News

Hamdan bin Mohammed opens Dubai-Al Ain Road Improvement Project

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DUBAI, 29th May, 2022 (WAM) — H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince o

Published

4 years ago

May 29, 2022

Abhishek Sengupta

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WAM

DUBAI, May 29: Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of Dubai Executive Council, has officially opened the Dubai-Al Ain Road Improvement Project built at a cost of AED2 billion.

Undertaken as part of Dubai’s master transport plan, the project affirms Dubai’s efforts to accelerate its economic development with major projects.

Speaking on the occasion of the opening, Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed said: “Dubai continues to advance the implementation of infrastructure development plans aimed at enhancing human welfare and catalysing sustainable economic growth. It is also part of our broader strategy to transform Dubai into the world’s best place to live, work and visit as well as strengthen our readiness to meet future needs in one of the fastest growing cities worldwide.”

Sheikh Hamdan further said that the government has always placed the highest priority on constantly improving Dubai’s road infrastructure, since it plays an important role in raising the emirate’s competitiveness in addition to creating an attractive business and investment environment and providing a high quality of life for the community.

The scope of the Dubai-Al Ain Road Improvement Project spans 17 km from the intersection of Emirates Road to the intersection of Ras Al Khor Road along the Dubai-Al Ain Road. Construction works included widening the road from three to six lanes in each direction, and constructing six main interchanges along with bridges and ramps stretching 11.5 km.

Upon arrival at the project site, Sheikh Hamdan was received by Mattar Al Tayer, Director-General, Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA).

Benefits to the community

The project will ease traffic flow and improve links with the Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road, Sheikh Zayed bin Hamdan Al Nahyan Road, and Emirates Road, besides serving the current and future communities such as Dubailand Residence Complex, Liwan and Silicon Oasis on either side of the Dubai-Al Ain Road.

This stretch of Dubai Al-Ain road connects the Mohamed bin Zayed and Emirates roads. Courtesy WAM

It will benefit a population of 1.5 million living or working in the neighbourhood on both sides of the road. It also serves 25 universities and colleges where a total of 27,500 students are enrolled. The improvements will double the intake of the road from 12,000 to 24,000 vehicles per hour in both directions.

It will also slash the travel time on the Dubai-Al Ain Road from the intersection of Ras Al Khor Road to the intersection of the Emirates Road by 50% from 16 minutes to eight minutes during peak time. Furthermore, it will solve traffic snarls that used to extend about two kilometres.

Connectivity

Sheikh Hamdan was also briefed on two projects under construction. The first is the Al Manama Street Improvement Project where the existing roundabouts will be transformed into signalised junctions. Construction for the project is expected to be completed in September.

The other is the improvement of the junction of the Academic City on Sheikh Zayed bin Hamdan Al Nahyan Street Project, which is scheduled for completion in December this year. In future, the sector of Sheikh Zayed bin Hamdan Al Nahyan Street from the Academic City to the junction of Al Awir Road will be further improved.

Ramping it up

Outlining the project’s highlights, Al Tayer said, “The improvement of the Dubai-Al Ain Project included the construction of four two-lane ramps at the junction of Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road extending 2,600 metres to ensure free and smooth traffic movement in all directions at the junction.

Dubai-AlAin1

The previous bridge on Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Road had been improved to allow for the widening of the Dubai-Al Ain Road from three to six lanes in each direction in addition to the construction of service roads on both sides of the road. The total capacity of bridges at the junction will jump to 36,000 vehicles per hour in all directions, which will ensure smooth traffic flow on the Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road from Al Qusais in the direction of Al Ain.”

Works included widening the road from three to six lanes in each direction and constructing service roads on both sides to enhance traffic safety levels. Overall, the project covered the improvement of six key junctions with the Emirates Road, Sheikh Zayed bin Hamdan Al Nahyan Street, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road, Nad Al Sheba Road, Al Meydan Road and Ras Al Khor Road.

These junctions facilitate smooth traffic flow and serve the residential communities on both sides of the road such as the Academic City, Dubai Silicon Oasis, Dubailand Residential Complex, Liwan, and the Dubai Design District. The bridges at the six junctions stretch 6,600 metres in length and their ramps span 4,900 metres in total.

Six junctions

The improvement of Dubai-Al Ain Road junctions included the construction of a ramp at the intersection with the Emirates Road and a 220-metre bridge to link Sheikh Zayed bin Hamdan Al Nahyan Street with it.

The works will ease congestion seen in recent times from inbound traffic from the Dubailand Residential Complex as well as ease commute for those heading into Academic City and Silicon Oasis from nearby areas. Service roads have been constructed on both sides of the road along with turns to serve other traffic movements and development projects.

Other project works included the improvement of the Nad Al Sheba intersection to serve traffic from the Dubai-Al Ain Road to Nad Al Sheba and vice versa along with improvements of the inward and outwards surface roads of the Nad Al Sheba district.

Improvements covered the junction of Al Meydan Road with the Dubai-Al Ain Road, which has been linked with Al Manama Street by a four-lane bridge in each direction to link Al Meydan Road with Al Manama Road. Moreover, the previous bridge connecting Al Meydan Road and the Dubai-Al Ain Road has been improved to serve the residential projects of Meydan.

