Nobody likes being stuck in traffic. An underrated, if quotidian, pleasure of urban life, particularly in cities reliant on cars, is to not be caught in a snarl. Time is saved, efficiency is achieved and anywhere in the world, a smooth ride is better altogether for stress levels of people stuck in a car, driving or not – not least of all for ambulance drivers and those unfortunately in them. As any urban database will attest, the benefits of roads without congestion add up significantly.
In the UAE, a smooth network of highways linking each of the seven emirates is one of the country's most tangible assets, as are each emirate's internal roads. Given this advantage, and with an eye to the future, smart infrastructure projects, such as those that monitor traffic with AI, streamline the flow of traffic at intersections with more sensors and go a long way to add to already existing first-rate road networks. A much-anticipated railway line is in the works, too, with Etihad Rail connecting 11 of the UAE's cities.
In the UAE, a smooth network of highways linking each of the seven emirates is one of the country's most tangible assets
In Dubai, projects such as the smart traffic management system keep pace with a broader social reality driven by numbers – more cars on the road due to more people being drawn to life in the UAE and moving to its cities.
Catering to the future requirements of the country, the second phase of the Intelligent Transports Systems project will begin in a few months. Motorists will soon discern the ease of driving down those roads. The first phase in Dubai already improved road safety by adding 120 traffic cameras and constructing a 660km long fibre-optic network, which boosted connectivity and communication systems. Significant work has also been done to make the roads safer. Data shows that this reduced road accidents and shortened the time it takes to respond to emergencies. Soon, the second phase will mark an extensive change in Dubai's road map, by extending the length of roads covered, from 480 kilometres to more than 700km, a feat of engineering and progressive city planning.
This is only to be expected of a young country never shy of planning for the future – as evident in Dubai's plan to put 4,000 driverless taxis on the streets by 2030. One in 20 of the emirate's taxis will already be driverless by the end of next year. The combination of technology and infrastructure will increase the quality of life of countless commuters in the UAE. Last year, in Dubai nearly 461 million riders used public and shared transport and taxis.
Abu Dhabi is moving ahead with drone delivery trial programmes, and next month we're likely to see the autonomous taxi minibus used for the first time during the Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, serving as the base for all such innovations is the fact that good roads are at the core of what keeps a city ticking. In this regard, the UAE's advantages continue to be immeasurable.
Dust and sand storms compared
Sand storm
- Particle size: Larger, heavier sand grains
- Visibility: Often dramatic with thick "walls" of sand
- Duration: Short-lived, typically localised
- Travel distance: Limited
- Source: Open desert areas with strong winds
Dust storm
- Particle size: Much finer, lightweight particles
- Visibility: Hazy skies but less intense
- Duration: Can linger for days
- Travel distance: Long-range, up to thousands of kilometres
- Source: Can be carried from distant regions
THURSDAY'S FIXTURES
4pm Maratha Arabians v Northern Warriors
6.15pm Deccan Gladiators v Pune Devils
8.30pm Delhi Bulls v Bangla Tigers
The Little Things
Directed by: John Lee Hancock
Starring: Denzel Washington, Rami Malek, Jared Leto
Four stars
The Vile
Starring: Bdoor Mohammad, Jasem Alkharraz, Iman Tarik, Sarah Taibah
Director: Majid Al Ansari
Rating: 4/5
Ferrari 12Cilindri specs
Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12
Power: 819hp
Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm
Price: From Dh1,700,000
Available: Now
What are NFTs?
Are non-fungible tokens a currency, asset, or a licensing instrument? Arnab Das, global market strategist EMEA at Invesco, says they are mix of all of three.
You can buy, hold and use NFTs just like US dollars and Bitcoins. “They can appreciate in value and even produce cash flows.”
However, while money is fungible, NFTs are not. “One Bitcoin, dollar, euro or dirham is largely indistinguishable from the next. Nothing ties a dollar bill to a particular owner, for example. Nor does it tie you to to any goods, services or assets you bought with that currency. In contrast, NFTs confer specific ownership,” Mr Das says.
This makes NFTs closer to a piece of intellectual property such as a work of art or licence, as you can claim royalties or profit by exchanging it at a higher value later, Mr Das says. “They could provide a sustainable income stream.”
This income will depend on future demand and use, which makes NFTs difficult to value. “However, there is a credible use case for many forms of intellectual property, notably art, songs, videos,” Mr Das says.
F1 The Movie
Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Rating: 4/5
The specs
A4 35 TFSI
Engine: 2.0-litre, four-cylinder
Transmission: seven-speed S-tronic automatic
Power: 150bhp
Torque: 270Nm
Price: Dh150,000 (estimate)
On sale: First Q 2020
A4 S4 TDI
Engine: 3.0-litre V6 turbo diesel
Transmission: eight-speed PDK automatic
Power: 350bhp
Torque: 700Nm
Price: Dh165,000 (estimate)
On sale: First Q 2020
Anghami
Started: December 2011
Co-founders: Elie Habib, Eddy Maroun
Based: Beirut and Dubai
Sector: Entertainment
Size: 85 employees
Stage: Series C
Investors: MEVP, du, Mobily, MBC, Samena Capital
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
MATCH INFO
Rugby World Cup (all times UAE)
Third-place play-off: New Zealand v Wales, Friday, 1pm
Final: England v South Africa, Saturday, 1pm
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cyl turbo
Power: 247hp at 6,500rpm
Torque: 370Nm from 1,500-3,500rpm
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 7.8L/100km
Price: from Dh94,900
On sale: now
Islamophobia definition
A widely accepted definition was made by the All Party Parliamentary Group on British Muslims in 2019: “Islamophobia is rooted in racism and is a type of racism that targets expressions of Muslimness or perceived Muslimness.” It further defines it as “inciting hatred or violence against Muslims”.
