ACTAC considers creation of permanent office

The Arab Council of Touring & Automobile Clubs (ACTAC) is likely to set up a permanent administrative office to facilitate better communication and cooperation between the various clubs of the region.
Conceptualized in late 2008 at the behest of FIA Vice President and President of the Automobile & Touring Club of the UAE (ATCUAE) Mohammed Ben Sulayem and formalized at a meeting of all regional clubs in early 2009, the ACTAC aims to unite Arabic speaking FIA clubs of the region to shape the future of motoring throughout the Arab world.
The discussion relating to a permanent administrative office occurred during a meeting of ACTAC delegates at the International Club Conference Dubai 2010.
FIA Region I President Werner Kraus told the gathering that it was very important to hold such meetings, implying that regular dialogue was the best recipe for success, adding: “We have a very good future.”
Walid Sha’ban, President of the Syrian Automobile Club and FIA Region I Vice President, introduced members to ACTAC’s activities noting that it was of paramount importance “to get clubs working together” to ensure progress is made on issues such as safety, environment, tourism and member services.
ACTAC President and Royal Automobile Club of Jordan Consultant Hasan Alaeddin and Sha’ban have been entrusted with the task of looking into setting up the permanent administrative office, and both are expected to produce a report for ACTAC approval.
The meeting also deliberated upon other subjects and it was provisionally agreed that commissions addressing mobility issues would be set up and coordinated by the administrative office.
Meanwhile, the Roads & Transport Authority (RTA) on Monday (April 12) made a presentation at the conference.
Engineer Naser Abu Shehab, Director of Strategy Planning Department, RTA, addressed a strong presence of ARC delegates representing a majority of prominent motoring clubs from Europe.
Emphasizing the RTA’s primary vision of “safe and smooth transport for all,” Eng. Naser said that apart from providing world-class transportation, the RTA was very conscious about its duty towards the safety of its commuters and general road users, pointing out that the Authority has a dedicated safety and reorientation programme for its drivers and other personnel.
Earlier, ARC Europe CEO Luc Vanden Bussche, chairman of the plenary session, welcomed the delegates to the conference.
ARC Europe (International Network of European Automobile Clubs) was founded in 1991 with the aim of offering high-quality mobility services to business partners and to develop an international network of service providers.
The annual spring meeting is being hosted away from Europe and in the Middle East for the first time. 
The Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing, Emaar, Dubai Convention Bureau, the Roads & Transport Authority, and other major Dubai Government departments are major partners of the four-day conference.