Dubai public transport system to benefit from Google mapping

Date: 23/10/2009

Dubai has become the first city across the whole of the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region to have its public transportation system made available on Google's mapping applications.

As well as being able to benefit from a satellite image of routes, visitors and locals alike are now able to gain real-time access to bus schedules and services over the internet.

The development forms part of a general journey planning initiative launched earlier this year by Dubai's Public Transport Agency, with its chief executive, Abdullah Al Madani having signed the first agreement of its kind with the search engine giant in the MENA region.

"The new initiative will enable a large number of potential users across the globe to gain access to information about the transport network in Dubai," he explained upon signing the deal.

Just recently, it was announced that the first national train service in the United Arab Emirates is due to begin 2013, connecting the UAE with neighbouring Saudi Arabia and Oman.