Musaffah hit by gas station shortage

Abu Dhabi: The lack of petrol stations in the vicinity is driving Musaffah residents up the wall.

Residents told XPRESS they have to drive at least 10km on the Al Ain-Baniyas road or endure long waits at the two petrol stations in the industrial area to fill up on gas.

The three gas stations in Musaffah are far from the residential areas of Mohammad Bin Zayed City and Shabia, and not enough to meet the demands of thea fast growing population.

“It has become a pain to fill up. There is not a single fuel station anywhere close to the area. Currently there are two in the industrial area, and there are long queues of trucks most of the time,” said Salam Obaida, an Egyptian resident who lives in Mohammad Bin Zayed City.

Obaida said he does not allow his wife, who also drives, to fill up. “The place is full of bachelors and truck drivers and my wife does not feel comfortable at all. So I take her car whenever there is a need to refill,” said Obaida.

similar issues

Khadeeja Abed, an Indian housewife, said she also faces similar issues. “It is very dangerous for women to go to gas stations, especially at night. They have to depend on their husbands. It is high time we have these basic facilities here as this place is teeming with families now,” said Abed, a mother of two, who lives in Sector 17 of Mohammad Bin Zayed City.

This 5.8 million square metre residential development, located to the north of Musafah highway, is fast emerging as a township with schools, hospitals and shopping malls complementing the infrastructural development in the area. The place is a preferred residential area for many middle-income families who choose to move away from the city centre for affordable living.

However, easy access to fuel stations is becoming a pressing problem for the estimated 80,000 residents, including those in the Shabia area.

“If you try to avoid the rush in the industrial area, the only option is to head to the station on the Al Ain-Baniyas road. It is closer but in order to come back to Musaffah, you have to drive 10km for a U-turn,” said Abdullah Kutty, who runs a catering business in Musaffah.

More residents told XPRESS they want civic authorities to build amenities like children’s parks and fuel stations close to Mohammad Bin Zayed City and Shabia, where most families live.