Parking row sees Dubai taxi drivers fighting in the street

Driver ends up in hospital with a fractured skull after being blocked in by a colleague at Dubai Marina.

A taxi driver ended up with a fractured skull in a fight with a colleague because the latter refused to make way by moving his car.

Dubai Criminal Court was told on Sunday that the Pakistani man, 26, parked his car in Dubai Marina in February last year and went to the men's room in a nearby building and, when he returned, he found another taxi double parked next to him blocking his way.

“I spoke to the driver and asked him to move his car so I can go but he refused,” said the Pakistani. He added that he waited in his car until the vehicle in front of him moved and then he drove away.

“To my surprise, he chased me then stopped his taxi in front of mine and got out of it,” said the driver, adding that he was then attacked by the other driver. He said he was punched on the head and fainted.

The defendant also injured his hand due to the punch, the court heard.

The first driver regained consciousness minutes later and called police, who got him taken in an ambulance to Rashid Hospital.

He was treated for a skull fracture on the left side of the head and had metal plates fixed in his eye area and cheek bones. A medical report said that he now suffers from a 10 per cent permanent disability.

The defendant was arrested the same day. He was charged with physical assault and causing permanent disability, both of which he denied on Sunday morning.

“He hit me first and I only defended myself,” said the accused.

He awaits a verdict on July 30.