ABU DHABI // Adnoc customers are complaining that lengthy queues at petrol stations in the emirate can leave them waiting up to 30 minutes to fill up.
Mohemmad Khatib, a 19-year-old resident of Abu Dhabi, said recently it took him almost an hour to wash his car and fill it with petrol at the station near Spinneys in Khalidiya.
"Months pass without washing my car for this reason," he said. "But after people started to write 'clean me' on my car, I decided it was time.
"I waited 45 minutes to wash my car, and another 20 minutes to fill it with petrol."
With 743,000 registered vehicles in Abu Dhabi and only 170 Adnoc stations distributed among Abu Dhabi city, Al Ain, the Western Region and northern emirates, both residents and Abu Dhabi visitors say the number of stations is failing to keep pace with demand.
The Adnoc stations along Airport and Muroor roads spell out the story of frustrated residents and visitors.
At 11am on a weekday at the Adnoc station on Airport Road, between Al Falah and Delma streets, at least 12 cars were lined up at one of the islands. The tailback leading to the main road caused a minor traffic jam.
There is only one functional petrol station along a 20-kilometre stretch along Airport Road leading to Maqta Bridge. However, another station at the corner of Airport Road and Al Falah is under construction and is nearing completion.
In the reverse direction leading from the Maqta Bridge into the city, there are three stations - two near the Carrefour bridge, and another between Delma and Al Falah streets.
Francisco Alneeda, the shift supervisor at the Adnoc station near the Al Muroor and 23rd Street intersection, said minor accidents occur "almost every day. Most of the time it's small and people don't call the police."
With 12 stalls and a staff of seven attendants per eight-hour shift, workers must cope with daily pressures, Mr Alneeda said.
"We receive many complaints about the attitude of our staff, that they're taking time to attend to the customers. But there are just too many cars and everyone is always in a hurry."
Drivers who commute to Dubai from Airport Road say the location of the petrol stations is inconvenient because U-turns are far apart. Drivers must use the petrol stations along the Abu Dhabi-Dubai motorway, which they say are far worse.
Marife Pascnal, a Dubai resident from the Philippines, often commutes to Abu Dhabi. And when heading back home, Ms Pascnal said she always makes sure she has a full tank before getting on the motorway.
"I tried filling up my car once at the station near Al Shahama and it was a 30-minute wait," she said. "They're always congested, no matter what time you go."
Others who are not prepared have had worse experiences.
Nour Ahmad, a marketing executive from Egypt, once ran out of fuel on the E-11 motorway, Abu Dhabi bound, after stopping at three stations and finding them overcrowded.
"I decided I still have just enough until I reach the Dubai border," she said. But she was mistaken, and ended up stranded in the fast lane.
"On my way I ran out and I had to call my friends, who filled up a gallon [container] with petrol and brought it to my car. Luckily, there were no nearby vehicles and the police helped me move my car to the side of the road."
Ms Ahmad said she recognised her mistake, but at the same time, additional stations would prevent drivers from facing such a situation.
One of the busier stations in Abu Dhabi is next to the Spinneys supermarket in Khalidiya. Krishna Subedi, the station supervisor, said he received more than 1,000 customers a day, with average daily revenues between Dh250,000 and Dh300,000. Of the four stations where he has worked, this was by far the busiest, he said.
"At least once a month there is a small accident because drivers are trying to manoeuvre through the congestion," he said, adding that a 24-hour McDonald's at the station did not help the situation.
Mr Subedi said there were 65 stations in Abu Dhabi city, with plans to add 15 more. Adnoc's corporate offices declined to comment.
However, Mr Subedi said: "More stations would definitely help both our staff and the drivers."
