In fall last year, the Dubai transport company had issued a public tender for the delivery of 620 city buses. Our local representative, Al Ghurair & Solaris Middle East Bus Trading, had participated on behalf of Solaris.

In the end, the contracting entity decided to split the order. As a bottom line, Solaris Bus & Coach is to ship 225 buses to Dubai. The first part shipment is scheduled for November 2007, the final shipment for 2008. For the first five years, Solaris will also maintain and service the vehicles. A service station, operated by Polish Solaris staff until local workforce has been trained, is to be established at the site of the newly constructed fleet facility.

Among the 225 ordered buses, there are 150 articulated Solaris Urbino 18 and 75 Solaris Urbino 12 city buses. Due to the specific climatic and cultural conditions, the buses to be shipped to the Arab Emirates will feature a great number of special solutions. Among other things, all buses will feature a so-called family zone. The area between the first and the second door will, form a family compartment for women and children. All inscriptions in the buses, including the instrument panel, will be bi-lingual - Arab and English. Also, all vehicles are going to be equipped with a video surveillance system.

The special engine guard to protect the engine in case of sandstorms or a high silt concentration is rated as a technical innovation. For this reason, the external components of the air conditioning plant are protected by special filters.

- Ahead of project works, we have consulted participants in the Paristo-Dakar Rallies in order to optimally prepare our buses for the difficult desert conditions - reports Dariusz Michalak, the Solaris Technical Office Executive.

- Over recent years, Dubai has become one of the most important megacities in the world. The next step in the city‘s development is the establishment of an ultra-modern public transportation system. Being a fairly young family enterprise, we are deeply honored to supply the Arab Emirates with our vehicles. - says Krzysztof Olszewski, president of Solaris
Bus & Coach.