The Roads and Transport Authority has completed the construction of two rest areas in Al Barsha.
The Roads and Transport Authority has completed the construction of two rest areas in Al Barsha.
The Roads and Transport Authority has completed the construction of two rest areas in Al Barsha.
The Roads and Transport Authority has completed the construction of two rest areas in Al Barsha.

Dubai to build 40 air-conditioned rest areas for delivery riders


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Dubai is to build 40 air-conditioned rest areas for delivery riders across the city.

The Roads and Transport Authority said the sites would include a snack dispenser, water cooler and mobile phone charging station.

Depending on the location, the rest area will be able to accommodate up to 10 people and will have parking spaces for motorcycles.

The outside of the rest areas has been designed to reduce the effect of sunlight.

The initiative aims to improve road safety and offer riders somewhere to relax in comfort while waiting for orders, the authority said.

The rest areas will be in Arabian Ranches, International City, Business Bay, Al Quoz, Al Karama, Al Satwa, Al Jaddaf, and Mirdif, as well as other districts in the emirate.

The authority has completed the construction of two rest areas in Al Barsha and the remaining sites are scheduled to be built in three phases.

All rest areas are expected to be completed by July next year.

“The construction of these rest areas is part of the RTA’s efforts to provide a proper working environment for delivery riders, given the substantial growth of the delivery business in recent years to meet the public demand for goods," said Mattar Al Tayer, director general of the authority.

“The selection of rest area locations for delivery riders is based on a thorough analysis of operational data and the identification of the highest demand areas, in co-ordination with delivery companies.

"This initiative stems from the RTA’s efforts to regulate and enhance the safety of the delivery sector, which has seen huge growth in recent years.

"The number of companies offering motorcycle delivery services in Dubai grew to 2,891 in 2022, which represents a 40% increase compared to the previous year."

In March, the authority announced plans to build rest areas for delivery riders on Sheikh Zayed Road, near Festival Plaza at Jebel Ali Village, at Port Saeed next to Al Muraqqabat Street 22, and at Ras Al Khor Industrial Area 2 near Al Manama Street.

In July, Abu Dhabi announced plans to build rest stations for delivery riders that feature air conditioning, seating, water and parking areas.

The smuggler

Eldarir had arrived at JFK in January 2020 with three suitcases, containing goods he valued at $300, when he was directed to a search area.
Officers found 41 gold artefacts among the bags, including amulets from a funerary set which prepared the deceased for the afterlife.
Also found was a cartouche of a Ptolemaic king on a relief that was originally part of a royal building or temple. 
The largest single group of items found in Eldarir’s cases were 400 shabtis, or figurines.

Khouli conviction

Khouli smuggled items into the US by making false declarations to customs about the country of origin and value of the items.
According to Immigration and Customs Enforcement, he provided “false provenances which stated that [two] Egyptian antiquities were part of a collection assembled by Khouli's father in Israel in the 1960s” when in fact “Khouli acquired the Egyptian antiquities from other dealers”.
He was sentenced to one year of probation, six months of home confinement and 200 hours of community service in 2012 after admitting buying and smuggling Egyptian antiquities, including coffins, funerary boats and limestone figures.

For sale

A number of other items said to come from the collection of Ezeldeen Taha Eldarir are currently or recently for sale.
Their provenance is described in near identical terms as the British Museum shabti: bought from Salahaddin Sirmali, "authenticated and appraised" by Hossen Rashed, then imported to the US in 1948.

- An Egyptian Mummy mask dating from 700BC-30BC, is on offer for £11,807 ($15,275) online by a seller in Mexico

- A coffin lid dating back to 664BC-332BC was offered for sale by a Colorado-based art dealer, with a starting price of $65,000

- A shabti that was on sale through a Chicago-based coin dealer, dating from 1567BC-1085BC, is up for $1,950

The specs
  • Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
  • Power: 640hp
  • Torque: 760nm
  • On sale: 2026
  • Price: Not announced yet
LILO & STITCH

Starring: Sydney Elizebeth Agudong, Maia Kealoha, Chris Sanders

Director: Dean Fleischer Camp

Rating: 4.5/5

Updated: November 05, 2023, 10:42 AM`