Abu Dhabi: Slow clearance by border authorities has been causing a more than 10-kilometre long tailback on the Al Ghuwaifat border during the past two weeks, truck drivers told Gulf News on Tuesday.
UAE | General
Scores of trucks stuck at UAE-Saudi border
Drivers report huge tailbacks over past fortnight and say they fear situation may get worse
- By Abdulla Rasheed, Abu Dhabi Editor and Binsal Abdul Kader, Staff Reporter
- Published: 00:00 March 7, 2012
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Dear Gulf News, It is the clearance of general cargo at the border that is being delayed severely. The customers are also in a very tight position. Transport operators, traders & manufacturing companies are feeling the heat of the stalemate on the border between the UAE and Saudi Arabia. Currently there is only one gate in Saudi border for Entry & Exit which includes all Empty Return Trucks + GCC Transit Trucks & Trucks going to KSA through same gate only. They must open new separate individual gates for Empty Return Trucks, GCC Transit Trucks & Trucks going to KSA at the earliest otherwise these border crises between UAE-Saudi Arabia will never end. The huge delays between UAE-SAUDI border are resulting in loss of customers for the many companies in current world economic crises.
Smita Nair, Jebel Ali, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
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Dear Gulf News, this article does not give much information as to the reasons of the situation at the border. It is very vague without much research done. Incase at the moment you are unable to find out the details of this delay, pls follow up with a consecutive article explaining the entire cause. Only then will this be completely informative. Thanks, Mridula
Mridula Murli, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
They said the situation reminded them of the crises which occurred several times since June 2009 when the queue of trucks stretched for kilometres on the Al Sila-Al Ghuwaifat border, causing misery for hundreds of truck drivers.
"There was a 14-kilometre long queue on the road on Monday night," said Ashir, an Indian truck driver. "Now there is an eight- kilometre long queue which may extend up to 13 to 14 kilometres by late night as many trucks reach the border late evening," he said at 6pm on Tuesday.
Drivers said about 4,000 trucks were stuck at the border due to slow clearance. Earlier it used to take 24 to 36 hours to cross the border, but now it takes four to five days, a driver said.
They said they were not aware of the reason behind the delay. "There has been strong, dusty wind and it has been very cold at night. Moreover the day temperature will also start going up in the coming days," one driver said.
But a senior UAE official told Gulf News the problem would be solved very soon.
"We have sent senior officials to the border to sort out the problem in consultation with Saudi Authorities," said Major General Nasser Al Awadi Al Menhali, acting Assistant Undersecretary of the Ministry of Interior for Naturalisation and Residency.
He said the issue was set to be solved by Tuesday evening.
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