Dubai, Sharjah grind to halt as schools reopen

Traffic jams and accidents are being reported across major UAE roads as several schools reopen across the country.

A three-car accident was earlier reported on Sheikh Zayed Road, in front of Ibn Battuta Mall, while another minor fender bender also caused a tailback on Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road.

Meanwhile, reports coming in from frustrated commuters state that National Paints flyover is at a complete standstill, as is Oud Metha Road near Dubai Healthcare City.

An eyewitness to the three-car accident spoke to Emirates 24|7 saying: “It was expected today, as schools reopen. I think a lot of us anticipated it, but even then we weren’t prepared for this.

“It took me one hour to leave Tecom and reach Jebel Ali this morning, a 15-minute drive at best for me usually.

“Of course, the three-car accident in the fast lane, heading into Abu Dhabi, only added to the tailbacks that stretched as far as Jumeirah Lake Towers. Let’s hope things are better tomorrow.”

There are also reports of gridlock at Hessa Street, the Dubai Investments Park roundabout and Al Barsha.

People on social media platforms are also reporting of heavy traffic on E66, with TrafficDXB tweeting: “Severe traffic congestion on E66 Oud Metha Road starting from Al Khail Rd towards Wafi/Bur Dubai.”

Hansel Anthony added: “Been stuck on Oud Metha since 8:10am. Avoid if possible.”

Commuters coming into Dubai from Sharjah and Al Nahda are facing their own gridlock at the other end of the city, with Neha Patel saying: “There was standstill traffic in the area near Al Nahda pond park, in front of Zulekha Hospital.

“It doesn’t take us more than 3-4 minutes to drive out of the community to get to the main road opposite the hospital; now, it easily takes 15-minutes just to get to the main road.”

Meanwhile, reports coming in state that Al Khail Road and Al Mankhool Road are relatively incident free for those looking for alternatives.

However, several commuters are bracing themselves for a week of frustration on the roads, with Ali Yaqoub saying: “This is only the first day and let’s not forget that not all schools have yet opened. Some will re-open on Tuesday, others next week. It will only get worse in the coming days. Brace yourself.”

Click to read: 970,000 students back to school in UAE

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