The story of a Dubai resident shows how public reports can lead to rapid changes in my city.

“Tanveer Ahmed,” a 25-year-old multimedia designer and Dubai resident, noticed during his daily commute that the sign at the World Trade Center Metro Station had become so dirty due to the summer heat and dust that it was difficult to read. He took a photo of the sign and immediately sent a message to the Dubai Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) via Instagram.

In his message, he wrote that this sign is important for thousands of passengers and visitors, and its current condition could reduce visibility and readability.

Less than two hours later, RTA responded to his message and thanked him for the notification. However, the real surprise happened the next day; when Tanveer passed by the same route again and saw that the sign was completely cleaned and renovated.

He says he was amazed by the quick action of the officials, which made him even prouder of the city he has lived in for three years.

Tanveer, who is also a content creator in addition to his job, published a video of this experience a few days later. The video quickly went viral, receiving over 6.7 million views and 464 thousand likes. Many users also shared their similar experiences of the quick responses from Dubai officials in the comments section.

A few days after the video went viral, the Dubai Civil Committee contacted him and recognized him for his role in improving the urban environment. Tanveer received a certificate of appreciation at a ceremony attended by Mohammed Abdullah Al Gergawi, Executive Director of the Office of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, and Mattar Al Tayer, Director General and Chairman of the Board of RTA.

The officials at the ceremony emphasized that citizens' attention to details and reporting problems is one of the important factors in maintaining the quality of life in Dubai.

The RTA has previously shown that it responds quickly to public reports; from fixing road damages and traffic lights to addressing complaints related to public transport. The organization has also provided residents and visitors with the ability to send photos and report urban damages through WhatsApp and the Mahboub chatbot, ensuring that issues are identified and resolved in the shortest possible time.

Source: Gulf Times