Vision 2030 Jan. 2011 | Page 79

Transport Abu Dhabi’s transport infrastructure falls under the remit of the Department of Transport, headed by Chairman, HE Abdulla Rashed Al Otaiba. The T-shaped island can generally be described as having a good transport infrastructure. A New York style grid road system operates, making the island more navigable than its regional counterparts, Dubai and Doha. An adequate bus service will soon be complimented by automated and air conditioned bus shelters. A new generation of silver metred taxis has been introduced, which makes getting around relatively easy. Taxi prices are among the lowest in the world. The port of Mina Zayed serves the city. A new port, Khalifa Port and Industrial Zone at Al-Taweelah is planned and will soon be introduced to serve the needs of an ever-expanding metropolis. In general, the city can be said to be expanding southeastwards, with developments such as Yas Island, Al Raha Beach and Masdar City in progress. Customs & Logisitics The Abu Dhabi logistics infrastructure is adequate and being improved upon consistently. Operating a business from the Emirate ensures duty-free trade within the GCC area. Modernisation of the import/export processes by the customs have been well received by the business community. Agility Logistics’ Project logistics manager, Mohammed Jaber describes Agility’s relationship with Abu Dhabi Customs, “As one of only three companies with an actual desk inside Abu Dhabi customs, we operate from a privileged position. We are a golden card holder, meaning that our entire operation has been vetted and certified by Abu Dhabi Customs and we are a trusted partner.” says Jaber. The Abu Dhabi operation of Agility Logistics, the wellrecognised international brand is slightly different from its international counterparts, as it is more than 60% owned by Government super-developer Mubadala.The Agility name is established in over 120 countries with 550 offices. 77