Dubai drone footage captures how roads have changed in the pandemic


Janice Rodrigues
  • English
  • Arabic

On April 8, 2020, Bachir Moukarzel's footage of an empty Sheikh Zayed Road went viral.

The Dubai drone photographer is known for posting some of the most unique and awe-inspiring aerial shots of the city.

But it was the sight of its most famous highway, usually bustling with people and cars, completely empty that resonated with people most. At the time, new restrictions had recently been implemented to curb the spread of coronavirus.

Now, in 2021, the artist has returned to the same spots, this time to capture how much the city, and its roads, have changed in a year.

His new footage, taken in January, shows Palm Jumeirah, Sheikh Zayed Road and other parts of the city, all of which are now bustling with life again.

"It was such a nice feeling," Moukarzel tells The National. "In April 2020, you could park your car on Sheikh Zayed Road to fly the drone – it was that empty. But now, it is back to what it looked like before the pandemic. It's incredible to see that people feel confident about going out."

Moukarzel's work unsurprisingly slowed in 2020, with fewer shoots, no gatherings and not much production work happening, but by October he could see the city coming back to life. By January, he felt things were back to normal.

“This comes at a time when many other parts of the world are still having lockdowns. It really highlights our recovery, that what we’ve been doing here is so great. For sure, it’s thanks to the actions of the government as well as the people. We’ve been following the rules, getting vaccinated – and this is the result.”

He made sure to specifically capture the new footage during daytime hours, to really show the contrast between 2020 and 2021 and depict a new day, “full of light”.

“Of course, things are not completely back to normal – there are rules everyone has to still follow, and precautions that have to be taken. But I’m proud of us. We were all in the same boat and we've come this far together.”

Who is Bachir Moukarzel?

Moukarzel moved to the UAE from Lebanon in 2002, studied finance at the American University in Dubai and has been working for the Rotana Hotel Group for the past 11 years.

He started dabbling with drone photography as a hobby about five years ago, but it has since become a big part of his life and he has received global accolades, including first place in the urban category of the International Drone Photography Contest in 2017.

Bachir Moukarzel's winning photo of The Dubai Frame. Courtesy Bachir Moukarzel
Bachir Moukarzel's winning photo of The Dubai Frame. Courtesy Bachir Moukarzel

In October 2020, his photo of the Dubai Frame won in the construction category of the first Aerial Photography Awards, with hopefuls from 65 countries participating.

More of Moukarzel's work can be viewed on his Instagram page

RACE CARD

6.30pm Al Maktoum Challenge Round-1 Group 1 (PA) Dh119,373 (Dirt) 1,600m

7.05pm Handicap (TB) Dh102,500 (D) 1,200m

7.40pm Handicap (TB) Dh105,000 (Turf) 1,800m

8.15pm UAE 1000 Guineas Trial (TB) Dh183,650 (D) 1,400m

9.50pm Handicap (TB) Dh105,000 (D) 1,600m

9.25pm Handicap (TB) Dh95,000 (T) 1,000m

THE BIO

Born: Mukalla, Yemen, 1979

Education: UAE University, Al Ain

Family: Married with two daughters: Asayel, 7, and Sara, 6

Favourite piece of music: Horse Dance by Naseer Shamma

Favourite book: Science and geology

Favourite place to travel to: Washington DC

Best advice you’ve ever been given: If you have a dream, you have to believe it, then you will see it.

MATCH INFO

Manchester City 3 (Silva 8' &15, Foden 33')

Birmginahm City 0

Man of the match Bernado Silva (Manchester City)

MATCH INFO

Chelsea 4 (Mount 18',Werner 44', Hudson-Odoi 49', Havertz 85')

Morecambe 0

Who's who in Yemen conflict

Houthis: Iran-backed rebels who occupy Sanaa and run unrecognised government

Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council

Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south

Habrish 'rebels': Tribal-backed forces feuding with STC over control of oil in government territory

Disclaimer

Director: Alfonso Cuaron 

Stars: Cate Blanchett, Kevin Kline, Lesley Manville 

Rating: 4/5

The%20specs
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%206.4-litre%20V8%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E8-speed%20auto%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E470bhp%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E637Nm%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EDh375%2C900%20(estimate)%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20now%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The Little Things

Directed by: John Lee Hancock

Starring: Denzel Washington, Rami Malek, Jared Leto

Four stars

THURSDAY FIXTURES

4.15pm: Italy v Spain (Group A)
5.30pm: Egypt v Mexico (Group B)
6.45pm: UAE v Japan (Group A)
8pm: Iran v Russia (Group B)

NYBL PROFILE

Company name: Nybl 

Date started: November 2018

Founder: Noor Alnahhas, Michael LeTan, Hafsa Yazdni, Sufyaan Abdul Haseeb, Waleed Rifaat, Mohammed Shono

Based: Dubai, UAE

Sector: Software Technology / Artificial Intelligence

Initial investment: $500,000

Funding round: Series B (raising $5m)

Partners/Incubators: Dubai Future Accelerators Cohort 4, Dubai Future Accelerators Cohort 6, AI Venture Labs Cohort 1, Microsoft Scale-up 

The%20Letter%20Writer
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Layla%20Kaylif%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStars%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Eslam%20Al%20Kawarit%2C%20Rosy%20McEwen%2C%20Muhammad%20Amir%20Nawaz%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%202%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
MATCH INFO

Syria v Australia
2018 World Cup qualifying: Asia fourth round play-off first leg
Venue: Hang Jebat Stadium (Malacca, Malayisa)
Kick-off: Thursday, 4.30pm (UAE)
Watch: beIN Sports HD

* Second leg in Australia scheduled for October 10

Kandahar%20
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SPEC%20SHEET%3A%20APPLE%20M3%20MACBOOK%20AIR%20(13%22)
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RESULT

Manchester City 5 Swansea City 0
Man City:
D Silva (12'), Sterling (16'), De Bruyne (54' ), B Silva (64' minutes), Jesus (88')

KEY%20DATES%20IN%20AMAZON'S%20HISTORY
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Company profile

Company name: Suraasa

Started: 2018

Founders: Rishabh Khanna, Ankit Khanna and Sahil Makker

Based: India, UAE and the UK

Industry: EdTech

Initial investment: More than $200,000 in seed funding

Breast cancer in men: the facts

1) Breast cancer is men is rare but can develop rapidly. It usually occurs in those over the ages of 60, but can occasionally affect younger men.

2) Symptoms can include a lump, discharge, swollen glands or a rash. 

3) People with a history of cancer in the family can be more susceptible. 

4) Treatments include surgery and chemotherapy but early diagnosis is the key. 

5) Anyone concerned is urged to contact their doctor