UAE traffic: Police prepare for Eid chaos

Shoppers urged to take taxis and buses to Dubai Mall for one of the busiest shopping periods of the year

Extra police patrols are in place to help deal with increased traffic during the Eid holidays. The National

As the great Eid getaway begins, most major roads remain clear of heavy traffic on Sunday morning.

The E11 Sheikh Zayed Road in Dubai heading north from the Deira Clocktower and the E311 in Mirdif in the direction of Sharjah experienced the heaviest accumulation of traffic, although only slight delays to usual travel times.

Traffic was light across much of Abu Dhabi, with no reported problems on roads in and out of the capital on Sunday.

Plans are in place by the Roads and Transport Authority Events Security Committee and Dubai Police to help cope with the expected increase in traffic throughout the Eid Al Adha holiday.

In Dubai, police road patrols are being stepped up to ease traffic movement during common choke points around Airport Road, popular tourist hot spots and malls.

The plan covers the Burj Khalifa district and Business Bay, directing traffic from Oud Metha via Al Asayel St, Zabeel Bridges via the Happiness Street and internal access roads to Sheikh Zayed Road and Al Khail Road.

It is hoped the measures will ease pressure on Financial Centre Street and Mohammed bin Rashid Boulevard during peak times.

Two other parking lots at Al Wasl Club and Jafiliya will be ready to accommodate surplus vehicles in case parking slots of Dubai Mall are full, with buses ready to shuttle riders between Dubai Mall and the alternative parking zones.

“Bus and taxi services ensure the deployment of the maximum possible number of vehicles at the pick-up and drop-off points of Dubai Mall, and the deployment of additional taxis during peak hours and at the alternative parking lots," Brigadier Khalil Obaid Al Bishri, acting director of the police's major events team.

During Eid Al Adha holiday the Dubai Metro Red Line will operate from Tuesday, August 21 to Thursday, August 23 from 5.00am to 2.00am and on Friday, August 24 from 10.00am to 2.00am.

The Green Line will operate from Tuesday, August 21 to Thursday, August 23 from 5.30 am to 2.00 am and on Friday, August 24 from 10.00am to 2.00am.

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