Over 1,200 buses will be on Dubai roads by 2008, according to a senior official at the Road and Transport Authority (RTA).

The RTA has already bought 80 buses - 51 two-trailers and 29 single-trailers - at a cost of Dh148 million ($40.3 million), according to a report in the Khaleej Times.

"We are trying to introduce more buses to improve the public transport system in the emirate," chairman of the Board and Executive Director of the RTA Mattar Al Tayer is quoted to said in the report.

The RTA has signed a contract to purchase 620 buses that would cost more than Dh1 billion. "These buses would be delivered in 2007 and 2008," Al Tayer has added in the report.

"With this, the number of buses will rise to 1,200 by 2008 and it will exceed 2,000 buses from there on. All buses will be equipped with the latest modern technologies and highest standards of security and safety," Al Tayer is quoted to have added.

In addition to this, the RTA has drawn up a strategic plan to upgrade the marine transport in the emirate at a cost of over Dh1 billion.