Dubai residents caught in traffic jam on return to offices after deluge
Traffic came to a near standstill on motorways and other roads in Dubai and Sharjah yesterday, as many residents returned to work – almost a week after record rainfall hit the UAE.
Despite days of clean-up efforts by emergency services, some roads remained closed due to floodwater, damage and abandoned vehicles.
Water had been drained from most motorways last week, but traffic jams were reported yesterday morning along Hessa Street, Umm Suqeim Road, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Road (E311), Emirates Road (E611) and Sheikh Zayed Road (E11).
Motorists stuck in tailbacks warned other drivers that they had been in traffic for more than an hour on school runs or the daily commute.
Others called local radio stations with updates on the worst-affected sections in Motor City, Town Square, Jumeirah Village Circle, Safa Park, Al Quoz, Al Barsha, Al Qudra and Sports City, with traffic on Emirates Road diverted to Al Qudra.
“The traffic is getting worse. It’s chaos. I turned back home to The Greens after dropping my daughter to school in Al Barsha,” said Sajid, a banker who decided to work from home after being stuck for more than an hour in the jam.
“I’m worried about picking up my daughter in the afternoon. That will be another hour wasted on the road. I would advise, stay at home if you can.”
Dubai’s private schools, universities and nurseries were given the option of remote learning yesterday.
The Knowledge and Development Authority, which is responsible for private education in Dubai, asked educational institutions to be flexible “for those facing ongoing logistical challenges after the severe weather”.
In Sharjah, private institutions were asked to extend distance learning yesterday by the Sharjah Private Education Authority.
The main congestion was on the E311, E611 and E11 motorways, exits to Hessa Street and Al Khail, and Jumeirah Village Circle. There were also tailbacks from Town Square going to Motor City, backed up at the D63 Al Qudra exit from the E611.
There was heavy traffic in both directions on the E11 at the border between Dubai and Sharjah, as well as road closures.
Stretches of the D62 – northbound near Festival City and southbound before
Dubai International Airport – remained shut.
In some communities, including Al Barsha, Al Quoz, and Arabian Ranches 2, traffic was restricted to single lanes to avoid standing water on the inner sections of the road.
Sharjah-bound lanes on the E11 were among the stretches at a standstill, with tailbacks forming around Sahara Centre, Al Nahda Street, parts of the Corniche and Al Taawun Street.
Southbound traffic on the E311 came to a standstill next to City Centre Al Zahia while several roads were closed near Al Jubail Bus Station.
In Dubai, Motor City resident Saptarshi left early and took a longer route to avoid the congestion on Hessa Street as he dropped off his children at the Dubai International Academy in Emirates Hills.
“The traffic is really building up now getting into Motor City,” he said. “I took an earlier exit into Sports City but I’ve never seen it so bad.
“There are people stuck on all sides of the roundabout and no one can move.
Dubai Police urged residents to remove vehicles abandoned in floods and speak to the force if they need help
Traffic near the school was OK because Dubai was given the option of home schooling but it’s traffic on Hessa Street that people got caught in.”
Congestion on Sheikh Zayed Road built up near Ibn Battuta Mall on the Sharjah-bound side, as well as near the Jebel Ali Energy Metro station exits.
Tailbacks were reported on the motorway near Al Manara, Al Thowima Street through to Business Bay, near Safa Park and towards Wafi Mall.
Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority warned motorists to be careful. In a morning update, the authority said Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Road had been reopened in both directions between Al Manama Street and the road to Al Ain.
Dubai Police urged residents to remove vehicles abandoned during the flooding and to speak to the force’s call centre if they needed help.
Sheikh Zayed Road, from Dubai to Abu Dhabi, was largely clear. A crash near Dubai Parks led to delays.
Last Monday and Tuesday, 250mm of rain fell in parts of the UAE within 24 hours, the highest figure since records began 75 years ago.