UAE traffic: cars diverted from Sheikh Zayed Road due to flooding

Drivers spent hours on the E11 on Wednesday at Jebel Ali after a huge body of rainwater gathered, blocking traffic. Courtesy Jan Kasselman

UPDATE: Dubai Municipality says flooded Sheikh Zayed Road will be cleared 'by 5pm'

DUBAI // Sheikh Zayed Road is partially closed and motorists are advised to seek alternative routes.

Road users travelling to and from Abu Dhabi have been advised by the Roads and Transport Authority to use Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road and Emirates Road due to flooding.

Traffic is being diverted from Saih Shuaib to the lorry road and Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road.

The RTA apologised for any delays and tweeted it was “working hard to drain the water in that area for the traffic to return to normal at the earliest”.

Commuters took to Twitter to alert drivers of congestion near Dubai Media City towards Abu Dhabi, with the temporary closure of the road near Jebel Ali.

One motorist warned drivers of tailbacks stretching kilometres on Sheikh Zayed Road, urging drivers to stay home if they plan to travel to Jebel Ali or Abu Dhabi.

At 7.23am, Abu Dhabi’s Department of Transport warned motorists of the closure of Zayed the First Street, after Sultan bin Zayed Street towards Khalidiya due to “unsafe structures”.

On Wednesday, more than 3,000 calls were made to Dubai Police's command room in the morning alone due to the bad weather, although none involved fatalities.

Also some Abu Dhabi-bound motorists were stuck on Sheikh Zayed Road at Jebel Ali for almost four hours from 11.30am.