Abu Dhabi // Five young Emirati men who died when a tyre blow-out caused their 4x4 to roll over were in a speeding vehicle and were not wearing seat belts, police said yesterday.
Following the accident in al Gharbia (Western Region), police renewed their pleas to motorists to be safety-conscious and, in particular, to check tyres more regularly during the summer when the heat affects pressures and accelerates wear.
"Everybody needs to take care of their tyres," said Major Ahmed al Shamsi, director of the Western Region's traffic police department. "With the weather now, maybe we will see other cases in the future, so everybody has to take care of his life and his family's life."
The men, from Ras al Khaimah and Dibba, were all in their early 20s. They were returning from Syria on Friday evening when the Land Cruiser overturned in Tarif, police said.
Major al Shamsi said a blow-out was the main cause of the crash, which occurred during a three-month campaign by Abu Dhabi Police to reduce the number of vehicles on the roads with dangerously worn tyres. The campaign was organised for the summer as heated roads increase the risk of blow-outs.
The car was being driven at high speed, which contributed to the driver losing control, said Major al Shamsi. None of the five occupants was wearing a seat belt, which could have saved them from being thrown from the vehicle, he added.
Two men died at the scene and three died later in Al Marfa Hospital. Police did not release their names.
"The driver was driving at too much speed and, when the tyre blew up, he could not handle the car," said Major al Shamsi. "If they had been wearing seat belts maybe they would have had a chance. Everyone was thrown from the car.
Four people died and 46 were injured in more than 25 accidents caused by tyre blow-outs in Abu Dhabi during the first half of the year, according to police.
Last year, 22 people died and 238 were injured across the UAE in 264 accidents linked to worn or damaged tyres, or replaced tyres left on the road.
"If anything happens to a tyre, everybody must change it for their safety. Don't lose your life trying to save money," said Major al Shamsi.
The first month of Abu Dhabi Police's tyre campaign, launched in May, saw 7,332 fines handed out for vehicles, both light and heavy, with unsafe tyres, including 802 fines over three days. Thousands more drivers have been fined this month.
Vehicles whose tyres do not meet safety standards can be confiscated for a week. Owners face fines of Dh200 (US$54) for small vehicles and Dh500 for heavy vehicles, in addition to six black points.
Ras al Khaimah is running its own campaign against worn-out tyres. Reports say police have fined hundreds of motorists and impounded dozens of lorries since June.
Experts joined the call yesterday for people to educate themselves about safety standards for tyres.
A tyre more than three years old would get a driver fined, said Saleem Akhdar, manager for technical services at the tyre company Abu Dhabi Bridgestone, a partner in the police campaign.
"If a tyre is older than three years, no matter how new it looks, it should not be used," Mr Akhdar said. He added that second-hand tyres were unsafe for the road.
Mr Akhdar said drivers should be wary if their steering wheel or seats vibrated as this could indicate that the tyre rims were in poor condition.
He also advised motorists to check the tread depths of their tyres. The legal minimum depth for 4x4 vehicles is 2.4mm, while for saloon cars it is 1.6mm and for lorries 3.2mm.
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The story of Edge
Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, established Edge in 2019.
It brought together 25 state-owned and independent companies specialising in weapons systems, cyber protection and electronic warfare.
Edge has an annual revenue of $5 billion and employs more than 12,000 people.
Some of the companies include Nimr, a maker of armoured vehicles, Caracal, which manufactures guns and ammunitions company, Lahab
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Some of Darwish's last words
"They see their tomorrows slipping out of their reach. And though it seems to them that everything outside this reality is heaven, yet they do not want to go to that heaven. They stay, because they are afflicted with hope." - Mahmoud Darwish, to attendees of the Palestine Festival of Literature, 2008
His life in brief: Born in a village near Galilee, he lived in exile for most of his life and started writing poetry after high school. He was arrested several times by Israel for what were deemed to be inciteful poems. Most of his work focused on the love and yearning for his homeland, and he was regarded the Palestinian poet of resistance. Over the course of his life, he published more than 30 poetry collections and books of prose, with his work translated into more than 20 languages. Many of his poems were set to music by Arab composers, most significantly Marcel Khalife. Darwish died on August 9, 2008 after undergoing heart surgery in the United States. He was later buried in Ramallah where a shrine was erected in his honour.
Tips for job-seekers
- Do not submit your application through the Easy Apply button on LinkedIn. Employers receive between 600 and 800 replies for each job advert on the platform. If you are the right fit for a job, connect to a relevant person in the company on LinkedIn and send them a direct message.
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David Mackenzie, founder of recruitment agency Mackenzie Jones Middle East
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The specs
Engine: 3.8-litre twin-turbo V8
Power: 611bhp
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Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre V8 twin-turbocharged and three electric motors
Power: Combined output 920hp
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On sale: Now, deliveries expected later in 2025
Price: expected to start at Dh1,432,000
Essentials
The flights
Etihad and Emirates fly direct from the UAE to Delhi from about Dh950 return including taxes.
The hotels
Double rooms at Tijara Fort-Palace cost from 6,670 rupees (Dh377), including breakfast.
Doubles at Fort Bishangarh cost from 29,030 rupees (Dh1,641), including breakfast. Doubles at Narendra Bhawan cost from 15,360 rupees (Dh869). Doubles at Chanoud Garh cost from 19,840 rupees (Dh1,122), full board. Doubles at Fort Begu cost from 10,000 rupees (Dh565), including breakfast.
The tours
Amar Grover travelled with Wild Frontiers. A tailor-made, nine-day itinerary via New Delhi, with one night in Tijara and two nights in each of the remaining properties, including car/driver, costs from £1,445 (Dh6,968) per person.
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How to apply for a drone permit
- Individuals must register on UAE Drone app or website using their UAE Pass
- Add all their personal details, including name, nationality, passport number, Emiratis ID, email and phone number
- Upload the training certificate from a centre accredited by the GCAA
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What are the regulations?
- Fly it within visual line of sight
- Never over populated areas
- Ensure maximum flying height of 400 feet (122 metres) above ground level is not crossed
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How to watch Ireland v Pakistan in UAE
When: The one-off Test starts on Friday, May 11
What time: Each day’s play is scheduled to start at 2pm UAE time.
TV: The match will be broadcast on OSN Sports Cricket HD. Subscribers to the channel can also stream the action live on OSN Play.
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