Bus door systems for Dubai: working together towards maximum uptime
In alignment with Dubai’s Urban Plan 2040, the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has commissioned the procurement of 636 next-generation buses. This is an essential step towards increasing public transport’s modal share to 25% by 2030 and achieving net-zero emissions by 2050. This fleet renewal includes 40 electric buses from Zhongtong, the largest deployment of its kind in the UAE, alongside 50 Zhongtong city buses and 70 articulated buses from Anadolu Isuzu, all built to meet stringent Euro 6 emissions standards. Behind the scenes, Ventura Systems is playing a crucial role as the trusted door systems partner, working in close collaboration with both bus manufacturers and Swaidan Trading Company, a subsidiary of Al Naboodah Group Enterprises (ANGE), the official importer and service provider.
Authored and sponsored by Ventura Systems
In alignment with Dubai’s Urban Plan 2040, the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has commissioned the procurement of 636 next-generation buses. This is an essential step towards increasing public transport’s modal share to 25% by 2030 and achieving net-zero emissions by 2050.
This fleet renewal includes 40 electric buses from Zhongtong, the largest deployment of its kind in the UAE, alongside 50 Zhongtong city buses and 70 articulated buses from Anadolu Isuzu, all built to meet stringent Euro 6 emissions standards.
Behind the scenes, Ventura Systems is playing a crucial role as the trusted door systems partner, working in close collaboration with both bus manufacturers and Swaidan Trading Company, a subsidiary of Al Naboodah Group Enterprises (ANGE), the official importer and service provider.
This three-way partnership ensures a seamless integration of innovative door technologies designed for the harsh desert climate, high passenger volumes, and Dubai’s safety and reliability standards. In this article, we delve into how this international collaboration is tackling the technical, operational, and environmental challenges in Dubai.
Ventura door systems for Dubai
Ventura Systems is no stranger to the streets of Dubai. Since 2008, Ventura door systems have been supporting safe and reliable passenger flows across the city’s expanding public transport network. The jou
The journey began with the delivery of MAN – Neoplan double-decker and articulated buses and Solaris city buses equipped with Ventura’s door technology. This momentum continued from 2009 to 2011, during which over 500 VDL low-floor buses equipped with Ventura door systems were delivered to the RTA. More recently, 70 MAN Lion’s City double decker buses bodied by Gemilang Coachworks with Ventura door systems were introduced. These vehicles have since clocked millions of kilometres, operating daily under the demanding conditions of Dubai’s climate and urban environment.
With each vehicle platform, whether double-decker, standard city bus, or articulated, Ventura has collaborated closely with the respective bus manufacturers to tailor door systems to the specific vehicle design, passenger flow, and performance expectations. They drew on their experience from designing door systems for regions such as Oman, Abu Dhabi, and Bahrain that face similar environmental challenges.
These solutions are engineered not only to withstand the extreme heat and sand of the desert climate but also to meet the highest standards for safety, durability, and uptime.
Dubai’s public transport landscape… and its challenges
Since the first delivery of Ventura door systems, Dubai has grown into the world city as we know it today. But the challenges in the environment haven’t changed. Dubai’s rapid urban development, ambitious sustainability goals, and extreme climate conditions create a distinctive set of challenges for its public transportation system. Unlike many cities around the world, Dubai’s transport infrastructure must endure extreme heat, sand, and humidity while maintaining safe and reliable service for its residents.
One of Dubai’s most defining environmental factors is its high temperatures, which can exceed 50°C (122°F) in summer. Dubai’s desert environment means that sand and dust storms are a common occurrence, particularly in the summer months. Fine dust particles can infiltrate mechanical systems, causing wear and performance issues. To combat this, Ventura’s door systems incorporate:
- Components like seals, gaskets, and actuators are made from materials that can withstand prolonged exposure to heat without losing flexibility or function.
- Metal parts are engineered to accommodate thermal expansion, preventing misalignment and ensuring consistent door operation.
- Sensors and control electronics components are optimised for thermal durability to avoid malfunctions in extreme temperatures.
- Fine sand and dust from frequent sandstorms are countered with corrosion-resistant materials and enhanced sealing to reduce maintenance.
Another important design choice in the door system configuration was the implementation of outward-sliding doors. These offer superior sealing performance compared to inward-gliding systems, providing enhanced protection against the ingress of sand, dust, and water. This ensures greater durability and reliability of the internal components.
Dubai’s environmental conditions have a direct impact on door system design, demanding highly durable solutions. Through continuous innovation, Ventura Systems, together with its partners Al Naboodah and the vehicle manufacturer, have developed door technologies tailored to Dubai’s unique challenges, helping to shape a smarter, more resilient, and sustainable public transport network.
Synergy between producing and maintaining
The delivery of the first buses in 2008 marked the beginning of a close and long-standing collaboration between Ventura and Al Naboodah. They play a vital role in supporting public transport in the UAE, working in close coordination with government authorities to supply and maintain city bus fleets. As a trusted partner of the RTA, they provide essential service and support to depots across Dubai.
Martin Rewti, service engineer at the time, played a key role in supporting Al Naboodah during the initial adoption of Ventura door systems, transferring technical knowledge and helping to build local expertise. ‘On-site support and training were crucial to the project’s success. Not just in terms of the door system technology, but also in bridging cultural and language differences. Al Naboodah’s technical team was highly capable and played a key role in translating our training into practical know-how on the ground.’ as Martin explains.
After a longer period of on-site support by Ventura, the mechanics of Al Naboodah became fully capable of maintaining the door systems and transferring their knowledge to the technical team. Their trained technicians supported operational staff with diagnostics, troubleshooting, and repairs, translating Ventura’s expertise into effective local support. In addition, Al Naboodah managed the supply and replacement of original Ventura OEM parts, ensuring the continued use of high-quality components. The support from Ventura gradually shifted to online assistance, combined with regular on-site training. In most cases, the mechanics from Al Naboodah could service the door systems independently, while always being able to rely on Ventura’s door specialists when needed.
Mohamed Rabi, Senior Project Manager from the Saeed Juma Al Naboodah Group, reflects on his experience with Ventura door systems: “Our partnership with Ventura has been instrumental in elevating our technical capacity and service standards. By empowering our team through targeted training and continuous collaboration, we have built a sustainable support model that benefits both RTA and the broader public transport system in Dubai.
Preparing for new technologies
As Dubai prepares for the next generation of buses to enter service from 2026/2027, the collaboration between Ventura Systems and the vehicle manufacturers is once again playing a key role in the development process. Ventura is custom designing door systems for 40 electric buses and 50 city buses from Zhongtong, as well as 70 articulated buses from Anadolu Isuzu. Each configuration requires a tailored approach, ensuring seamless integration with the vehicle platforms while meeting Dubai’s high standards for reliability, safety, and durability in extreme climate conditions.
In parallel, Ventura Systems is working hand-in-hand with Al Naboodah to ensure a smooth transition to this new generation of door systems. Unlike previous pneumatic systems, the upcoming door systems are fully electric, offering improved reliability and providing advanced diagnostics for maintenance.
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Al Naboodah’s service teams are being prepared through targeted training and knowledge transfer to support the adoption of this next-level technology.
Backed by over 15 years of partnership and driven by a shared commitment to innovation, this next phase marks another milestone in building a smarter, more resilient, and future-ready public transport system for Dubai. Ventura Systems and Al Naboodah will be present to see it happen.
