Dubai Police served up more than 90,000 iftar meals in the first 10 days of Ramadan in a bid to deter motorists from flouting traffic rules while rushing to break their fast.
The force said the number of road accidents typically surges in the period before iftar, with some drivers speeding, running red lights or committing other breaches of traffic safety.
Police are working with local charities to distribute meals to drivers shortly before iftar in hopes of improving road safety.
“Traffic accidents and offences usually surge before iftar time,” said Maj Gen Saif Al Mazroui, director of Dubai Police's traffic department.
“Some motorists commit serious offences such as speeding, crossing the red signal or overtaking from the hard shoulder of the road.”
He said three people died and 34 were injured in 47 traffic accidents during the first 10 days of Ramadan in 2022, with one death and 23 injuries recorded in 29 traffic accidents during the holy month in 2021.
“Many motorists drive recklessly, not leaving a safe distance between vehicles and not following lane discipline because of fasting, anxiety and fatigue,” he said.
“Such behaviour causes severe accidents and deaths on the roads as well as damages to properties.”
Maj Gen Al Mazroui hoped the free meal initiative would mitigate the risk of accidents during what is often referred to as the “Ramadan rush”.
“Having an iftar meal in the car will reduce tension and encourage them to slow down to reach safely to their destinations,” said the senior officer.
Col Salah Al Hammadi, director of traffic awareness campaigns at Dubai Police, said the force has chosen junctions with heavy traffic in the city to distribute meals to motorists, with assistance from volunteers.
“It is part of our awareness campaign to have a safe Ramadan. Officers and volunteers will distribute the meals to drivers before iftar in order to encourage them to slow down and not exceed speed limits to get home,” Col Al Hammadi said.
Police said motorists who hear the call for maghrib prayer while driving should find a safe place to stop to order to break their fast before resuming their journeys.
Dubai Police have launched a separate initiative to serve 11,000 iftar meals to labourers throughout Ramadan.
Ramadan Al Khair — Ramadan of Goodness — was created to highlight “the values of compassion, interdependence and solidarity through humanitarian action”.
“The distribution of iftar meals is an ideal opportunity to promote and spread the culture and awareness of safety and security among labourers in both English and Urdu,” said Butti Ahmed bin Darwish Al Falasi, director of the Security Awareness Department in the General Department of Community Happiness at Dubai Police.
“This campaign is also a chance to educate labourers on their rights and duties, and ensure the communication channels are kept open to establish trust between the police and workers.”
Dubai Police launch Ramadan food drive — in pictures
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Qyubic
Started: October 2023
Founder: Namrata Raina
Based: Dubai
Sector: E-commerce
Current number of staff: 10
Investment stage: Pre-seed
Initial investment: Undisclosed
Tax authority targets shisha levy evasion
The Federal Tax Authority will track shisha imports with electronic markers to protect customers and ensure levies have been paid.
Khalid Ali Al Bustani, director of the tax authority, on Sunday said the move is to "prevent tax evasion and support the authority’s tax collection efforts".
The scheme’s first phase, which came into effect on 1st January, 2019, covers all types of imported and domestically produced and distributed cigarettes. As of May 1, importing any type of cigarettes without the digital marks will be prohibited.
He said the latest phase will see imported and locally produced shisha tobacco tracked by the final quarter of this year.
"The FTA also maintains ongoing communication with concerned companies, to help them adapt their systems to meet our requirements and coordinate between all parties involved," he said.
As with cigarettes, shisha was hit with a 100 per cent tax in October 2017, though manufacturers and cafes absorbed some of the costs to prevent prices doubling.
The figures behind the event
1) More than 300 in-house cleaning crew
2) 165 staff assigned to sanitise public areas throughout the show
3) 1,000 social distancing stickers
4) 809 hand sanitiser dispensers placed throughout the venue
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The specs
Engine: 2-litre or 3-litre 4Motion all-wheel-drive Power: 250Nm (2-litre); 340 (3-litre) Torque: 450Nm Transmission: 8-speed automatic Starting price: From Dh212,000 On sale: Now
Mica
Director: Ismael Ferroukhi
Stars: Zakaria Inan, Sabrina Ouazani
3 stars
The specs
Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
Power: 640hp
Torque: 760nm
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Guns N’ Roses’s last gig before Abu Dhabi was in Hong Kong on November 21. We were there – and here’s what they played, and in what order. You were warned.
- It’s So Easy
- Mr Brownstone
- Chinese Democracy
- Welcome to the Jungle
- Double Talkin’ Jive
- Better
- Estranged
- Live and Let Die (Wings cover)
- Slither (Velvet Revolver cover)
- Rocket Queen
- You Could Be Mine
- Shadow of Your Love
- Attitude (Misfits cover)
- Civil War
- Coma
- Love Theme from The Godfather (movie cover)
- Sweet Child O’ Mine
- Wichita Lineman (Jimmy Webb cover)
- Wish You Were Here (instrumental Pink Floyd cover)
- November Rain
- Black Hole Sun (Soundgarden cover)
- Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door (Bob Dylan cover)
- Nightrain
Encore:
- Patience
- Don’t Cry
- The Seeker (The Who cover)
- Paradise City
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The biog
Place of birth: Kalba
Family: Mother of eight children and has 10 grandchildren
Favourite traditional dish: Al Harees, a slow cooked porridge-like dish made from boiled cracked or coarsely ground wheat mixed with meat or chicken
Favourite book: My early life by Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, the Ruler of Sharjah
Favourite quote: By Sheikh Zayed, the UAE's Founding Father, “Those who have no past will have no present or future.”
Pathaan
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cyl turbo
Power: 201hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 320Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
Transmission: 6-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 8.7L/100km
Price: Dh133,900
On sale: now
