Road closures planned for first day of Idex

Khaleej Al Arabi Street will be closed to traffic on Sunday morning ahead of the opening of the defence exhibition.

ABU DHABI // Khaleej Al Arabi Street (30th Street) will be closed to traffic from 10am until 12pm tomorrow for the opening of the 11th International Defence Exhibition and Conference (Idex).

Idex 2013 will be held at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre until February 21. More than 60,000 visitors are expected to attend.

Motorists are advised to take alternative routes across the island on Sheikh Zayed Street, Airport Road and Muroor Road.

Drivers travelling from the Corniche can turn right on to 29th street from Airport Road and right on to Karama Street as an alternative to Khaleej Al Arabi.

Motorists are urged to be patient, follow traffic laws and exercise caution in anticipation of traffic congestion near the military parade area, said Lt Col Jamal Salem Al Ameri, head of public relations at Abu Dhabi Police's traffic and patrols directorate. Drivers are also urged not to park haphazardly in the area.

Complimentary "park and ride" services will run every five minutes from Zayed Sports City between 7am until 8pm.

The Department of Transport is encouraging people to use free buses provided for the event, which will run from hotels on Abu Dhabi, Saadiyat and Yas islands and the mainland suburbs from 7am until 7pm.