The 26th Congress takes place in the city of Abu Dhabi between 6 and 10 October and is set to welcome more than 1200 delegates including those representing the organisation’s 22 committees.

Minister of Infrastructure Development and chairman of the Federal Transport Authority - Land & Maritime, Dr Abdullah Belhaif Al Nuaimi said: “It is with great pleasure that I invite and welcome you to Abu Dhabi, the magnificent capital of United Arab Emirates, to participate in the 26th World Road Congress of the World Roads Association PIARC.”

Abu Dhabi is an appropriate place to host an international road congress: for the fourth consecutive year the UAE has been ranked first in the Quality of Roads Index in the World Economic Forum Global Competitiveness Reports. The 26th World Road Congress promises yet another unique opportunity for road and transportation professionals to share and seek knowledge, ideas and innovations.

World Road Association (PIARC) President Claude Van Rooten said: “Over time, countries all over the world have come to depend on roads as the main public asset to provide year round access and mobility for their populations. As a consequence, today’s road networks must operate continuously even as new demands, expectations and technologies surge and pose new challenges.

“Rising to meet these challenges demands great knowledge and commitment from road practitioners worldwide. Every four years, PIARC organises the World Road Congress as the premier forum for road and road transportation related information and knowledge exchange to allow road professionals to obtain, in a single event, relevant and up to date knowledge on topics of current concern.”

UK First Delegate to the World Road Association Graham Pendlebury said: “We have got great innovative companies in the UK and the work that is done by the various transport organisations provides an opportunity to showcase what we are doing. Let’s face it, it is a competitive world so we have to make sure we have the same if not better visibility than our competitors.”

Chair of the UK National Committee Lila Tachtsi added: “The UK National Committee provides a fulcrum for UK engagement with PIARC, we draw together the key public roads administrations with excellent support from leading UK companies and also a vibrant individual membership. I am keen to make this more visible both within the UK and internationally.”

The UK’s presence is supported by the Departments for Transport, Trade & Industry and International Development, along with Transport Scotland, the Welsh Government, the Department for Infrastructure Northern Ireland, Highways England, CIHT and industry partners.

To register to attend the World Road Congress, visit piarcabudhabi2019.org

If you are interested in becoming a support partner for the UK presence, email project manager Alexis Tregenza at alexis.tregenza@dft.gov.uk

(Photograph: BestPhotoPlus – Shutterstock)