Bush visit paralyses Dubai

GHOST TOWN: An Emirati woman walks in one of the empty Dubai streets shut off for the US president's visit. (Getty Images)

Dubai remained at a standstill throughout most of Monday as road closures due to the state visit of US president George W. Bush caused total gridlock on many of the city's roads that were not sealed off.

Sheikh Zayed Road, Sheikh Rashid Road, Sheikh Khalifa Road, Al Khail Road and many of the internal roads in Bur Dubai were all be shut to traffic, as was Al Garhoud Bridge, Al Maktoum Bridge and Shindagha Tunnel.

With so many of the city’s busiest roads shut, motorists were forced into confusing detours by arbitrary diversions causing hours of delays.

Drivers took any means necessary to make their way across the city, including abandoning vehicles and walking. There were even reports of motorists driving into oncoming traffic on the wrong side of the road.

Despite the chaos, a spokesman for Dubai Police told local media there were no major traffic problems in the city.

Authorities announced late on Sunday that many main roads, bridges and tunnel across the city would be closed on Monday for Bush's visit to the emirate, calling a last minute public holiday and telling residents to stay at home to limit the amount of traffic on the roads.

However, authorities gave no information has to which roads, bridges and tunnels would be shut until very late Sunday evening.

Bush touched down in Dubai from Abu Dhabi around lunchtime on Monday where he spent the day touring the city's sites. He then boarded a plane to Riyadh where we was greeted by Saudi's King Abdullah and other dignitaries upon arrival.

The UAE was the third stop on Bush's whirlwind visit to the GCC. The tour, which includes stops in Israel, Palestine, Bahrain, the UAE, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, ends on January 16.

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READERS' COMMENTS

4 hrs to DWTC
Posted by Amirali, Dubai, UAE on Wednesday 16 January 2008 at 15:30 UAE time


Since our company was taking part in the annual security exhibition Intersec 2008, we had to reach trade center by 10 am, we tried for 4 hrs to get from Deira to DWTC but wern't able to make it, all the roads, small & big were blocked by Police. Millions of Dollars worth exhibition was put on hold, the show was on but 80% of exhibitors wern't able to reach & even if we did we didn't have any customers. Organisers didn't give any extra time nor refunded our money & said its not our problem. Who would componsate us, over 1600 exhibitors/ ANY 1 at all

The answer is VIP Land!
Posted by Jayant, mct, Oman on Tuesday 15 January 2008 at 10:38 UAE time


Thankfully he chose not to visit us here in Muscat - though I wouldn't have turned down the holiday. There are so many comments by people bemoaning the lost working day - get real people and let your hair down - money not made today can be made tomorrow - your life really won't end because you couldn't work for the day.

But seriously, why can't all these visits be done discreetly and just affect those directly concerned such as dignitaries, press and of course security personnel. It's not like politicians these days really go on parades waving to the crowds so why not limit the movement to secure areas. How's this for an idea - Dubai could set up a huge facility called, let's say 'VIP Land' somewhere in the desert. It would be totally secure as the general populace would not have access to it. It could then host all the major events which involve political heads - hell, you could even shift the UN headquarters over. It could have giant likenesses of major politicos - a la Mount Rushmore which could be seen from space making it the world's largest political summit facility. It would have its own airport so traffic wouldn't be affected as it is in all of the world's cities when bigwigs go visiting. Go on Dubai, do us all a favour and chalk up one more 'world's biggest' for the record books.

road chaos in Dubai
Posted by Leo, Dubai, United Arab Emirates on Tuesday 15 January 2008 at 09:17 UAE time


"With so many of the city’s busiest roads shut, motorists were forced into confusing detours by arbitrary diversions causing hours of delays."
"There were even reports of motorists driving into oncoming traffic on the wrong side of the road."
So where's the news? Sounds like any other day on Dubai roads to me....

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