Dubai: Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) officials are planning a number of events to mark the fifth anniversary of the Dubai Metro opening on September 9.

To commemorate the fifth anniversary of the Dubai Metro launch, the RTA on Saturday launched through social media channels (Facebook, Instagram and Twitter) a contest inviting parents to participate in its new Metro Baby contest.

The contest is inviting parents to post images of children born on 9/9/2009.

Moaza Al Merri, Director of RTA Marketing and Corporate Communication, said: “The hashtag of the Metro Baby contest (#IAmAMetroBaby) can be used when uploading images of those born on 9/9/2009 through social media. To upload the video congrats on Instagram to qualify for the draw in the Best Five Congrats, interested participants are required to insert the hashtag (#MetroTurns5) with the congratulatory video clip.”

“Five winners will be selected in each contest where the first winner in the Metro Baby contest will be rewarded with a trip to Euro Disney offered to the child along with three of his or her family members. The other four winners in the contest will get valuable other prizes. Winners will be selected in a draw and the process will be filmed and uploaded in social media channels. In the Metro Congrats contest, each of the five winners will get a gold coin bearing the Metro logo, each worth Dh10,000, and winners will be selected by a technical committee based on the quality and creativity in the uploaded clip,” said Moaza.

“To mark the occasion, the RTA will distribute on 9/9/2014 up to 10,000 gifts at five stations on the Red and Green Lines, and a variety of events and festivities will be held in the Metro stations. Five stations will be selected to present Dubai Metro Riders Surprises where 100 winners will be selected randomly from NOL card users; each winner will be notified once he or she taps the NOL card on the e-gate through a voice notification telling the user that he or she has won a surprise gift out of 50 silver coins bearing the Metro logo worth Dh2,000 each,” she noted.

“The launch of these events after the lapse of five years since the launch of the Dubai Metro project is a true manifestation of the close relationship between the RTA and the public representing various community spectrums, and reflects endeavours made to thrash out ideas and initiatives aimed at bringing happiness to users of public transport modes through adopting a host of recreational and fun methods.

“The RTA will also issue a limited edition of NOL cards to commemorate the completion of five years since the launch of the Dubai Metro service, and these cards will be available for the public at all Metro stations,” said Moaza..

The deadline for receiving competition applications will be September 4.

His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, officially inaugurated on 9/9/2009 the operations of the Dubai Metro, which was built at a total cost of Dh28 billion.

Shaikh Mohammad booked the first ticket at the Mall of the Emirates station where he was accompanied by Shaikh Hamdan Bin Mohammad bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Dubai Crown Prince; Shaikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and Minister of Finance; Shaikh Maktoum Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai; and a host of shaikhs, ministers, VIPs and senior state officials.