This stretch of Dubai Al-Ain road connects the Mohamed bin Zayed and Emirates roads. Courtesy WAM

Abhishek Sengupta

Chief Storyteller – Abhishek Sengupta Storytelling has been at the heart of everything I’ve done for nearly two decades, whether it’s captivating audiences with breaking news, crafting compelling video narratives, or writing columns with just the right amount of sarcasm and spice. I’ve been an award-winning investigative journalist, content creator, media strategist, and accidental commentator on everything from falafels to foldable laptops. My career has taken me across 60 countries, four World Cups between two sports, and one unforgettable ‘journalistic’ saga. Along the way, I’ve produced over 1,000 minutes of multimedia content, interviewed corporate top bosses, grilled ministers, while helping UAE’s longest-running English daily Khaleej Times ride the digital wave. All along, I’ve only tried (and occasionally succeeded) in making audiences laugh, think, and occasionally say, “Wait, that was actually interesting” —proving that even in today’s world, storytelling isn’t just alive; it’s thriving, quirky, and kicking up a storm.

Business

New UAE wage law explained: What workers and employers need to know

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25 mins ago

May 18, 2026

Michael Gomes

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The Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation has unveiled strict new rules requiring private sector companies to pay employee salaries on the first day of every month starting June 1, 2026.

The move, introduced under Ministerial Resolution No. 340 of 2026, is part of a wider push to strengthen wage protection and improve labour compliance across the UAE.

Salaries must be paid on time

Under the new regulation:

Salaries for the previous month must be transferred through the approved Wage Protection System (WPS) or another authorised payment platform.
Any payment made after the due date will officially be considered delayed.

The ministry also stated that companies must provide proof and documentation confirming salary transfers.

What happens if companies delay salaries?

Authorities outlined escalating penalties that become more severe the longer salaries remain unpaid.

From Day 2:

Companies enter electronic monitoring
Warning notices are issued

From Day 5:

Suspension of new work permits may begin
Employers are formally notified to clear the unpaid wages

From Day 11:

Administrative fines apply for repeat violations
Companies may be downgraded to the third business classification category

From Day 16:

Labour disputes may be automatically registered for workers
More permit restrictions could follow, especially for larger companies and sectors such as:
- Construction
- Transport
- Cleaning
- Security
- Recruitment services

From Day 21:

For companies employing 50 or more workers, repeated violations could lead to:

Referral to public prosecutors
Asset seizure orders
Travel bans on company officials

When is a company still considered compliant?

The ministry clarified that businesses remain compliant if they transfer:

At least 85% of total wages are on time

Employees also won’t be classified as unpaid if missing amounts are linked to legally documented deductions.

Some sectors exempt

The decision excludes:

Short-term permits under three months
Fishing boats
Citizen-owned taxis
Banks
Places of worship

The UAE has long pushed for stronger worker protections, but this marks one of the toughest enforcement frameworks yet for salary delays.

News

UAE announces Eid holidays for private sector

Published

48 mins ago

May 18, 2026

Michael Gomes

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Residents across the UAE are preparing for an extended holiday after authorities officially announced the Eid Al Adha break for both private and public sector employees.

The Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation confirmed that private sector workers will receive a four-day paid holiday starting Tuesday, May 26, through Friday, May 29. Normal work will resume on Monday, June 1. A five-day paid holiday was announced earlier for public sector employees.

Moon sighting officially confirmed

The holiday announcement follows the UAE’s official confirmation of the Dhu Al Hijjah crescent moon sighting on Sunday evening.

Authorities said the sighting was verified through specialised committees and observatories using advanced astronomy technology, officially declaring Monday, May 18, as the first day of Dhu Al Hijjah 1447 AH.

As a result:

Day of Arafah will fall on May 26
Eid Al Adha will begin on May 27

Schools could enjoy up to 10 days off

There’s more good news for families.

The Ministry of Education confirmed that schools will close from May 25 to May 29 for the third-term midterm break, with classes resuming on June 1.

Private schools in Dubai will follow the same calendar, while some schools in Sharjah could see breaks stretching up to 10 days, including weekends.

Travel rush expected

With long weekends lining up for offices and students alike, travel demand is expected to surge as residents begin planning holidays, family gatherings, and Eid celebrations.

For many across the UAE, the countdown to one of the year’s biggest holidays has officially begun.

Education

What UAE parents need to know about CBSE’s new three-language policy

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1 hour ago

May 18, 2026

Michael Gomes

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Thousands of parents across the UAE may finally have reason to relax after major clarifications to the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) three-language framework eased fears of extra academic pressure on students.

The revised policy, set to take effect in the 2026–27 academic year, initially sparked concern among educators and families about how students in Grades 9 and 10 would meet the new language requirements.

What’s changing?

Under the updated structure, students entering Grade 9 from July 2026 will study three languages classified as:

The move is part of reforms linked to India’s National Education Policy 2020 and the National Curriculum Framework for School Education 2023.

Why UAE schools feel relieved

According to UAE-based educators, CBSE has allowed overseas schools greater flexibility in implementing the system.

R1 can be English
R2 can be Hindi, Malayalam, Urdu, or Tamil
R3 can be Arabic for UAE students

Importantly, R3 will not be board-examined, reducing stress for students. Only R1 and R2 will count toward Grade 10 board evaluations, while R3 will appear through internal assessment.

Earlier concerns had parents worried

One of the biggest fears was that students, especially non-Indian nationals studying in CBSE schools, might be forced to learn two Indian languages.

The recent clarifications have eased those concerns significantly, particularly for international schools and students of determination.

While schools say Arabic at R3 is manageable, some institutions are still worried about foreign-language offerings like French.

Full refund after re-evaluation

Meanwhile, in a major relief for thousands of Indian curriculum students across the UAE, CBSE has announced that Grade 12 students will receive a full refund if their marks increase after re-evaluation. The move comes as a student-friendly response following a wave of concerns shared by students on social media, many of whom felt their initial grades were lower than expected due to the board’s newly introduced On-Screen Marking (OSM) system.