So Bush is in town today and tomorrow and is creating mass chaos. He’s staying in Abu Dhabi but is in Dubai for a “meeting” at the Burj. Wouldn’t be surprised if he just wanted to have lunch there.
Anyway, instead of utilizing the Burj’s helipad, he is DRIVING! So the following roads will be closed today (so-called test-run) and tomorrow: Sheikh Zayed Road, Al Khail Road, Beach Road (parts), Al Wasl Road (parts). Closing Sheik Zayed Road is like closing down all of the NJ Turnpike plus Garden State Parkway combined. That’s like telling New Yorkers – no trains will be running into Manhattan! Imagine if every time there is an important meeting at the UN, the city closes down midtown?? And we are talking from 6am to 5pm. Here is the announcement as of 4pm today:
UAE blocks roads for BushWith US president Bush visiting the UAE, The government announced on the radio that Sheikh Zayed Road will be closed tomorrow from Garhoud to Al Barsha from 6am to 4.30pm. Al Wasl Road and Jumeirah Beach Road will also be closed in addition to the area around Umm Sequeim.
Dubians depend on these major thoroughfares to get to and from work, drop kids off, etc.
And get a load of this nonsense that was posted on Khaleej Times (as of 4pm today):
Holiday declared in Dubai tomorrow
13 January 2008All ministries, government departments, schools and private companies in Dubai will have a holiday tomorrow. This has been done to avoid congestion on the roads that could be caused by the closing down of some flyovers, bridges, tunnels and main roads. Official government sources have urged all nationals and residents to avoid using main roads and streets.
Ridiculous. All for BUSH???
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According to DTCM, ‘considerable planning and coordination among various departments had gone into Monday’s arrangements’ – as you would expect. So why did none of them bother to tell us?
It was so frustrating to be stuck in the traffic just because of Bush. There is gridlock in Deira on a daily basis because of construction but it got worst because of the closure of the main roads.
I spent three hours on the road last Sunday when the normal trip would last less than 30 minutes!