This article explores the dynamic and complex regulatory landscape of cargo transportation in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). As a critical hub in global trade, the UAE’s approach to cargo transportation not only impacts its economic landscape but also has broader implications for international logistics and trade. When the authors speak about air cargo, a very prominent characteristic comes to mind, that is, the ‘speed’ at which goods are transported from one point to another in a world which is fueled by time-based competition which connects leading suppliers, smaller businesses to consumers within a complicated global supply chain operating within networks. The authors aim to examine the current regulatory framework governing cargo operations, highlighting key events contributing to the growth of cargo transportation in recent years within the UAE, shedding light on the central regulatory bodies and key players in the UAE which contribute to the chain of transporting cargo and shipments in the UAE. This study will also briefly compare the standards applied in the UAE with international norms. It delves into the implications of existing regulations on various facets of trade and logistics, including compliance challenges faced by businesses. The article identifies specific challenges in the regulatory setting, such as safety, environmental considerations and the integration of emerging technologies. Furthermore, it distinguishes between the flexible and rigid aspects of these regulations, analyzing their impact on the industry. Looking ahead, the article forecasts emerging trends and potential shifts in regulatory policies, emphasizing the need for adaptability and forward-thinking in policymaking. The aim is to provide a comprehensive overview of the UAE’s regulation of the cargo transportation landscape. The present study offers insights into its current status, challenges, and future directions, thereby contributing to policy development in this vital sector. New research examining the UAE’s cargo regulations reveals significant gaps that could stall its ambitions of becoming a leading cargo transportation global hub. The study identifies shortcomings in regulations related to cargo transportation in the UAE and its efficiency. These areas, along with potential inflexibility in the current system, pose challenges to the UAE to compete effectively in the time-sensitive world of cargo shipments.

This research aims to explain the management of the Cekungan Bandung Urban Area with a focus on three policy formulations, namely process, content and context in the social, environmental and economic dimensions. The research method used is a qualitative approach. Data collection techniques include observation and interviews with stakeholders, using purposive sampling techniques, including the Head of West Java Province Regional Development Planning Agency, district/city Bappeda heads, planners (Badan Perencanaan Dan Pembangunan Daerah, Bappeda), Regional People`s Representative Assembly (Dewan Perwakilan Rakyat Daerah, DPRD members), Legal Bureau and Collaboration Bureau Heads in West Java Province, and Academic Manuscript Compiler. Due to the absence of comfortable, safe, and punctual public transportation, people continue to use private vehicles, leading to unresolved traffic congestion and environmental pollution, thus resulting in economic losses. The results show the formulation of policies for managing the urban area of the Cekungan Bandung, specifically the establishment of BP Cek ban, faced challenges due to a lack of authority in managing financial and human resources. The agency couldn’t execute programs or activities and implement the development due to limitations in legal authority over state finances. Alternative policies were not effectively synchronized between government levels and lacked legislative support, hindered by regional autonomy. The contribution of the research is as reference material for the government in formulating management policies for the Cekubgan Bandung urban area.

This study examines the impact of state highway construction contracts on state spending efficiency controlling for production structure, service demands, and situational factors. The theoretical argument is that because highway construction projects are relatively large in scale, complex, and can be monitored through objective performance measurement, state highway construction programs may save government production costs through contracts. Contracting helps highway producers achieve efficiency by optimizing production size based on workload and task complexity. The unit of analysis is 48 state governments’ highway construction contracts from 1998 to 2008. Through a two-stage analysis method including a Total Function Productivity (TFP) index and system dynamic panel data analysis, the results suggest that highway construction contracts enhance state highway spending efficiency, especially for large-scale construction projects.

The study examines the acceptance and sustainability of vegetarian, vegan, and flexitarian diets, focusing on the health and environmental benefits of reducing animal-derived proteins. Our objective was to investigate the level of acceptance of these dietary trends across different age groups and health statuses and understand how sustainability awareness and health consciousness impact dietary decisions. We used a mixed-method approach to achieve this, conducting eight in-depth interviews and a survey with 329 participants from various demographic backgrounds. Our qualitative analysis revealed that individual and family health consciousness, along with sustainability considerations, play a significant role in dietary choices, particularly among younger generations who are more open to sustainable eating. Quantitative results show that access to information and educational resources strongly influences dietary decisions, further supporting the spread of environmentally conscious eating habits. The practical significance of our research lies in highlighting the importance of educational campaigns and public health policies that can foster broader societal acceptance of sustainable diets. Educational institutions and community organizations can help facilitate the transfer of knowledge necessary for adopting such diets. Our findings emphasize the role of targeted communication strategies in increasing awareness of the benefits of plant-based diets. Furthermore, these insights underline the potential of policy interventions to make sustainable food choices more accessible and appealing to a wider population. Future research could focus on exploring economic incentives and examining long-term health and environmental outcomes associated with these diets.

As cities continue to face the increasing demands of urban transportation and the need for sustainable mobility solutions, the integration of intelligent transportation systems (ITS) with smart city infrastructure emerges as a promising approach. This paper presents a novel framework for integrating ITS with smart city infrastructure, aiming to address the challenges of urban transportation and promote sustainable mobility. The framework is developed through a comprehensive literature review, case studies, and stakeholder interviews, providing significant insights into the integration process. Our research outlines the key components of smart city infrastructure that can be integrated with ITS, highlights the benefits of integration, and identifies the challenges and barriers that need to be addressed. Additionally, we propose and apply evaluation methods to assess the effectiveness of ITS integration with smart city infrastructure. The results demonstrate the novelty and significance of this framework, as it significantly reduces traffic congestion, improves air quality, and enhances citizen satisfaction. This paper contributes to the existing literature by providing a comprehensive approach to integrating ITS with smart city infrastructure, offering a transformative solution for urban transportation challenges.

The transportation sector is currently experiencing a significant transformation due to the influence of digital technologies, which are revolutionizing travel, goods transportation, and interactions with transportation systems. This study delves into the possibilities and obstacles presented by digital transformation in the realm of sustainable transportation. Moreover, it identifies the most effective methods for implementing digital transformation in this sector. Furthermore, our analysis sheds light on the potential impacts of digital transformation on sustainable development and environmental performance indicators within transportation systems. We discover that digital transformation can contribute to reduced greenhouse gas emissions, improved air quality, and increased resource efficiency, among other benefits. Nevertheless, we emphasize the potential risks and uncertainties associated with digital transformation, including concerns regarding data privacy, security, and ethics. Collectively, our research provides valuable insights into the opportunities and challenges presented by digital transformation in sustainable transportation. It also identifies best practices for successfully implementing digital transformation in this sector. The implications of our findings are significant for policymakers, businesses, and other stakeholders who aspire to drive the future of sustainable transportation through digital transformation.