• Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, receives Pope Francis in Abu Dhabi, on February 4, 2019. Ryan Carter / Ministry of Presidential Affairs
    Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, receives Pope Francis in Abu Dhabi, on February 4, 2019. Ryan Carter / Ministry of Presidential Affairs
  • Sheikh Mohamed welcomes Pope Francis to the UAE. Mohamed Al Hammadi / Ministry of Presidential Affairs
    Sheikh Mohamed welcomes Pope Francis to the UAE. Mohamed Al Hammadi / Ministry of Presidential Affairs
  • Sheikh Mohamed receives Pope Francis. This was the head of the Catholic Church's first visit to the UAE. Ryan Carter / Ministry of Presidential Affairs
    Sheikh Mohamed receives Pope Francis. This was the head of the Catholic Church's first visit to the UAE. Ryan Carter / Ministry of Presidential Affairs
  • Sheikh Mohamed receives Dr Ahmad Al Tayyeb, Grand Imam of the Al Azhar Al Sharif, in Abu Dhabi. Ryan Carter / Ministry of Presidential Affairs
    Sheikh Mohamed receives Dr Ahmad Al Tayyeb, Grand Imam of the Al Azhar Al Sharif, in Abu Dhabi. Ryan Carter / Ministry of Presidential Affairs
  • Pope Francis greets Dr Ahmad Al Tayyeb. Ryan Carter / Ministry of Presidential Affairs
    Pope Francis greets Dr Ahmad Al Tayyeb. Ryan Carter / Ministry of Presidential Affairs
  • In Abu Dhabi, Pope Francis and Dr Al Tayyeb signed a statement known as the Document on Human Fraternity. Ryan Carter / Ministry of Presidential Affairs
    In Abu Dhabi, Pope Francis and Dr Al Tayyeb signed a statement known as the Document on Human Fraternity. Ryan Carter / Ministry of Presidential Affairs
  • Sheikh Mohamed receives Pope Francis and Dr Al Tayyeb. Ryan Carter / Ministry of Presidential Affairs
    Sheikh Mohamed receives Pope Francis and Dr Al Tayyeb. Ryan Carter / Ministry of Presidential Affairs
  • Pope Francis is welcomed by Sheikh Mohamed. AFP
    Pope Francis is welcomed by Sheikh Mohamed. AFP
  • Sheikh Mohamed receives Pope Francis pass a guard of honour. Mohamed Al Hammadi / Ministry of Presidential Affairs
    Sheikh Mohamed receives Pope Francis pass a guard of honour. Mohamed Al Hammadi / Ministry of Presidential Affairs
  • Pope Francis is presented with flowers upon his arrival. Mohamed Al Hammadi / Ministry of Presidential Affairs
    Pope Francis is presented with flowers upon his arrival. Mohamed Al Hammadi / Ministry of Presidential Affairs
  • Zaki Anwar Nusseibeh, UAE Minister of State greets Pope Francis. Mohamed Al Hammadi / Ministry of Presidential Affairs
    Zaki Anwar Nusseibeh, UAE Minister of State greets Pope Francis. Mohamed Al Hammadi / Ministry of Presidential Affairs
  • Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak, Minister of State for Tolerance greets Pope Francis. Mohamed Al Hammadi / Ministry of Presidential Affairs
    Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak, Minister of State for Tolerance greets Pope Francis. Mohamed Al Hammadi / Ministry of Presidential Affairs
  • Sheikh Diab bin Tahnoon greets Pope Francis. Mohamed Al Hammadi / Ministry of Presidential Affairs
    Sheikh Diab bin Tahnoon greets Pope Francis. Mohamed Al Hammadi / Ministry of Presidential Affairs
  • Dr Amal Abdullah Al Qubaisi, Speaker of the Federal National Council, greets Pope Francis. Ryan Carter / Ministry of Presidential Affairs
    Dr Amal Abdullah Al Qubaisi, Speaker of the Federal National Council, greets Pope Francis. Ryan Carter / Ministry of Presidential Affairs
  • Sheikh Tahnoon bin Mohamed, Ruler's Representative in Al Ain Region, greets Pope Francis. Ryan Carter / Ministry of Presidential Affairs
    Sheikh Tahnoon bin Mohamed, Ruler's Representative in Al Ain Region, greets Pope Francis. Ryan Carter / Ministry of Presidential Affairs
  • Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE National Security Advisor, greets Pope Francis. Ryan Carter / Ministry of Presidential Affairs
    Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE National Security Advisor, greets Pope Francis. Ryan Carter / Ministry of Presidential Affairs
  • Sheikh Hazza bin Zayed, Vice Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council, and Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed, Ruler’s Representative in Al Dhafra Region. Mohamed Al Hammadi / Ministry of Presidential Affairs
    Sheikh Hazza bin Zayed, Vice Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council, and Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed, Ruler’s Representative in Al Dhafra Region. Mohamed Al Hammadi / Ministry of Presidential Affairs
  • Pope Francis smiles upon his arrival at the Abu Dhabi airport. AP Photo
    Pope Francis smiles upon his arrival at the Abu Dhabi airport. AP Photo
  • Men sing and dance during arrival of Pope Francis and Dr Ahmad Al Tayyeb. Ryan Carter / Ministry of Presidential Affairs
    Men sing and dance during arrival of Pope Francis and Dr Ahmad Al Tayyeb. Ryan Carter / Ministry of Presidential Affairs
  • Children dance during the arrival of Pope Francis and Dr Ahmad Al Tayyeb. Ryan Carter / Ministry of Presidential Affairs
    Children dance during the arrival of Pope Francis and Dr Ahmad Al Tayyeb. Ryan Carter / Ministry of Presidential Affairs
  • A traditional Ayala dance is performed during the arrival of Pope Francis. Ryan Carter / Ministry of Presidential Affairs
    A traditional Ayala dance is performed during the arrival of Pope Francis. Ryan Carter / Ministry of Presidential Affairs
  • A traditional dance is performed upon the arrival of Pope Francis and Dr Ahmad Al Tayyeb at the Presidential Airport. Mohamed Al Hammadi / Ministry of Presidential Affairs
    A traditional dance is performed upon the arrival of Pope Francis and Dr Ahmad Al Tayyeb at the Presidential Airport. Mohamed Al Hammadi / Ministry of Presidential Affairs
  • Pope Francis and Dr Al Tayyeb bid farewell while departing from the Presidential Airport. Mohamed Al Hammadi / Ministry of Presidential Affairs
    Pope Francis and Dr Al Tayyeb bid farewell while departing from the Presidential Airport. Mohamed Al Hammadi / Ministry of Presidential Affairs

