Bush visit causes traffic chaos

A combination of heavy rain and rumours of mass road closures across the city for US president George W. Bush’s visit brought traffic to a standstill in Dubai on Sunday.

Frustrated motorists reported taking hours to get to and from work as confusion surrounding which and when roads would be closed led massive tailbacks on many roads across the city for much of the day.

Several unconfirmed reports carried by popular local websites said large stretches of Al Khail Road, Sheikh Zayed Road, Jumeirah Beach Road and Al Wasl would be shut on Monday, while othe reports said Airport Road and parts of Dubai International Airport itself would also be closed.

Things only got worse in the evening following the government's last minute announcement that Monday would be a public holiday and that certain roads would be closed for Bush's visit. Eyewitness reports said that Sheikh Zayed Road was still gridlocked at 9pm as motorists tried to make their way home.

State news agency Wam reported on Sunday that several "main roads, bridges and tunnels" would be closed on Monday, but did not give any further details.

Bush will be in Dubai on Monday where he is expected to be shown some of the city's main attractions before flying to Riyadh later in the day.

The UAE is the third stop on Bush's visit to the Middle East. In Abu Dhabi Bush delivered his key address of the tour in which he accused Iran of being the world’s leading state sponsor of terror.

Bush's tour, in which includes stops in Israel, Palestine, Bahrain, the UAE, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, ends on January 16.

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Dubai Traffic Chaos
Posted by R.K.Clarke, Dubai, UAE on Monday 14 January 2008 at 14:20 UAE time


The whole traffic "managment" situation was a shambles from start to finish. It might be worth it if George Bush had any chance of success in achieving peace in the middle east, but not likely.....but I digress.

What was required was a detailed road map of Dubai with every closed road clearly marked, all available on an appropriate website. But was there anything on the Dubai police website? No, the "news" there was some award being handed out or some such. RTA website? Nope, but plenty of pictures of the RTA delegation behind the wheel of one of their new trains. Admittedly, the RTA website did show you how to get to the airport from Jumeirah, but was strangely silent on how to get back to Jumeirah afterwards, as every exit off the Emirates Road was blocked.

The information printed in the local press also missed out a number of roads that had been closed, including Umm Sequeim Street, Nad Al Hamar Road (despite assurances that Deira roads would be unaffected) and Business Bay bridge.

In short, a disaster from start to finish...just what business didn't need after the disruption caused by having Eid, Christmas, New Year and Islamic New Year all within the space of a few weeks.

If this is what it takes for the Dubai authorities to be confident of providing adequate security for visiting VIPs, maybe they shouldn't bother and leave the hosting to Abu Dhabi, who seem to know how to do it a bit better (never thought I'd hear myself say that!).

Bush visit causes traffic chaos
Posted by Lee, Dubai, UAE on Monday 14 January 2008 at 13:52 UAE time


I believe the late announcement of the road closings and public holiday were a security measure. Yes, we have been inconvenienced but is anyone going to pack up and leave Dubai because of this...no! I am an ex-pat who lived in Cairo a few years ago. When President Mubarek was driven through Cairo the roads were closed hours in advance with security men situated on roof tops. Then out of nowhere you would see maybe 6 to 10 tinted SUVs driving by, not knowing which one Mubarek was in. This is for security purposes. Does this happen when Sheikh Mohammed drives through Dubai...no. One day of inconvenience for President Bush's security is not so bad.

Visit of Bush!
Posted by Bill, Dubai, UAE on Monday 14 January 2008 at 12:37 UAE time


The whole situation is little more than a joke. To officially announce a publice holiday at 4pm on the day before will have cost business's huge amounts of money. Many of our staff here kindly volunteered to work anyway but not one has been able to make it in today. As the previous comment suggested this trip must have been plannned months ago so why the last minute confusion. I look forward to seeing Mr Bush in Karama, as the roads are closed - or have limited access only - i assume he is coming here as well? Again as mentioned AD didnt close down so why has Dubai? Was also talking to some businessman who are exhibiting here at the moment. As no one can get to the WTC other than on foot they have wasted huge amounts of money. This all sends out completely the wrong message to companies looking to trade here. Have heard that many foreign delegates are stranded at the airport as no taxis are available? Dubai (Government & Business) must be congratulated on how progress has been made over the past few years but at times like this it is obvious that we are not quite there yet!

Traffic Congestion
Posted by Nassah, Dubai, UAE on Monday 14 January 2008 at 11:05 UAE time

Actually, it is not fair to generalise and say the thobe & ghutra is the real reason for bad driving in UAE. I am a British expat, and I see just as much if not more non locals using the hard shoulder when they want to avoid sitting in trafic jams! Lets not be totally biased please!
Secondly, I am also amazed at the lack of thought given to Bush's visit in Dubai.
I work in Abu Dhabi and on Sunday apart from a small area near Emirates Palace Hotel all was fine in AUH.
It is normally bad enough on Dubai roads, but this late accouncement about public holiday on Monday and major roads and bridges to be closed on Monday has just has caused confusion for all.
If any of the Dubai Authorities are reading this - Lets think just a little more than 24hrs ahead!

Demonstration of how immature Dubai is as a city
Posted by Sam Kekovick, Dubai on Monday 14 January 2008 at 08:27 UAE time

It is very rare that I feel the need to contribute my thoughts to a subject such as this but the woeful display of management in arranging George Bush's visit has prompted me to pick up my "pen".

Presidential visits by Mr Bush are hardly conducted on a whim and this would have been organised at least 6 months in advance so the Dubai Government would have known about this for a long time. How is it then, that a public holiday and road closures are announced at 4pm the day before? The situation was so bad yesterday that I would not have arrived home before midnight so decided to drive to Abu Dhabi and spend the night there instead.

This prompts my next point, if Abu Dhabi hosted Mr Bush on Sunday, why was the city not shut down as Dubai was?

Situations like this force me to tell friends, family and potential immigrants to Dubai to stay where they are, accept they have to pay taxes but have reasonable rents, courteous drivers and that their law views them equally whether they are foreign or national.

Nice try but get real...
Posted by Dunder Miffed, Manama, Bahrain on Monday 14 January 2008 at 06:06 UAE time


Your article describes every day in the life of a Dubai commuter on Shaikh Zayed Rd and the alternate routes along Jumeriah, Shaikh Rashid Rd & in land routes. Best of all was the comment that THIS caused motorist to "abandon rules of the road altogether and use the hard shoulder"...what actually causes motorists to behave that way is a thobe & ghoutra!

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