMG GT 63 S E Performance: the specs
Engine: 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 plus rear-mounted electric motor
Power: 843hp at N/A rpm
Torque: 1470Nm N/A rpm
Transmission: 9-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 8.6L/100km
On sale: October to December
Price: From Dh875,000 (estimate)
The biog
Favourite films: Casablanca and Lawrence of Arabia
Favourite books: Start with Why by Simon Sinek and Good to be Great by Jim Collins
Favourite dish: Grilled fish
Inspiration: Sheikh Zayed's visionary leadership taught me to embrace new challenges.
Electric scooters: some rules to remember
- Riders must be 14-years-old or over
- Wear a protective helmet
- Park the electric scooter in designated parking lots (if any)
- Do not leave electric scooter in locations that obstruct traffic or pedestrians
- Solo riders only, no passengers allowed
- Do not drive outside designated lanes
Europe’s rearming plan
- Suspend strict budget rules to allow member countries to step up defence spending
- Create new "instrument" providing €150 billion of loans to member countries for defence investment
- Use the existing EU budget to direct more funds towards defence-related investment
- Engage the bloc's European Investment Bank to drop limits on lending to defence firms
- Create a savings and investments union to help companies access capital
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Almnssa
Started: August 2020
Founder: Areej Selmi
Based: Gaza
Sectors: Internet, e-commerce
Investments: Grants/private funding
Banned items
Dubai Police has also issued a list of banned items at the ground on Sunday. These include:
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Political flags or banners
-
Bikes, skateboards or scooters
Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
