Dh200 trip gets longer for drivers

Al Ghuwaifat: The line-up at the Ghuwaifat crossing continued to grow on Tuesday afternoon as several thousand truckers waited to cross into Saudi Arabia. By 3pm some 3,000 trucks stretched around the Al Ghuwaifat area, forming a queue approximately 12Km long, as drivers waited without any information on their fate.

Most expect to wait three days, if not longer, before crossing and some at the top of the line have been there for two days already.

While temperatures reached 30C, most drivers sought shelter under their rigs sleeping or chatting with fellow truckers about family and home. Most earn Dh200 for a three-day round trip between Dubai and other GCC destinations. If the trip lasts seven days, they still only receive Dh200.

Drivers still have access to their onboard supplied of water, although as the wait continues, these supplies will dwindle. There was no sign of any aid officials anywhere in the vicinity. 

Evening: 6,500 trucks are still waiting to cross

By 7pm on Tuesday night, the line of trucks had not moved even a metre. Approximately 6,500 trucks are still waiting to cross the UAE-Saudi border past Ghuwaifat, and the line is growing at around 200 an hour.

The queue is also expected to grow during Tuesday night, as the truck timing restrictions on Dubai's roads comes to an end.

By 9.30pm, there were the vehicle numbers swelled tp 7,500 and the long queu had not moved even a metre since 7pm.