Abu Dhabi road closures for Pope Francis visit announced


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Roads will be closed around Zayed Sports City on Tuesday ahead of Pope Francis's public Mass.

Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Street and Saif Ghubash Street will be closed in both directions from midnight to 6pm on Tuesday, the Department of Transport said on Sunday.

Schools across the UAE will also be closed on Tuesday, the Ministry of Human Resources announced.

Pope Francis is travelling to the UAE for a historic visit in which he will be the first pontiff to visit the Gulf.

Trucks will be banned from Abu Dhabi island from 6pm on Monday to 6pm on Tuesday.

Changes to bus services on Abu Dhabi island were also announced. The DoT said that, from 3pm on Monday, the frequency of bus services will drop to one per hour. The reduced service will continue until 3pm on Tuesday, after which usual services will resume.

About 1,000 buses will take worshippers from Dubai to Abu Dhabi for the public Mass.

Buses will begin leaving from dedicated transport hubs in Dubai from 11pm, with the stadium gates set to open at 5am.

Buses in Abu Dhabi will leave from the car park outside Nations Tower, Dalma Street opposite Emirates National School for boys, a sand lot opposite KM Trading on 16th Street in Mussaffah, and a car park outside Lake Ruwais.

Those attending Mass who live in Al Ain can board buses from a car park two blocks west of Hazza bin Zayed Stadium. Their journey to Zayed Sports City stadium will take two hours.

Meanwhile, preparations are under way at the stadium with workers taking down Asian Football Cup livery to replace it with signs for the Pope's visit.

About 135,000 people are expected to attend the Mass.