Dubai: Life in the Emirates is expected to be back to normal on Sunday after the month-long fast, a period when the country is generally abuzz at night.
Although government offices and a number of private companies will resume work on Monday, most of the country’s workforce will be back to work on Sunday. Others started work on Saturday.
During the Eid weekend, some residents on Friday opted to stay at home or go someplace “less busy” because of the seasonal spike in traffic jams in some of the most favoured destinations in Dubai such as The Dubai Mall.
Bumper to bumper traffic was seen on Shaikh Zayed Road leading to The Dubai Mall on the first and second day of Eid. Traffic moved at a snail’s pace on the Financial Centre Road on Friday night. This was despite authorities’ plans to ensure free traffic movement across Dubai, focusing specifically on busy areas surrounding the Dubai Mall, Mall of the Emirates, Dubai Marina, Deira City Centre and Festival City.
The Roads and Transport Authority added more buses, taxis, and extended the Dubai Metro operating hours to encourage people to use public transport and avoid clogging major roads during the Eid holidays.
Dubai Police on Friday night cautioned motorists on Twitter that “there is traffic congestion at Dubai Mall entrances coming from SZR [Shaikh Zayed Road], please take caution”.
Ellen Munez, an office administrator based in Dubai, was planning to go to The Dubai Mall on Friday night with her friends. But the slow-moving traffic from the Trade Centre roundabout made them decide to have dinner in Business Bay instead.
“Traffic was moving extremely slow coming from the Trade Centre roundabout to the exit to Dubai Mall. So we decided to take alternative routes just so we would not get stuck in traffic. We ended up going to a different place. Our other friends weren’t able to make it because of the traffic situation,” Munez told Gulf News.
Gerard Panganiban and his family said they decided to call off their plans of going to The Dubai Mall on Friday night because of the traffic jam as well.
“It was bumper to bumper, cars were moving very slowly, if at all. The same was true for the first and second day of Eid,” he told Gulf News.
Some residents took their experience to Twitter. User Mad Legend said: “Spent this eid here with @U0ssef 2 hours on the road because of traffic and 1 hour inside the mall #dubai #uae.”
Another user, Megha Merani, wrote: “Tourist jam! All roads lead to #Dubai mall for #Eid. I’m staying home #DriveSafe #UAE.”
Similar slow-moving traffic was reported at Jumeirah Beach Residence. Meanwhile, mall-goers at Dubai Outlet Mall experienced difficulty exiting the place as the single lane tunnel exit to Dubai was jammed as well.
