Dubai ready for long holiday

DUBAI - Dubai, the city that charms all, is in the grip of a holiday mood, with establishments closing for a weekend, followed by Eid Al Adha celebrations.

By (By a staff reporter)

Published: Thu 29 Jan 2004, 11:57 AM

Last updated: Thu 2 Apr 2015, 2:30 AM

And it is not just that the locals and residents are planning to make the best out of the holidays. The two-day weekend off from today apart, public sector will have a four-day holiday starting from January 31, and private sector will have a three-day holiday from Saturday. Banks are closed for four days as well.

Dubai's fame has crossed several borders, beyond the UAE and the Gulf, and reached all corners of the world, tourists are coming in in droves to spend holidays here. Dubai's holiday season could be their holidays too. For, Dubai has it all - classy hotels, classy shopping malls and other classy tourism infrastructure.

This being the Shopping Festival season, the flow of tourists is heavy indeed.

But, this is also the season of problem for Dubai and its locals and residents. That is just in the matter of traffic. For the past several days, and especially at nights, when people come out in thousands of vehicles, traffic fails to move on many a road.

Dubai Traffic Police do a commendable job in normal times. But, they are stretched out to the maximum in seasons of heavy rush. Seized of the matter, General Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Minister of Defence, has taken a new initiative a fortnight ago, when he set up a permanent high-level traffic committee. The committee is to study the traffic requirements here with special emphasis on safety measures and future strategies.

Dubai is growing fast and the traffic system has to catch up with the general growth. Hence there is concern.

But, until new measures are in place, times like this, the holiday seasons, will be tough to cope with on our roads.

It was virtually a nightmare on Wednesday, going to any part of Deira, where activities are largely centred. After crossing the tunnel, heading for Al Maktoum Bridge, it is a difficult scenario altogether. All areas near City Centre and other shopping centers in Deira are full with traffic, especially at night. Parking is a major problem too. In places like Al Rigga Road, which has an abundance of eateries that function till late at night, a space for parking is virtually impossible at many a time.