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70% of Umm Suqeim Road upgrade now complete: What it means for your commute

Published

6 months ago

May 27, 2025

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A major upgrade of Umm Suqeim Street, one of Dubai’s busiest roads, is now 70% complete, according to the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA).

The ongoing works stretch from Al Khail Road to Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Road and are part of a massive 16-kilometre corridor project designed to improve traffic flow between Jumeirah Street and Emirates Road. The corridor serves over one million residents, including communities in Al Barsha South, Dubai Hills, Arjan and Dubai Science Park.

Mattar Al Tayer, RTA’s Director General and Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors, toured the site this week to inspect progress. “This is a key project that supports Dubai’s urban expansion and aims to significantly cut travel times,” he said.

What’s Been Done So Far?

The 4.6km stretch currently under construction includes a major new intersection near Kings’ School in Al Barsha South, featuring an 800-metre tunnel with four lanes in each direction, plus a signalised surface-level intersection above.

When finished, the corridor will be able to handle up to 16,000 vehicles per hour, slashing travel time between Al Khail Road and Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Road by more than half, from 9.7 minutes to just 3.8.

High-Tech Construction Tools

In a futuristic twist, drones and AI are playing a big part in the build. The RTA says smart technologies are helping monitor progress and track milestones more efficiently. These innovations have doubled on-site presence, cut survey times by 60%, and boosted monitoring efficiency by 40% – all part of Dubai’s smart city vision.

The Big Picture

Al Tayer highlighted that this project is a key piece in the puzzle to link Dubai’s major highways, including Sheikh Zayed Road, Al Khail Road, Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Road, and Emirates Road. Once completed, it will offer smoother, faster drives across the city – a win for commuters and residents alike.

Michael Gomes

With over 35 years of experience in journalism, copywriting, and PR, Michael Gomes is a seasoned media professional deeply rooted in the UAE’s print and digital landscape.

News

Dubai-India travel: Security procedures triggered for Emirates flight following bomb threat email, flight lands safely

Published

19 hours ago

December 5, 2025

Michael Gomes

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Authorities at Hyderabad’s Rajiv Gandhi International Airport activated full emergency protocols on Friday after receiving a bomb threat email linked to Emirates flight EK526 travelling from Dubai (DXB) to Hyderabad (HYD).

According to GMR officials, the threat email landed in the airport’s customer support inbox around 7.30am on December 5. Despite the alert, the flight continued under strict monitoring and landed safely at 8.30am.

Once on the ground, the aircraft was immediately moved to an isolated bay. Passengers were safely deboarded, and security te

ams carried out standard bomb threat checks. Investigations are currently underway.

Emirates confirmed the incident in a statement to local media, saying authorities had alerted them to a “potential security threat” to EK526.
“All standard security procedures were implemented by the relevant local authorities with full co-operation from Emirates’ ground teams,” the airline said, adding that “the safety and well-being of passengers and crew remain the highest priority.”

Authorities say all threats are being investigated, and extra security measures remain in place at the airport.

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Driving through Abu Dhabi this week? Here are the road closures you need to know about

Published

19 hours ago

December 5, 2025

Michael Gomes

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Abu Dhabi motorists can expect some delays over the next few days, with the Department of Municipalities and Transport (DMT) announcing a series of partial road closures across key routes in the capital. Drivers are being urged to plan, allow extra travel time, and follow diversions to avoid congestion.

Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Street

A major set of phased lane closures will take place near Sheikh Zayed Bridge from Tuesday, December 9 to Monday, December 22, 2025.

Three left lanes will be closed from 12am on December 9 until 10pm on December 15.
Two right lanes will then shut from 10pm on December 15 until 6am on December 22.

Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Street

Another temporary closure is scheduled on Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Street from 5pm on December 5 until 5am on December 8.

Authorities explained that these restrictions are part of ongoing road enhancement projects designed to improve traffic flow and safety across the city. Motorists are encouraged to use alternative routes wherever possible during the maintenance period.

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Sharjah Police give deadline to remove National Day stickers, or face fines

Published

19 hours ago

December 5, 2025

Michael Gomes

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If your car is still sporting National Day decals, it’s time to take them off. Sharjah Police have announced that all vehicle owners must remove their UAE National Day celebration stickers by Saturday, December 6, and those who miss the deadline will face violations.

The reminder follows a crackdown during the 54th Eid Al Etihad celebrations, where authorities impounded 106 vehicles and nine motorbikes for dangerous and irresponsible behaviour on the roads.

According to Sharjah Police, the violations included:

Creating loud noise and disturbing residents
Driving recklessly and endangering others
Operating vehicles without a valid licence

Police officials urged motorists to celebrate responsibly and avoid turning festivities into safety risks.

However, there has been a shift in decorating trends this year. Many residents opted for cleaner, simpler, more elegant designs to showcase their UAE pride ahead of the long weekend, and demand for custom decals surged.

Authorities are now urging residents to ensure all celebratory stickers and decorations are removed by the set deadline to keep roads safe and avoid penalties.