Thank you RTA for our National Day gift. No, I really mean it. As a regular taxi user, the Dhs8 a day added to my fare, simply for crossing a bridge, was a little irksome. But from today onwards, Salik on taxi journeys is no longer, and I couldn’t be happier.

Some miseries, who I have discussed this with, have poo-pooed it as little more than a good PR move, before fares are raised for good, but, in the spirit of National Day, I have decided to forget whatever future plans could be afoot and celebrate the fact that I will be saving myself a tidy Dhs200 a month. In today’s climate that isn’t a sum to be sniffed at. That’s 10 posh coffees or a trip to Ski Dubai.

Officially, the reason behind this sudden about-turn is to improve Dubai’s image in the eyes of tourists, who might be perturbed at paying the extra fee - especially British visitors, who are now getting considerably less for their pound than they used to.

Eisa Abdul Rahman Al Dossari, CEO of the RTA’s Public Transport Agency adds: “Neither the taxi driver nor the passenger will pay the toll.” Good news all round then. And, as if being de-Saliked wasn’t joyous enough, there is more good news afoot.

Another initiative launched by the RTA last month has been that of District Taxis, deployed in areas where taxis are in short supply. Bur Dubai and Beach Road, I hear you.

Mr Abdul Aziz Malek, CEO of the Dubai Taxi Agency explains: “This initiative was launched after we received complaints from the public that taxis were not waiting to pick up passengers in certain areas. As a five-month pilot project on October 21 we inducted 30 taxis to provide this service from Satwa to Abu Hail to the south of Garhoud. The pilot project will run for five months and the number of District Taxis will be increased to 200,” added Malek.

Whether these moves make Dubai taxi users lives any easier, remains to be seen, but it’s certainly a step in the right direction.

World famous ocean liner the QE2 arrived in Dubai early on Wednesday evening, exactly 40 years to the day from when she first went to sea on her preliminary sea trials.

The ship docked at Mina Rashid at around 6pm UAE time and was greeted by hundreds of cheering well-wishers waving Union Jack and UAE flags.

A glittering fireworks display lit up the sky above the QE2, while the Dubai Police band struck up a tune.

The cruise ship was met by a group of dignitaries from state-owned conglomerate Dubai World and real estate unit Nakheel, including Dubai World chairman Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem and Nakheel CEO Chris O’Donnel.

The QE2 was accompanied into port by a flotilla of more than 60 local yachts, boats and leisure-craft.

In the sky above the flotilla, one of Emirates’ new Airbus A380 superjumbos made several passes.

Joining the A380 in the sky were several Royal Naval helicopters.

Passengers were to spend Wednesday night aboard the QE2 for an exclusive party and then disembark on Thursday, for the last time.

The ship will then be transformed into a floating hotel docked on the trunk of the Palm Jumeirah. The mixed use development will function as a hotel, theatre, residential and retail attraction.

On Thursday, the official flag changing ceremony will take place on board the QE2 when current owner Cunard will formally hand over the ship to Nakheel.

The QE2 was purchased last year by Dubai World and Nakheel has already commenced construction on the luxury marina development on the Palm Jumeirah.

Over the forty years the QE2 has circumnavigating the world 25 times, crossing the Atlantic Ocean 800 times and carrying 2.5 million passengers.

This is an edited version of a story from arabianbusiness.com. Read the full story and see the gallery here.

I consider myself to be a pretty patient person. But not where taxis are concerned. The time when I most need one of these lesser-spotted creatures is on my way into work on a morning. Like most of the none-driving population of Dubai.

Usually, I solve the nightmare shortage by dragging myself out onto Jumeirah Beach Road at 6am in my gym gear.

It’s a scary sight, nine times out of ten I’m still asleep as I madly flag, but it seems to be the only way to ensure that I get to my office in Garhoud before 9am. It also forces me into some much-needed morning exercise. Everyone’s a winner. Until, that is, my alarm doesn’t go off.

Taxi’s post 8am are a whole different ball game. In fact the only drivers I’ve been able to attract at this hour are the newbies. We’ve all been there. Finally, your knight in shining beige pulls up alongside you. It looks like you might not be late for work after all. So you leap in, all smiles, blurting out your destination. But no, it wasn’t to be.

First, silence - combined with a confused expression on your would-be hero’s face. Maybe it’s the language barrier? You repeat your request, slowly and clearly. Still nothing. Then it comes. “Sorry, I’m new.” Ok, maybe if I repeat my destination one more time.

Ordinarily I am going to Garhoud - one of Dubai’s most well-known districts due to its proximity to the airport. Surely, somewhere with which taxis should become quite quickly familiar? It would seem not. So why are these drivers allowed to work? I know, I know, the huge shortage means that we need as much new blood as possible. I am the first to complain about the problem. But it’s not really helpful to clog up the roads with even more vehicles manned by the terminally confused.

