News

Dubai launches Phase II of bike rental service with 95 additional stations and 950 e-bikes

Published

4 years ago

March 7, 2022

Spread the love

Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) and Careem have rolled out Phase II of its bike rental service (bike-share) programme. It has added 950 pedal-assisted e-bikes (bikes operated by pedals and kinetic energy), and 95 stations.

The total number of these bikes in Dubai will double to 1,750 bikes spread across 175 stations. The multi-stage initiative aims to deploy 3,500 bikes at 350 docking stations across Dubai.

The launch of Phase II of the service makes it the first completely pedal-assisted docked bike-share initiative in the world.

The new stations will be introduced at key areas which will include the new cycling track at Jumeirah Beach, Al Safa, Dubai Canal, Dubai Marina, Al Mamzar, Al Satwa, Jumeirah 1, Al Khwaneej, Al Jaffliya, Business Bay, Dubai Internet City, and Jumeirah Lakes Towers.
More stations will come up.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by هيئة الطرق والمواصلات، دبي (@rta_dubai)

Careem Bikes has reportedly completed 1,592 million trips as of February 2022, according to Dubai Media Office.
Mattar Al Tayer, director-general and chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of the RTA, said he was happy with the “growing habit of cycling as a sport and using bikes as an alternative and sustainable mean of mobility”.

He pointed out that Dubai is home to cycling tracks that total 527km. It helps support the RTA’s efforts in “boosting the integration of mass transit means by promoting flexible car-free mobility trips, and safely integrating them with daily means of transportation”.
“Thus, it serves the overall objective of reducing the use of private vehicles and switching to the use of other more sustainable means of transportation. The step will support the Dubai Government’s efforts to reduce the consumption of energy and pollution, and provide a healthier and happier environment as well as short-haul services (first- and last-mile) that help public transport riders reach their final destinations,” said Al Tayer.

Bassel Al Nahlaoui, managing director of Mobility, Careem, said the service is being expanded due to the “incredible demand we have seen for micro-mobility transport across the UAE”.
“More and more people are choosing to travel by bike, for work or leisure, and we are incredibly proud that Careem
BIKE is doubling in size to become the first completely pedal-assisted docked bike-share initiative in the world.”

The RTA intends to further extend the total length of cycling tracks in the emirate to 739km by 2026. RTA has set a speed limit of 30kph for tracks dedicated to cyclists. Tracks in urban areas dedicated to cyclists or shared with pedestrians have a speed limit of 20kph

Crime

Dubai sets up new committee to tackle misinformation and fake news

Published

6 hours ago

August 3, 2026

Michael Gomes

Spread the love

Dubai is setting up a new committee to combat misinformation and fake news while strengthening clear, transparent communication about the emirate’s achievements.

The move follows a directive from Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Second Deputy Ruler of Dubai and Chairman of the Dubai Media Council.

The new Dubai Media Narrative Committee will be chaired by Mona Ghanem Al Marri, Vice Chairperson and Managing Director of the Dubai Media Council.

The committee will shape Dubai’s official media narrative, define key communication priorities for government and private sector entities, and recommend policies and strategies to the Dubai Media Council for approval and implementation.

Sheikh Ahmed said a strong and credible media narrative has become an essential part of Dubai’s development journey, adding that the emirate’s creative and intellectual talent provides a solid foundation for telling Dubai’s story in line with the leadership’s vision.

The initiative aims to ensure accurate communication, counter false information and reinforce public confidence through a unified and transparent approach.

Food

Abu Dhabi to ban junk food from supermarket checkouts and entrances

Published

3 days ago

July 31, 2026

Michael Gomes

Spread the love

Shoppers in Abu Dhabi will soon see fewer chocolates, crisps, sugary drinks and other unhealthy snacks at supermarket entrances, checkout counters and other high-visibility locations under a new policy aimed at encouraging healthier eating habits.

From January 1, 2027, supermarkets larger than 4,000 square feet and online grocery platforms will no longer be allowed to prominently display food and drinks classified as high in fat, salt and sugar (HFSS) under the Abu Dhabi Public Health Centre’s SEHHI nutrition classification system.

The initiative, led by Healthy Living in collaboration with the Abu Dhabi Registration Authority (ADRA) and supported by several government entities, is designed to make healthier choices easier without restricting what people can buy.

Under the new rules, HFSS products cannot be displayed at store entrances, end-of-aisle promotions or checkout areas. Online retailers must also remove these products from homepage promotions, search recommendations, pop-up advertisements and checkout pages.

Authorities stressed that the products are not being banned. They will remain available in their usual aisles, allowing shoppers to purchase them while reducing impulse buying driven by prominent placement.

Officials said the policy is based on behavioural science and international best practices to create shopping environments that naturally encourage healthier decisions.

Retailers across Abu Dhabi are preparing for the changes ahead of the mandatory deadline, with some stores already implementing the new placement standards across their stores in the emirate.

The initiative forms part of Abu Dhabi’s wider preventive health strategy, which focuses on reducing lifestyle-related diseases by embedding healthier choices into everyday life.

Announcements

August fuel rates announced: UAE petrol prices go up

Published

3 days ago

July 31, 2026

Michael Gomes

Spread the love

UAE motorists will pay more at the pump from Saturday after the UAE Fuel Price Committee announced higher petrol and diesel prices for August 2026.

The revised rates, which take effect from August 1, are:

Super 98: Dh3.60 per litre (up from Dh3.40)
Special 95: Dh3.49 per litre (up from Dh3.29)
E-Plus 91: Dh3.41 per litre (up from Dh3.21)
Diesel: Dh3.80 per litre (up from Dh3.60)

The increase reverses July’s price reduction and comes after volatility in global oil markets during the past month.

The UAE Fuel Price Committee reviews retail fuel prices at the end of each month, with rates determined in line with movements in international oil markets.

The new prices will remain in effect throughout August 2026.