DUBAI // With the gauge needle dropping into the red and the air-conditioning switched off to preserve fuel, Mohammed al Dulaijan finally found a station that had petrol.
But to fill up on Sharjah's Airport Road, the 23-year-old Saudi student faced a wait of more than an hour in the morning heat as dozens of motorists honed in on stations that were still supplying fuel.
"It was hot and I had the AC switched off," he said. "The Adnocs were empty on Airport Road. All the pumps on the Dubai to Sharjah roads were congested, probably due to the rise in demand."
The timing could not have been worse for Noorhan Ibrahim Barakat, a 20-year-old Egyptian student. She needed to fill up to get to an exam at American University of Sharjah, for which she arrived late.
"I went to two petrol stations in an hour to find both empty. It's not even funny anymore. I just hope it gets resolved soon."
Ammar Shabbir, 24, an aircraft engineer, was unable to fill up at an Eppco station in Al Qusais, but finally joined a line of cars that extended on to the street outside an Emarat station.
"I had a meeting scheduled, but had to cancel due to the long queues in stations," he said. "I couldn't really explain the problem to my office as not getting petrol is not an excuse."
Shanzeh Shasiq, a 22-year-old Pakistani student, said she trawled around four deserted stations, including Emarat and Eppco stations in Al Qusais, before finally filling up.
"I was desperate as I was running out of petrol completely," she said.
newsdesk@thenational.ae
BEETLEJUICE BEETLEJUICE
Starring: Winona Ryder, Michael Keaton, Jenny Ortega
Director: Tim Burton
Rating: 3/5
The%20Specs
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MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League semi-final, first leg
Tottenham v Ajax, Tuesday, 11pm (UAE).
Second leg
Ajax v Tottenham, Wednesday, May 8, 11pm
Games on BeIN Sports
Zimbabwe v UAE, ODI series
All matches at the Harare Sports Club:
1st ODI, Wednesday, April 10
2nd ODI, Friday, April 12
3rd ODI, Sunday, April 14
4th ODI, Tuesday, April 16
UAE squad: Mohammed Naveed (captain), Rohan Mustafa, Ashfaq Ahmed, Shaiman Anwar, Mohammed Usman, CP Rizwan, Chirag Suri, Mohammed Boota, Ghulam Shabber, Sultan Ahmed, Imran Haider, Amir Hayat, Zahoor Khan, Qadeer Ahmed
Company%20Profile
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Company%20Profile
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Israel Palestine on Swedish TV 1958-1989
Director: Goran Hugo Olsson
Rating: 5/5
AUSTRALIA SQUAD
Aaron Finch, Matt Renshaw, Brendan Doggett, Michael Neser, Usman Khawaja, Shaun Marsh, Mitchell Marsh, Tim Paine (captain), Travis Head, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Jon Holland, Ashton Agar, Mitchell Starc, Peter Siddle
Results
5pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 (Turf) 1,200m, Winner: ES Rubban, Antonio Fresu (jockey), Ibrahim Aseel (trainer)
5.30pm: Handicap (PA) Dh85,000 (T) 1,200m, Winner: Al Mobher, Sczcepan Mazur, Ibrahim Al Hadhrami
6pm: Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 2,200m, Winner: Jabalini, Tadhg O’Shea, Ibrahim Al Hadhrami
6.30pm: Wathba Stallions Cup (PA) Dh70,000 (T) 2,200m, Winner: AF Abahe, Tadgh O’Shea, Ernst Oertel
7pm: Handicap (PA) Dh85,000 (T) 1,600m, Winner: AF Makerah, Tadhg O’Shea, Ernst Oertel
7.30pm: Maiden (TB) Dh80,000 (T) 1,600m, Winner: Law Of Peace, Tadhg O’Shea, Satish Seemar
The years Ramadan fell in May
Jebel Ali Dragons 26 Bahrain 23
Dragons
Tries: Hayes, Richards, Cooper
Cons: Love
Pens: Love 3
Bahrain
Tries: Kenny, Crombie, Tantoh
Cons: Phillips
Pens: Phillips 2