Dubai: Dubai Police, represented by Hatta Police Station, held a dialogue session titled “Serious Traffic Accidents on Al Watan Road”, in cooperation with strategic partners, namely the Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure, Ajman Police, Ras Al Khaimah Police, the General Command of Dubai Civil Defense, National Ambulance, Dubai Municipality, and Dubai Corporation for Ambulance Services. The session, also attended by the station's internal partners — the General Department of Traffic, the General Department of Transport and Rescue, the Resilience Centre, and the Foresight Centre — was held at the Community Development Authority hall in Hatta, with the aim of strengthening institutional integration among the relevant entities and discussing best practices, challenges, and solutions to enhance security and safety on Al Watan Road.

The session was attended by Brigadier Expert Ahmed bin Aluba, Director of the General Department of Stations at the General Command of Dubai Civil Defense; Brigadier Mubarak Al Ketbi, Director of Hatta Police Station; his deputy, Colonel Ali Obaid Al Badwawi; Engineer Khamis Al Shehyari from the Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure; along with a number of officers, heads of sections from police stations, and representatives of the strategic partners.

Essential Channel
In his remarks, Brigadier Mubarak Al Ketbi stressed the importance of this coordination meeting, noting the fruitful outcomes that serve the common good. He described the meeting as one of the most important channels used among partners to align perspectives and work as one team in the public interest. He added that partnership and cooperation in the UAE have become an exemplary model not only locally and regionally, but also internationally.

Brig. Al Ketbi also highlighted the importance of Al Watan Road as a vital strategic corridor, which connects the Hatta area in Dubai with the Masfout area in Ajman and Al Munaiy and Wadi Al Qor mountains in Ras Al Khaimah, and intersects with the extension of Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Road in Mleiha, Sharjah. Al Watan Road also supports tourism and economic activity and is distinguished by the fact that it crosses the borders of most emirates, which requires coordination among the relevant entities to enhance traffic safety and security for road users," he continued.

Three Themes
The session discussed three main themes. The first, on serious traffic accidents on Al Watan Road, included an analysis of the causes of serious accidents, response times and handling mechanisms, a review of challenges facing ambulance and rescue teams, and preventive solutions to enhance traffic safety.

Traffic Congestion
The second theme addressed the current situation of truck congestion. Discussions covered the causes of truck congestion and its impact on traffic flow, regulatory and engineering solutions to improve traffic fluidity, the organisation of truck movement times and routes, and developmental proposals for roads and infrastructure.

Zero Bureaucracy
Meanwhile, the third theme addressed integration mechanisms and zero bureaucracy among entities to enhance traffic safety and readiness. Discussions focused on strengthening joint coordination during accidents and emergencies, developing a unified mechanism for communication and information exchange, raising field readiness and response efficiency, and ensuring that the injured are transported to the nearest appropriate hospital based on response time and critical condition, without being confined to a specific hospital.

A Traffic Plan
During the meeting, the traffic plan implemented by Hatta Police Station in cooperation with the General Department of Traffic and strategic partners was reviewed. The plan aims to facilitate and streamline the movement of trucks on Hatta–Oman Road, which witnesses a daily surge in truck traffic, requiring the provision of all safety requirements and the deployment of patrols and personnel to enhance traffic flow. The plan includes organising truck movement in assembly areas in coordination with the Roads and Transport Authority; providing an immediate response to broken-down trucks with heavy-duty recovery vehicles; accelerating clearance and exit procedures for trucks in cooperation with Hatta Customs and the Hatta Border Crossing; issuing fines against trucks that fail to adhere to the designated route; maintaining continuous coordination and field follow-up among the relevant entities; and deploying fire engines, ambulances, and rescue vehicles at assembly points to enhance public safety, among other measures.