Road diversions in Dubai on Monday

Dubai: Serious traffic diversions were in effect across Dubai all day as US President George W Bush visited the city.

Latest update 3.15pm:

ALL ROADS OPEN AGAIN

Roads which were closed

Shaikh Zayed Road, Shaikh Rashid Road, Shaikh Khalifa Road, Al Khail Road, Al Garhoud Bridge, Al Maktoum Bridge and Al Shindagha Tunnel.

Many internal roads in Bur Dubai will be closed for traffic throughout the day.

Alternate roads

Al Wasl Road, Jumeirah Road and Emirates Road are open although not all roads leading to it are.

Trade centre roundabout, Al Diyafah Road and Al Wasl Road (Diyafah Road end) are open and this is the recommended route to take if you can get to it.

Routes to Dubai Airport and Sharjah from Bur Dubai

Motorists from Al Wasl and Jumeira Road can cross Shaikh Zayed Road passing over Defence Roundabout towards Emirates Road through Ras Al Khor Road.

Motorist can use Al Hadiqa Road near Al Safa Park Interchange to Muscat Road towards Emirates Road.

The third option is Al Sufouh Road through 4.5 Interchange towards Emirates Road.

Motorists from Abu Dhabi will have to take Emirates Road to reach Dubai Airport, Deira and northern emirates.

To reach Terminal 2 of the Dubai International Airport, motorists will have to take Emirates Road through Muhaisnah Interchange, exit number 60, and pass through Al Nahda road and Damascus Road.

Have you been affected by the road closures today? How long did your journey into or through Dubai take? Did you take pictures of the congestion?

Send your comments and stories by filling in the form below and your pictures to feedback@gulfnews.com

Gulf News is doing a great job at keeping us updated today as we are "confined to barracks". I love your caption for picture 2 "The entourage for the US President had no problems with traffic as he headed down the road". A sense of humour is much appreciated on this surreal day.
Anonymous
Dubai,UAE
Posted: January 14, 2008, 15:10

I'm marooned in Barsha. All exits from this area are shut. Magnificent planning!
Christopher
Dubai,UAE
Posted: January 14, 2008, 14:32

It took me 2 hours to get to work from JBR to Sharjah. Normally it takes 30-40 min. Emirates Road wasn't very busy, but it was difficult to find the EXIT. And police weren't directing where to go.
Dina
Dubai,UAE
Posted: January 14, 2008, 14:31

Traffic was open on Monday on inner roads i.e. Trade Centre R/A, Nad Al Sheba, Satwa. Come 09.30, all roads were blocked. People who had errands, emergencies were stuck for good. All roads were blocked irrespective where you were destined to go. I have just one question, would Bush declare a holiday if Shaikh Mohammad had to visit the US?
Patricia
Dubai,UAE
Posted: January 14, 2008, 14:16

The alternate routes posted in Gulf News have not proven to work - there are no ways to cross over Shk. Zayed. I have been trying since about 10:30 a.m. to return to Media City (home) from Zabeel Park. Every intersection has diverted me and I have been unable to even get to Emirates Road. I have returned to a friend's home in Jumeriah because there doesn't appear to be a way back to the other side of town.
Mark
Dubai,UAE
Posted: January 14, 2008, 14:13

I needed to get to Sharjah Airport from Bur Dubai. Reading on the net and the newspapers that the Emirates Road is open, via Al Wasl Road, I left home 4 hours prior to the departure. Shockingly, all roads were closed in Bur Dubai. Police stood everywhere blocking all possible roads leading to Al Wasl Road or Jumeirah. This is so frustrating, wrong information given everywhere. The Police themselves don't know anything. When will the roads get back to normal, or what routes are open to reach the airport, they said nothing is open, just go back. I had to miss my flight to Bombay, paid extra money and got my seat postponed to tomorrow. But the whole scene is really ridiculous.
Sunil
Dubai,UAE
Posted: January 14, 2008, 14:07

Mu husband left for Jebel Ali this 5am and he can't find any route open since 10am to come back in Dubai.This is overkill on the part of the traffic authorities to totally blocked the road and it is very disturbing for many people.
Nina
Dubai,UAE
Posted: January 14, 2008, 14:01

I started from Sharjah 5am this morning and reached office in Dubai Drydocks at 8:15am. It reminded me of giving one of those board exams in school. Initially it was informed that the road closures are from today, but the roads were already closed from last night. Am not sure what time would I reach home. Its a total waste of health and time.
Sujith
Dubai,UAE
Posted: January 14, 2008, 13:51

I left from Bur Dubai to Sharjah, at 6.30am. Thought about going through Karama and got all roads closed, had to take sana fashion junction and took garhood bridge which was open towards sharjah, I came back at 7am through Floating Bridge and Maktoum street - Burjuman Junction and then to my house. But my friend left his house from 7 in the morning to come to me. We were planning for hatta, he did two rounds of deira to find alternate route to reach me in Bur Dubai. He is now stuck in Oud Metha with no place to go. Can't come to my house nor can he go to his own at Barsha. I guess he had lunch in Lamcy and shall watch movie till further update.
Abbas
Dubai,UAE
Posted: January 14, 2008, 13:51

Today morning 6:45 am onwards I have been trying to go JAFZ,I'm staying Karama. All exits from Karama are closed, more than 2 hrs I tryed to come out from Karama, but all ways closed, only I can go to Bur Dubai, Even not possible to go Satwa, Deira.Even I can see Gulf News staff bus is stuck over in Karama at 10:30 am.
Ashok
Karama,DUbai,UAE
Posted: January 14, 2008, 13:41

I left my house around 5.30am this morning from Dubai Festival City to the airport for work, everything was blocked to get there I was going around in circles for 2 hours. I eventually parked my car somewhere, since I could not get back home driving and walked home. It was very chaotic, no one seem to help all the police said was everything was closed.
clara
Dubai,UAE
Posted: January 14, 2008, 13:35

We hope to have New York closed during our leader's vist there.
Altaf
Dubai,UAE
Posted: January 14, 2008, 13:25

I've never imagined Sheikh Zayed Road so peaceful and calm.
Mazhar
Dubai,UAE
Posted: January 14, 2008, 12:40

I left my house at 7.30am this morning to try to get to work in Sharjah. Police had blocked most of the roads around my house, they were ill-informed about alternative routes so I drove around for almost an hour, desperately trying to get to Al Wasl Road. I gave up eventually! Fortunately for me I have a very understanding boss......
Greg
Dubai,UAE
Posted: January 14, 2008, 12:17

Yes, I left my house at 9am from Ghusais to reach Bur Dubai only to return home after 2 hours. Emirates Road to Ras al Khor was ok, but further ahead was blocked. It made no sense to drive ahead as police were diverting traffic. I'm working from home now
Ranjeet
Dubai,UAE
Posted: January 14, 2008, 12:05