The challenges encountered in developing and maintaining the region’s vast road and bridge infrastructure sector are being discussed at a major conference in Dubai, UAE.

The Middle East Road and Bridge Forum 2017, which opened yesterday ( April 3), is being participated by ministries, government bodies, consultants and contractors involved in a multitude of projects in the UAE and from around the region, said a Wam news agency report.

The two-day forum was opened by UAE Minister of Infrastructure Development Dr Abdullah bin Mohammed Belhaif Al Nuaimi.  

During his inaugural remarks, the minister underlined the importance of the forum.

"The wise leadership of the UAE is attaching a central importance to the infrastructure development sector as part of the country's comprehensive developmental drive," Dr Al Nuaimi added, highlighting the myriad achievements made by the country in this area, the recent of which was securing the first position for the fourth time running in the area of road quality.

Al Nuaimi continued: "Infrastructure development is vital to the improvement of living conditions and for ensuring social and economic welfare for all segments of society in line with the UAE Vision 2021."

The minister was accompanied at the inaugural ceremony by Hassan Al Mansoori, acting under-secretary of the Ministry of Infrastructure Development; Abdullah Al Kathiri, director-general of the Federal Authority for Land and Maritime Transport; and a number of representatives of the road and bridge sector in the country and from the GCC states.