Drivers in Madinat Zayed, in the Al Dhafra region of Abu Dhabi, are experiencing phased road closures on Monday due to the UAE Tour cycling event.
The event started at Shams Solar Power Plant with the first closure from 12.50pm to 1.45pm on Sheikha Salama Bint Butti Road. Affected roads will be closed until 4.30pm.
Subsequent phases will see sections of the road closed from 1.20pm to 2pm and from 1.50pm to 2.20pm, respectively. Parts of Sheikha Salama Bint Butti road near Liwa Hospital and Liwa Palace will be closed from 2pm to 3.55pm.
The route towards Tal Moreeb will be closed in stages, including from 3.15pm to 4.20pm, with the last section shutting from 3.45pm to 4.30pm. Authorities have urged drivers to use alternative routes and allow for extra travel time.
The UAE Tour runs from Monday to Sunday, February 23, with seven stages covering a total distance of 1,013km.
Organised by Abu Dhabi Sports Council, the race starts in Al Dhafra and ends in Al Ain. It features four sprint stages, two mountain stages and a 12.2km individual time trial.
The first stage on Monday in Al Dhafra covers 138km from the Shams plant to Liwa Palace. Stage two, the 12.2km individual time trial, takes place on Tuesday at Hudayriyat Island in Abu Dhabi.
The third stage on Wednesday, one of the key phases of the tour, runs from Ras Al Khaimah to the summit of Jebel Jais over 179km. Thursday's stage covers 181km from Qidfa Beach in Fujairah to Umm Al Quwain.
On Friday, the fifth stage will cover 160km from the American University in Dubai to Hamdan Bin Mohammed Smart University. Stage six on Saturday, February 22 stretches 167km from the Abu Dhabi Cycling Club headquarters on Hudayriyat Island to the Breakwater on Abu Dhabi Corniche.
The final stage on Sunday, February 23 is a decisive 176km mountain route in Al Ain starting at Hazza bin Zayed Stadium and passing many of the city’s landmarks before concluding at the summit of Jebel Hafeet.