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This week Paul chats with Esmaeel Hasan Al Blooshi of the RAK Transport Authority in Ras Al Khaimah, United Arab Emirates. Ras Al Khaimah is the northernmost of the seven Emirates in the UAE and home to over 60 km of beaches, the world's longest zip line, and...

A really innovative and integrated transit system. From buses to taxis, e-scooters and e-bikes to ferries, RAK Transport is creating a uniquely integrated system powered by new apps and technology.

Unlike many North American transit authorities, taxis are an essential part of the overall transit system. The system caters to both residents of Ras Al Khaimah, but also a large tourist industry. The goal is to get people quickly, easily, affordably, and sustainably from one place to another.

You can learn more about RAKTA on their website.

Episode transcript:

Paul Comfort: This is Transit Unplugged. I'm your host Paul Comfort. Thanks for being with us today. As we interview the world's top transit executives to bring you their insights about what's happening in their transit system and for the future of our industry. And today we're excited to enter into the world of the middle east.

Again, our guest today is Mr. Esmaeel Hasan Al Blooshi , the executive general manager. At the RAS Al Khaimah Emirates in the United Arab Emirates Transport Authority, they call it the RAK Transport Authority or rack Transport Authority. And today he discusses the vision for transportation there in the Emirate as reliable, smart, and sustainable. It's their vision.

 It includes all kinds of exciting innovations, including rolling in taxi as part of the overall mobility solution. Uh, e-bikes, e-scooters plans for a high-speed ferry service. Uh, inner city connections between the various city states of the UAE, all that. You'll get a real in-depth look today with this interview with Mr. Esmaeel Hassan Al Blooshi on Transit Unplugged.

Narrator: What does it mean to be a successful public transit agency? What are you doing to lead the way? It's time to learn from the top transit professionals in North America.

This is Transit Unplugged with your host Paul Comfort.

Paul Comfort: Welcome to Transit Unplugged. I'm your host Paul Comfort. Great to be with you today on another edition of the world's leading transit podcast, Transit Unplugged. And today we head to the Middle East in an interview with a leader of one of the large upcoming transit systems in the United Arab Emirates. Esmaeel Hassan Al Blooshi. Thank you so much for being with us today Esmaeel.

Esmaeel Hasan Al Blooshi: Pleasure to be here. Thank you very much for hosting this international podcast.

Paul Comfort: Wonderful to have you with us. And I know you're famous there in the UAE, but after this people in 99 countries will know about you.

So, so we're excited to hear about all the things you've got going on there. Uh, some, our listeners who are regular listeners around the world will recall that recently we had another interview with, with the Ahmed Hashem Bahrozyan, who is the head of the CEO of Dubai RTA, which is one of the cities in the United Arab Emirates. And for those in the Western World, they may not be totally familiar with that with the United Arab Emirates. Um, why don't you tell us just a little bit about how they work that the city states and the structure and all that. And then I'd like to ask you a little about your own background.

Esmaeel Hasan Al Blooshi: Yeah, we here in the United Arab Emirates. It's about seven Emirates united together, and we have one ruler. Who's his Highness, Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan. He's the ruler of UAE. And all, all of the Emirates, they have their...