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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