The Ras Al Khaimah Transport Authority (RAKTA) on 17 April unveiled the first phase of a solar-powered Real-Time Passenger Information (RTPI) system at Al Manar Mall bus station, marking a modest but meaningful leap in the northern emirate’s public-transport digitisation drive. Using low-energy e-ink displays—clearly readable even in the UAE’s harsh sunlight—the screens show live arrival countdowns, route maps and service alerts drawn from RAKTA’s fleet-management platform. The authority says all major bus stations will be equipped in subsequent phases, giving domestic commuters and visiting business travellers the same quality of data long enjoyed in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. For the UAE’s global-mobility ecosystem, better last-mile connectivity in Ras Al Khaimah reduces reliance on private cars and ride-hailing for assignees working in the city’s expanding free-zones and tourism developments. Employers can expect lower ground-transport costs, while sustainability teams will welcome the solar panels that power each display. The project aligns with the emirate’s destination-marketing strategy, which aims to triple visitor numbers by 2030 and support a growing expatriate workforce in the manufacturing and hospitality sectors. RAKTA Director-General Engineer Ismail Hassan Al Balooshi said the system would “help passengers plan journeys efficiently and cut waiting times”, pledging full network coverage by early 2027.
Source: Madhyamam (UAE edition)
