Crown Prince of Dubai amended some provisions regarding the regulation of railways in Dubai

Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of the Dubai Executive Council, revised several elements of Executive Council Resolution No. (1) of 2017 governing railway regulation in the emirate of Dubai on Monday. The revised resolution modifies provisions pertaining to the tasks and responsibilities of Dubai's Roads and Transport Authority (RTA). They also describe the RTA's functions, which include the planning, design, and development of Dubai's public railway network.

According to the amendments, the RTA is tasked with defining the requirements, procedures, controls, standards, and specifications used by its Safety Regulatory Entity, as well as the requirements, procedures, and controls required for the Rail Agency of the RTA and the Safety Regulatory Entity to issue the certificates specified in this resolution. The RTA is also tasked in Resolution No. (53) of 2023 with ensuring that certificates issued by the RTA's Rail Agency and the Safety Regulatory Entity are free of any conflict of interest. These certifications will be granted independently of the owners, operators, contractors, and any other people or companies subject to the terms of this resolution.

The RTA is also responsible for engaging and coordinating with appropriate authorities in Dubai and other emirates in order to realise the resolution's objectives, which include the integration of railway systems and other modes of transportation. It is permitted to enter into railway-related contracts and agreements, as well as to adopt policies, plans, and programmes submitted to it by the Rail Agency and the Safety Regulatory Entity in all issues pertaining to the requirements of this resolution and the resolutions made in response to it.

The Rail Agency of the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) proposes policies, plans, and programmes for developing and designing the public railway network, submits them to the Director General of the RTA for approval, and supervises their implementation after approval, according to Article (6) of the amendment. It is also responsible for approving the Railway Protection Rules, General Guidelines, Planning and Design Standards Guide, establishing criteria for the qualification and accreditation of contractors, consultants, and operators, and issuing no-objection certificates and compliance certificates.

The Executive Council Resolution No. (53) of 2023 also alters Articles (7) and (10) of Executive Council Resolution No. (1) of 2017 pertaining to the building and operation of railway networks in the Emirate of Dubai. Furthermore, it supersedes Articles (15) on fines and administrative measures, (17) on judicial seizure, and (18) on complaints.

Furthermore, Executive Council Resolution No. (53) of 2023 changes two tables featured in Executive Council Resolution No. (1) of 2017: Table No. (4) about fees for granting certifications and delivering services, and Table No. (6) for infractions and sanctions relating to the RTA's Rail Agency. The revised resolution will take effect on the date it is published in the Official Gazette.