The devastating storm that hit the UAE on Tuesday left key roads and transport links inaccessible due to flooding.
Emergency workers across the country have been hard at work in the days since to clear them, but conditions on Saturday in some areas remained treacherous.
While the situation is changing by the hour and commuters are urged to check the latest official travel advice, here The National looks at which roads have been cleared, the major routes that are still clogged and the latest public transport information available.
Closures, blockages and delays on key routes:
- Abu Dhabi to Dubai: road closures on E11 and E311 motorways northbound with motorists being diverted to Emirates Road E611.
- Dubai to Sharjah: reports of blocks on the E11 in both directions in downtown Sharjah.
- E311: reports of delays near Dubai International City and Expo City Dubai.
- E611: reports of delays by Mudon in both directions.
In Dubai, the RTA confirmed the following roads are improving:
- Sheikh Zayed Road at interchange (10) has been reopened in both directions for traffic
- Tunnel at the intersection of Beirut St and Al Nahda St in both directions open
- Airport Road (partially open)
- Algeria Street
- Al Asayel Street
- Al Khail Road (from Garn Al Sabkha Street to Al Mustaqbal Street)
- Al Khawaneej Street
- Al Nahda Street
- Al Qudra Road (from Emirates Road to Jebel Ali – Lehbab Road)
- Al Rebat Street (tunnel at Marrakech Street intersection)
- Al Wasl Road
- Al Yalayis Street (partially open from Sheikh Zayed Road to Sheikh Zayed Bin Hamdan Al Nahyan Street intersection)
- Al Meydan Street
- Dubai – Al Ain Road
- Emirates Road (partially at the Al Qudra intersection)
- Oman Street
- Oud Metha Road (partially)
- Ras Al Khor Road
- Saih al Salam Street
- Sheikh Rashid Road
- Sheikh Zayed Bin Hamdan Al Nahyan Street (from Expo Road Intersection to Hessa Street)
Public transport
Dubai Tram
Dubai Tram is running and all stations are operating at full capacity.
Dubai Metro
The Dubai Metro service is gradually improving, the RTA has said.
The Green Line is fully operational, while services on the Red Line (in both directions) are operating from Centrepoint station to Expo 2020 station and from Jebel Ali station to UAE Exchange skipping stopping at the following stations:
- Onpassive
- Equiti
- Mashreq
- Energy
Other services in Dubai from taxis to marine transport
- All vehicle inspection centres are operating
- All customer happiness centres are operating
- Bus service is operating
- Taxi service is operating
- Marine transport services are operating
Inter-city bus services from Dubai
The RTA said the Dubai to Abu Dhabi route remains suspended with reports of clogged roads on the E11 around Jebel Ali.
The following services are back up and running:
- Al Ghubaiba Bus Station - Al Ain Bus Station: E201
- Union Bus Station - Fujairah Bus Station: E700
- Etisalat Metr Station - Muwailah (Sharjah) Bus Station E315
- Etisalat Metro Station - Ajman Bus Station E411
Heavy rain hits Dubai and Abu Dhabi - in pictures
Dust and sand storms compared
Sand storm
- Particle size: Larger, heavier sand grains
- Visibility: Often dramatic with thick "walls" of sand
- Duration: Short-lived, typically localised
- Travel distance: Limited
- Source: Open desert areas with strong winds
Dust storm
- Particle size: Much finer, lightweight particles
- Visibility: Hazy skies but less intense
- Duration: Can linger for days
- Travel distance: Long-range, up to thousands of kilometres
- Source: Can be carried from distant regions
The bio
Studied up to grade 12 in Vatanappally, a village in India’s southern Thrissur district
Was a middle distance state athletics champion in school
Enjoys driving to Fujairah and Ras Al Khaimah with family
His dream is to continue working as a social worker and help people
Has seven diaries in which he has jotted down notes about his work and money he earned
Keeps the diaries in his car to remember his journey in the Emirates
Famous left-handers
- Marie Curie
- Jimi Hendrix
- Leonardo Di Vinci
- David Bowie
- Paul McCartney
- Albert Einstein
- Jack the Ripper
- Barack Obama
- Helen Keller
- Joan of Arc
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre V8 twin-turbocharged and three electric motors
Power: Combined output 920hp
Torque: 730Nm at 4,000-7,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch automatic
Fuel consumption: 11.2L/100km
On sale: Now, deliveries expected later in 2025
Price: expected to start at Dh1,432,000
More from Rashmee Roshan Lall
10 tips for entry-level job seekers
- Have an up-to-date, professional LinkedIn profile. If you don’t have a LinkedIn account, set one up today. Avoid poor-quality profile pictures with distracting backgrounds. Include a professional summary and begin to grow your network.
