Roads & Transport Authority - News Details

The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has approved the 8th edition of the Dubai’s Railway Protection Code of Practice. The latest version includes various improvements to the Code that enable RTA’s Rail Agency to adopt a more effective methodology for protecting the facilities and infrastructure of the railway network in Dubai. It serves the ultimate goal of ensuring the safety of both the facilities and users of the metro service in the emirate.

“This Code of Practice aims to protect the facilities and infrastructure of the railway in Dubai and forms an integral part of the legal structure of the Executive Council’s Resolution No. 1/2017 regulating the railway operations in Dubai,” said Hussain Al Saffar, Director of Rail Right-of-Way, Rail Agency, RTA.

"This Code of Practice is a key tool that details the requirements for safe practising restricted activities within the Rail Protection Zones without posing any risks that may undermine the safety and operation of the rail facilities, as stipulated in the said Executive Council’s Resolution No. 1/2017. The Code is based on carrying out a risk assessment and engineering analysis of all restricted works and activities, which have the potential of causing a direct or indirect impact on the integrity of the railway infrastructure,” he noted. 

"RTA held several open meetings with representatives of contracting & consultancy firms to familiarise them with this Code of Practice. We have achieved the main objective of revising the Code by addressing the limitations identified in the previous versions in the light of similar cases and experiences of railway systems in other countries as well as lessons learned from projects undertaken within the Right-of-Way of Railway in Dubai,” continued Al Saffar.

“RTA gave due attention to aligning this Code with the Executive Regulation of Resolution No. 1/2017 issued by the RTA that updates the list of restricted activities and procedures of risk control to ensure compatibility with the development and infrastructure projects in the emirate. This especially applies to Rail Protection Zones given the positive impact of extended metro lines and public transport services on the urban development of the Emirate,” concluded Al Saffar.

Important Updates and Additions

The Rail Right-of-Way Department has made valuable additions to the latest version of the Code of Practice. It includes a revised list of restricted activities and detailed procedures and instructions to be followed in controlling and coping with hazards encountered during the practising of such activities, in addition to several other improvements. An electronic copy of the Code of Practice is available on RTA’s website and accessible through this link:

https://www.rta.ae/links/rail/Railway-Protection-Code-of-Practice.pdf