Mohammed orders Dh26m for taxi owners

In his capacity as the Ruler of Dubai, UAE Vice-President and Prime Minister His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum has ordered the payment of Dh26,600,000 as bonus to Emiratis whose taxicab number plates are operated by the Dubai Taxi Corporation and Taxi Franchise Companies at the Roads & Transport Authority (RTA); the total number of which is 6,650 plates.

The RTA Public Transport Agency will start distribution of the bonus for the year 2013 to the entitled recipients, over and above their annual financial dues.

Mattar Al Tayer, Chairman of the Board and Executive Director of the RTA, thanked Sheikh Mohammed for rewarding taxi plate owners, who are among the fixed income group, and enabling them to better cope with the requirements of life and earn a decent living.

Mohammed bin Rashid attends the English Derby

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, on Friday attended the Derby horserace at Epsom Downs racetrack.

Sheikh Mohammed attends the English Derby (WAM)

Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of Dubai Executive Council; Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and UAE Minister of Finance; Princess Haya bint Al Hussein, wife of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid; Queen Elizabeth II, Queen of the United Kingdom and the other Commonwealth realms, other Sheikhs, senior officials and owners were also present with a crowd of horseracing fans.

Australia, ridden by jockey Joseph O'Brien, won the English Derby followed in the second place by Kingston Hill, ridden by Andrea Atzeni, and in the third place by Romsdal, owned by Princess Haya bint Al Hussein and ridden by Richard Hughes.

The English Derby, still one of the world's most popular horse races since its inauguration in 1780, is run on turf on the first Saturday in June over a 1.5-mile course at Epsom Downs, Surrey, England, and has a total purse of GBP 2.5 million for winners.

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