Al Naboodah Group Enterprises (ANGE), one of the UAE’s oldest and most respected family conglomerates, partnered with UK bus manufacturer Optare to launch the RTA Solo into service in the UAE. A long-established strategic partner of the RTA, ANGE has provided supply and maintenance services for public transport buses for the last 10 years.

Held at RTA’s headquarters, the exclusive launch was held in the presence of RTA’s Director General HE Mattar al Tayer, ANGE’s Managing Director Mr. Swaidan Al Naboodah, Optare’s Chief Executive Officer Richard Butler and HE Mehdi Taher – Deputy Consul General of the British embassy in Dubai.

Commenting on the launch, Swaidan Saeed Al Naboodah, Managing Director of ANGE, said: “We are thrilled to be celebrating the launch of the RTA Solo, and to have played a central role in its entry into the RTA’s feeder service. As a long-standing partner to the RTA, our mission has always been to introduce state-of-the-art products and services in the region while providing 24/7 operational support to our associates.”

A new derivative of Optare’s groundbreaking midi-bus, the 8.5m variant RTA Solo was developed in partnership with ANGE and RTA for the UAE. The innovative wheel forward vehicle can carry up to 32 passengers in a bespoke configuration on a compact low floor fully accessible platform that provides access to areas inaccessible to larger buses.

The RTA Solo was designed and built at Optare’s facility in Sherburn, near Leeds in the UK. Beneficial in operating through the narrow routes found in urban areas of Dubai, the 94 midi-buses will go into service this summer, running on 17 routes in the Emirate.

Optare’s Chief Executive Officer, Richard Butler, said “I am proud to see this exciting project reach a successful conclusion. The RTA Solo presented the business with many new technical challenges, which we have overcome and bettered, to provide the RTA with a powerful tool in growing patronage in Dubai. There is further opportunity for Optare’s growth in the region and we look forward to our continued partnership with Al Naboodah Group Enterprises.”

Optare Solo Buses are distributed in UAE through Swaidan Trading Co LLC, the trading arm of Al Naboodah Group Enterprises.