Abdulla Rashed Al Otaiba, Chairman of the Department of Transport and member of the UAE Executive Council, opens Gulf Traffic 2012 Monday in Abu Dhabi.ABDULLA Rashed Al Otaiba, Chairman of the Department of Transport and Member of the UAE Executive Council, has officially inaugurated Monday the Gulf Traffic Exhibition and Conference. Taking place until Nov. 21 at Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre, the three-day exhibition and two-day conference opens as the Gulf region forges ahead with $121.3 billion worth of road and bridge projects already underway or in the planning phase. A further $149 billion worth of rail projects are also expected in the region over the next decade, many of which will ultimately converge into the eagerly awaited GCC Railway project – a 2,117km rail network that will link all six GCC states, boosting regional travel and trade ties. Gulf Traffic organizers Informa Exhibitions has confirmed an exhibitor line-up of more than 100 of the world's leading traffic, rail, and parking infrastructure suppliers looking to capitalize on the huge opportunities in the GCC region, as they display their latest innovations, solutions, products and services. Richard Pavitt, Exhibition Director for Gulf Traffic, said: “The GCC region presents itself as a hugely exciting prospect for all those involved in transport planning and infrastructure development, and the investments that governments are injecting into roads and rail projects indicates how committed they are to implementing their ground transport infrastructure. — SG
