Shopping rush leads to traffic jams

Abu Dhabi: Residents are flocking to shopping malls in the capital in large numbers in preparation for Eid festivities.

Along with the crowds come traffic jams too. Major commercial areas have been worst affected by the traffic bottlenecks, especially after 8:30pm.

The Traffic and Patrols Department has increased patrols in these areas to tackle the problem.

"Rush hour during these days begins after Taraweeh prayers [after 8:30pm] and continue till midnight. Motorists are advised to drive carefully during these hours to avoid accidents that further complicate the situation and cause lengthy traffic jams," advised Major Jamal Al Amiri, Director of Public Relations and Road Safety.

The most affected roads in the city are Zayed the Second [Electra] Street, Hamdan Street, Airport and Muroor road sections inside the city, Najda Street and Salam Street.

Finding a parking space is yet another problem in the city, particularly in the Medinat Zayed commercial area, where most tailors and the Medinat Zayed Shopping Centre and Gold Souq are located.

Tailoring shops, especially during the last seven to ten days, have been doing brisk business. Some of the shops charge from Dh150 to Dh5,000 for a men's dishdasha.

According to tailors in the area, they are overcrowded with customers and have stopped accepting new orders.

Mohammad Nasser Sher Mohammad, the owner of a tailoring shop, said they make different types of dishdashas costing from Dh150 to Dh4,500, including the material.

Mohammad said they import exclusive materials.

"We have our own exclusive materials that are not available to others. The prices depend on the choice of material. The most expensive is a Kashmiri fabric which is made with the fine extract from goat wool. A dishdasha of this fabric costs Dh4,500."

When asked if the business has gone up with the approach of Eid, he said: "The number of orders has increased many-fold. This will continue until Eid."

Another tailoring shop owner, Shabir Ahmad Maleek, said they have been receiving lots of orders for traditional Pakistani and Afghan men's attire.