So there I was chatting to my passenger towards the end of the morning commute from Dubai to Abu Dhabi when I felt the car begin to slow down.
I looked at the dashboard, instantly realising my mistake - I had forgotten to fill up with petrol. As my trusty Nissan Juke shuddered to a premature halt on the side of the road, I knew I was in trouble. I could call a friend and ask them to bring a jerry can of fuel or catch a taxi to the nearest petrol station - a time-consuming and expensive process.
Then as my passenger and I pondered our dilemma, a fluorescent 4x4 with flashing lights pulled up behind us. It was one of the 10-strong Road Service Patrol vehicles supplied by the Department of Transport to rescue motorists after an accident or breakdown. The idea behind the concept - which works in conjunction with Abu Dhabi Police and Saaed - is to get cars back on the road, or crash sites cleared, as quickly as possible. Those in the know can dial 999 and they will be by your side within minutes of a breakdown. So, for someone oblivious to their existence, their arrival within five minutes of me pulling over was a very welcome surprise.
I was incredulous as the patrol man placed safety bollards behind our two vehicles, mechanically raised a warning sign to passing vehicles and filled my car with enough petrol to reach the nearest petrol station. Within 10 minutes, I was back on the road again and all this for no fee whatsoever!
A similar service exists in the UK - something that has come into fruition since I left my home nation - but this does not dampen my gratitude and utter respect for the patrol men saving damsels in distress such as myself right here in Abu Dhabi.
They say that nothing in life is free, but this service not only saved me valuable time but money, too.
New schools in Dubai
MATCH INFO
Azerbaijan 0
Wales 2 (Moore 10', Wilson 34')
MATCH INFO
Fixture: Ukraine v Portugal, Monday, 10.45pm (UAE)
TV: BeIN Sports
Rashid & Rajab
Director: Mohammed Saeed Harib
Stars: Shadi Alfons, Marwan Abdullah, Doaa Mostafa Ragab
Two stars out of five
COMPANY%20PROFILE%3A
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The years Ramadan fell in May
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
AndhaDhun
Director: Sriram Raghavan
Producer: Matchbox Pictures, Viacom18
Cast: Ayushmann Khurrana, Tabu, Radhika Apte, Anil Dhawan
Rating: 3.5/5
More on animal trafficking
The years Ramadan fell in May
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
UAE SQUAD
Ahmed Raza (Captain), Rohan Mustafa, Jonathan Figy, CP Rizwan, Junaid Siddique, Mohammad Usman, Basil Hameed, Zawar Farid, Vriitya Aravind (WK), Waheed Ahmed, Karthik Meiyappan, Zahoor Khan, Darius D'Silva, Chirag Suri
HAJJAN
%3Cp%3EDirector%3A%20Abu%20Bakr%20Shawky%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cbr%3EStarring%3A%20Omar%20Alatawi%2C%20Tulin%20Essam%2C%20Ibrahim%20Al-Hasawi%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cbr%3ERating%3A%204%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The specs: 2018 Peugeot 5008
Price, base / as tested: Dh99,900 / Dh134,900
Engine: 1.6-litre turbocharged four-cylinder
Transmission: Six-speed automatic
Power: 165hp @ 6,000rpm
Torque: 240Nm @ 1,400rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 5.8L / 100km
THE BIO
Mr Al Qassimi is 37 and lives in Dubai
He is a keen drummer and loves gardening
His favourite way to unwind is spending time with his two children and cooking
Company%20profile
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