Monday a public holiday

A public holiday has been declared for all businesses in Dubai on Monday as authorities tighten security for US president George W. Bush’s visit to the emirate, state news agency Wam reported.

All ministries, government departments, schools and private companies in Dubai will be shut due to the closure of a number of main roads across the city, the news agency announced late on Sunday afternoon.

Wam said several "main roads, bridges and tunnels" would be closed, but did not give any further details. The agency said officials were urging all residents to avoid using main roads on Monday.

Rumours of road closures on Monday and ensuing traffic chaos had been circulating businesses throughout the city for most of Sunday as Bush touched down in Abu Dhabi, the latest stop on his whirlwind regional tour.

Several unconfirmed reports carried by popular local websites such as UAE Community Blog said large stretches of Al Khail Road, Sheikh Zayed Road, Jumeirah Beach Road and Al Wasl would be shut from 6am to 5pm. Eyewitness reports claimed the slip road off Sheikh Zayed Road leading to the Fairmont and Crowne Plaza hotels was closed around midday on Sunday.

Other reports claimed Airport Road and parts of Dubai International Airport itself would also be closed. Radio stations were late on Sunday warning people using the airport on Monday to set off four hours prior to departure rather than the traditional two hours.

Neither the Dubai Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) nor Dubai Police would confirm which roads would be affected when contacted by ArabianBusiness.com.

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.

Speaking from the Emirates Palace hotel, Bush said Tehran was destabilising the Middle East region by refusing to be open about its nuclear programme.

Bush will fly to Riyadh from Dubai on Monday where he will meet with leading officials including King Abdullah.

UK media reports on Sunday said the Bush administration is to announce a $20 billion advanced weaponry deal with Saudi Arabia on Monday in an attempt to win support from the region for further sanctions against Iran.

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