Take this morning, for example. 7.50am Jumeirah Beach Road. A taxi pulls up. I couldn’t be happier. I clamber in. “Garhoud please”. “I’m new.” Deep breath. “GARHOUD please.” “I’m new.” I reason that this could go on for some time and my driver (fresh off the plane from Iran, with an excellent command of the English language – both speech, and song) is very likeable so I agree to direct him.

It’s a very easy route but I’m nervous. The last time I tried to direct a new driver to Garhoud we ended up in Sharjah. Nevertheless, time is ticking, and this could be my only chance, so I buckle up and start pointing.

He seems very relaxed, happily crooning along to a selection of female power ballads as we go. Scary, but oddly comforting and it seems to be keeping him calm so I’m saying nothing. He takes my directions with ease, no hiccups at the Maktoum/Garhoud Bridge decision point. We’re on a roll. And, for once, as if by magic, we reach my destination without a hitch.

I feel good for agreeing to assist – and relieved that I didn’t take us both the wrong way. Because it’s not really the drivers’ fault. Dubai’s ever-changing roads are notoriously tricky to navigate, and the vast majority of newbies arrive in Dubai with little idea of the routes that they are expected to memorize. But should we really have to be doing this? Surely, if you’re paying for a service, you shouldn’t have to do half of the job yourself? What if he’d picked up a tourist?

Unfortunately, I know that this will happen again. And I will keep directing. It’s either this, or book a taxi which will turn up as you’re sitting at your desk at work two-hours later. Then shout at you for having the audacity to have made alternative arrangements. When will the madness end?

Well, what a weekend. In fact, I think it would be fair to describe it as one of the biggest ever in Dubai. If you were lucky enough to spy the fireworks as the Atlantis VIP opening party got into full swing on Thursday night, you’ll know what we mean. Although, the resident dolphins, were apparently much less impressed with the commotion. As for the celebrity guests, for once the majority of the big names we expected showed up. Charlize Theron, Robert De Niro, Natalie Imbruglia and Mischa Barton partied the night away, Lindsay Lohan looked on as buddy Sam Ronson hit the DJ decks, while Bollywood big shot Shah Rukh Khan bagged the hotel’s best suite, worth Dhs150,000 a night, before hosting his own after party until 7am. The star turn of the evening was one Miss Kylie Minogue. The Aussie pop star netted a cool Dhs8million for her hour-long set before hitting Dubai Festival City on Friday night to perform for the 14,000 fans who couldn’t make it onto the uber-exclusive Atlantis guestlist. The mini-one is even teenier in real life and wowed fans with her energetic renditions of old classics and new hits, not to mention her eclectic selection of hats. Back at the party, Brit girl Lily Allen stole the show, sporting almost US$8million worth of Chopard jewels while London beauty Daisy Lowe’s shimmering silver gown marked her as one of the evening’s best-dressed. Guests were treated to a mouthwatering range of nibbles from the hotel’s in-house celebrity chefs, presented on aquatic-themed islands, while Bollywood beauty Priyanka Chopra had the hardest job of the evening starring as the centerpiece of the ocean-themed light show. The highest profile no-show of the night was US talk show Queen Oprah Winfrey who had been penciled into one of the hotel’s top suites. She was represented by her good friend Gayle King. The media giant was back in the US thanking her lucky stars that her Santa Barbara home was one of the few which escaped California’s devastating fires. The flames stopped two-miles short of the star’s front door while neighbours weren’t so lucky. The official Atlantis bash, finished around 3am as some guests filtered back to their luxury suites while others continued the fun at SRK’s tres glam after party. It was a weekend of celebration that we Dubai-dwellers won’t forget for a long time. We have taken our rightful place on the world party map and here, we shall stay.

Poor old Lindsay Lohan. She does suffer. As if being a multi-millionaire actress, jetting around the world first class, and spending your days shopping in Hollywood wasn’t torture enough, the unlucky lady has got one more problem to face. She has to go to Atlantis’ US$20million VIP-tastic launch party on The Palm and freeload the night away with some of the world’s biggest stars. And, well, it’s just too much for her. According to a loose-lipped source in Miss Lohan’s camp, our Linds “does not want any part of it.” Well, who could blame her. It’s a night of free fizz, fireworks, fine-dining and fun, and some woman called Kylie’s doing a turn. It sounds dreadful, doesn’t it. Somebody give the girl a break. And give someone else her ticket.

Look which celebs are joining Lindsay at the party….

http://www.timeoutdubai.com/dubai/gallery/

And look what they can expect to see….

http://www.timeoutdubai.com/dubai/gallery/disppic.php?ptid=5338