- Keep track of the job trends in your sector through the news. Apply for job alerts at your dream organisations and the types of jobs you want – LinkedIn uses AI to share similar relevant jobs based on your selections.
- Double check that you’ve highlighted relevant skills on your resume and LinkedIn profile.
- For most entry-level jobs, your resume will first be filtered by an applicant tracking system for keywords. Look closely at the description of the job you are applying for and mirror the language as much as possible (while being honest and accurate about your skills and experience).
- Keep your CV professional and in a simple format – make sure you tailor your cover letter and application to the company and role.
- Go online and look for details on job specifications for your target position. Make a list of skills required and set yourself some learning goals to tick off all the necessary skills one by one.
- Don’t be afraid to reach outside your immediate friends and family to other acquaintances and let them know you are looking for new opportunities.
- Make sure you’ve set your LinkedIn profile to signal that you are “open to opportunities”. Also be sure to use LinkedIn to search for people who are still actively hiring by searching for those that have the headline “I’m hiring” or “We’re hiring” in their profile.
- Prepare for online interviews using mock interview tools. Even before landing interviews, it can be useful to start practising.
- Be professional and patient. Always be professional with whoever you are interacting with throughout your search process, this will be remembered. You need to be patient, dedicated and not give up on your search. Candidates need to make sure they are following up appropriately for roles they have applied.
Arda Atalay, head of Mena private sector at LinkedIn Talent Solutions, Rudy Bier, managing partner of Kinetic Business Solutions and Ben Kinerman Daltrey, co-founder of KinFitz
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What can victims do?
Always use only regulated platforms
Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion
Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)
Report to local authorities
Warn others to prevent further harm
Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence
Start-up hopes to end Japan's love affair with cash
Across most of Asia, people pay for taxi rides, restaurant meals and merchandise with smartphone-readable barcodes — except in Japan, where cash still rules. Now, as the country’s biggest web companies race to dominate the payments market, one Tokyo-based startup says it has a fighting chance to win with its QR app.
Origami had a head start when it introduced a QR-code payment service in late 2015 and has since signed up fast-food chain KFC, Tokyo’s largest cab company Nihon Kotsu and convenience store operator Lawson. The company raised $66 million in September to expand nationwide and plans to more than double its staff of about 100 employees, says founder Yoshiki Yasui.
Origami is betting that stores, which until now relied on direct mail and email newsletters, will pay for the ability to reach customers on their smartphones. For example, a hair salon using Origami’s payment app would be able to send a message to past customers with a coupon for their next haircut.
Quick Response codes, the dotted squares that can be read by smartphone cameras, were invented in the 1990s by a unit of Toyota Motor to track automotive parts. But when the Japanese pioneered digital payments almost two decades ago with contactless cards for train fares, they chose the so-called near-field communications technology. The high cost of rolling out NFC payments, convenient ATMs and a culture where lost wallets are often returned have all been cited as reasons why cash remains king in the archipelago. In China, however, QR codes dominate.
Cashless payments, which includes credit cards, accounted for just 20 per cent of total consumer spending in Japan during 2016, compared with 60 per cent in China and 89 per cent in South Korea, according to a report by the Bank of Japan.
UAE squad
Esha Oza (captain), Al Maseera Jahangir, Emily Thomas, Heena Hotchandani, Indhuja Nandakumar, Katie Thompson, Lavanya Keny, Mehak Thakur, Michelle Botha, Rinitha Rajith, Samaira Dharnidharka, Siya Gokhale, Sashikala Silva, Suraksha Kotte, Theertha Satish (wicketkeeper) Udeni Kuruppuarachchige, Vaishnave Mahesh.
UAE tour of Zimbabwe
All matches in Bulawayo
Friday, Sept 26 – First ODI
Sunday, Sept 28 – Second ODI
Tuesday, Sept 30 – Third ODI
Thursday, Oct 2 – Fourth ODI
Sunday, Oct 5 – First T20I
Monday, Oct 6 – Second T20I
Heather, the Totality
Matthew Weiner,
Canongate
How to tell if your child is being bullied at school
Sudden change in behaviour or displays higher levels of stress or anxiety
Shows signs of depression or isolation
Ability to sleep well diminishes
Academic performance begins to deteriorate
Changes in eating habits
Struggles to concentrate
Refuses to go to school
Behaviour changes and is aggressive towards siblings
Begins to use language they do not normally use
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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