Umm Al Quwain Police have announced a 50 per cent reduction on some traffic fines to mark UAE National Day.
This initiative runs for 38 days – from December 1 to January 7.
Traffic offences committed before November 1 are also eligible for a reduction, said officials.
The force said the scheme is part of its 52nd National Day celebrations, and the reduced rate applies to various traffic offences committed in the emirate.
However, drivers guilty of dangerous driving behaviour – such as threatening life or property, jumping red lights and speeding over 80 kilometres above the limit – are not included.
Cars that also have unauthorised modifications to their engine or chassis are also not eligible for the cut in fines.
A similar scheme has also been launched this week in Ras Al Khaimah. The Department of Public Services there is offering a 50 per cent reduction on fines for public violations throughout December.
Offences include littering in public spaces and the improper disposal of liquid waste outside sewage networks.
Discounts apply to 6,746 environmental violations that were recorded last year by the department's Raqeb patrols.
The department said the step is part of their broader effort to promote awareness and a culture of environmental responsibility.
Who is Mohammed Al Halbousi?
The new speaker of Iraq’s parliament Mohammed Al Halbousi is the youngest person ever to serve in the role.
The 37-year-old was born in Al Garmah in Anbar and studied civil engineering in Baghdad before going into business. His development company Al Hadeed undertook reconstruction contracts rebuilding parts of Fallujah’s infrastructure.
He entered parliament in 2014 and served as a member of the human rights and finance committees until 2017. In August last year he was appointed governor of Anbar, a role in which he has struggled to secure funding to provide services in the war-damaged province and to secure the withdrawal of Shia militias. He relinquished the post when he was sworn in as a member of parliament on September 3.
He is a member of the Al Hal Sunni-based political party and the Sunni-led Coalition of Iraqi Forces, which is Iraq’s largest Sunni alliance with 37 seats from the May 12 election.
He maintains good relations with former Prime Minister Nouri Al Maliki’s State of Law Coaliton, Hadi Al Amiri’s Badr Organisation and Iranian officials.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
If you go
The flights
There are direct flights from Dubai to Sofia with FlyDubai (www.flydubai.com) and Wizz Air (www.wizzair.com), from Dh1,164 and Dh822 return including taxes, respectively.
The trip
Plovdiv is 150km from Sofia, with an hourly bus service taking around 2 hours and costing $16 (Dh58). The Rhodopes can be reached from Sofia in between 2-4hours.
The trip was organised by Bulguides (www.bulguides.com), which organises guided trips throughout Bulgaria. Guiding, accommodation, food and transfers from Plovdiv to the mountains and back costs around 170 USD for a four-day, three-night trip.
