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‘Without Expo, weekends won’t be the same anymore’

Published

4 years ago

April 7, 2022

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Six months is a long time to get addicted to something. No wonder, Dubai residents got hooked on Expo. It served as their best getaway – more like a jaunt – especially during weekends.

With withdrawal symptoms kicking in after the curtains came down on Expo, residents will have to seek out new indulgences (read events and places) to whet their appetite for pleasure. This will be the first weekend without Expo.

We talked to a few people to know how they are planning to spend the weekend – minus the Expo. And as expected, we found them pining for Expo.

Vanshika Jashani, a school teacher and a frequent visitor to the Expo, said she used to detox from her work by visiting the world’s biggest fair. Now, with Expo gone, she will go back to the entertainment modes she resorted to before.

She says, “Weekends won’t be the same anymore. For the last six months, we never thought of looking for any sort of activity over the weekend. Expo was the one and only destination for us. But, from this week, we will again have to go to the malls or kids play area for our weekly entertainment.”

Her pensive sigh while she talked revealed how much the people of Dubai are missing Expo and sure, it’s going to take a lot of time to get used to the void.

Anuradha Prakash, another Dubai resident, said she was reeling under withdrawal symptoms after Expo drew to a close.

She said, “During Expo, we visited all live musical shows and even got to see international stars up close. Now, the weekends are going to be laidback and slow and will get over as we binge watch TV series.”

The Expo was what many dub as “once-in-a-lifetime event”.

Dubai is a hub of entertainment and has a lot to offer. We are certain it’s going to get easy as the days go by. Dubai with its vibrance will replace Expo nostalgia with fresh fun, cause the city exceeds expectations and always finds a way out to cheer up people.

Staff Reporter

News

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

Published

1 day 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

1 day 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

1 day 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.