mismail@thenational.ae
A MINECRAFT MOVIE
Director: Jared Hess
Starring: Jack Black, Jennifer Coolidge, Jason Momoa
Rating: 3/5
In numbers: PKK’s money network in Europe
Germany: PKK collectors typically bring in $18 million in cash a year – amount has trebled since 2010
Revolutionary tax: Investigators say about $2 million a year raised from ‘tax collection’ around Marseille
Extortion: Gunman convicted in 2023 of demanding $10,000 from Kurdish businessman in Stockholm
Drug trade: PKK income claimed by Turkish anti-drugs force in 2024 to be as high as $500 million a year
Denmark: PKK one of two terrorist groups along with Iranian separatists ASMLA to raise “two-digit million amounts”
Contributions: Hundreds of euros expected from typical Kurdish families and thousands from business owners
TV channel: Kurdish Roj TV accounts frozen and went bankrupt after Denmark fined it more than $1 million over PKK links in 2013
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre flat-six
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Transmission: 7-speed PDK auto or 6-speed manual
Fuel economy, combined: 13.8L/100km
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THE SPECS
Engine: 1.5-litre
Transmission: 6-speed automatic
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Company profile
Name: Steppi
Founders: Joe Franklin and Milos Savic
Launched: February 2020
Size: 10,000 users by the end of July and a goal of 200,000 users by the end of the year
Employees: Five
Based: Jumeirah Lakes Towers, Dubai
Financing stage: Two seed rounds – the first sourced from angel investors and the founders' personal savings
Second round raised Dh720,000 from silent investors in June this year
The White Lotus: Season three
Creator: Mike White
Starring: Walton Goggins, Jason Isaacs, Natasha Rothwell
Rating: 4.5/5
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
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NO OTHER LAND
Director: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham, Rachel Szor, Hamdan Ballal
Stars: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham
Rating: 3.5/5
Pathaan
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What is Folia?
Prince Khaled bin Alwaleed bin Talal's new plant-based menu will launch at Four Seasons hotels in Dubai this November. A desire to cater to people looking for clean, healthy meals beyond green salad is what inspired Prince Khaled and American celebrity chef Matthew Kenney to create Folia. The word means "from the leaves" in Latin, and the exclusive menu offers fine plant-based cuisine across Four Seasons properties in Los Angeles, Bahrain and, soon, Dubai.
Kenney specialises in vegan cuisine and is the founder of Plant Food Wine and 20 other restaurants worldwide. "I’ve always appreciated Matthew’s work," says the Saudi royal. "He has a singular culinary talent and his approach to plant-based dining is prescient and unrivalled. I was a fan of his long before we established our professional relationship."
Folia first launched at The Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills in July 2018. It is available at the poolside Cabana Restaurant and for in-room dining across the property, as well as in its private event space. The food is vibrant and colourful, full of fresh dishes such as the hearts of palm ceviche with California fruit, vegetables and edible flowers; green hearb tacos filled with roasted squash and king oyster barbacoa; and a savoury coconut cream pie with macadamia crust.
In March 2019, the Folia menu reached Gulf shores, as it was introduced at the Four Seasons Hotel Bahrain Bay, where it is served at the Bay View Lounge. Next, on Tuesday, November 1 – also known as World Vegan Day – it will come to the UAE, to the Four Seasons Resort Dubai at Jumeirah Beach and the Four Seasons DIFC, both properties Prince Khaled has spent "considerable time at and love".
There are also plans to take Folia to several more locations throughout the Middle East and Europe.
While health-conscious diners will be attracted to the concept, Prince Khaled is careful to stress Folia is "not meant for a specific subset of customers. It is meant for everyone who wants a culinary experience without the negative impact that eating out so often comes with."
Specs
Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric
Range: Up to 610km
Power: 905hp
Torque: 985Nm
Price: From Dh439,000
Available: Now
Defending champions
World Series: South Africa
Women’s World Series: Australia
Gulf Men’s League: Dubai Exiles
Gulf Men’s Social: Mediclinic Barrelhouse Warriors
Gulf Vets: Jebel Ali Dragons Veterans
Gulf Women: Dubai Sports City Eagles
Gulf Under 19: British School Al Khubairat
Gulf Under 19 Girls: Dubai Exiles
UAE National Schools: Al Safa School
International Invitational: Speranza 22
International Vets: Joining Jack
Mina Cup winners
Under 12 – Minerva Academy
Under 14 – Unam Pumas
Under 16 – Fursan Hispania
Under 18 – Madenat
Specs
Engine: Electric motor generating 54.2kWh (Cooper SE and Aceman SE), 64.6kW (Countryman All4 SE)
Power: 218hp (Cooper and Aceman), 313hp (Countryman)
Torque: 330Nm (Cooper and Aceman), 494Nm (Countryman)
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh158,000 (Cooper), Dh168,000 (Aceman), Dh190,000 (Countryman)
How to donate
Text the following numbers:
2289 - Dh10
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*numbers work for both Etisalat and du
More on Quran memorisation:
Skewed figures
In the village of Mevagissey in southwest England the housing stock has doubled in the last century while the number of residents is half the historic high. The village's Neighbourhood Development Plan states that 26% of homes are holiday retreats. Prices are high, averaging around £300,000, £50,000 more than the Cornish average of £250,000. The local average wage is £15,458.
