ABU DHABI // A planned expansion of Emirates Road from Dubai to Abu Dhabi would improve traffic flow and economic development, but not solve long-term safety issues or strains on commuters, experts say.
The Abu Dhabi Executive Council announced funding for the expansion of the road last Monday.
The cost and a route have yet to be announced.
The road could connect the E311 to Abu Dhabi, giving commuters and industrial traffic from Jebel Ali a faster route.
The E311 now joins the E11, which is the only road between Dubai and the capital, at the Abu Dhabi border.
"The extension of the Emirates Road may help reduce traffic and improve safety on the motorway, which may have a positive effect on the daily commuting experience," said Dr Ximena Guinguis, a psychologist at the Dubai Herbal and Treatment Centre who commutes daily.
"However, from a mental health point of view it is not the solution since the commuter will still have to spend four hours or more daily behind the wheel, which in itself is stressful.
"I believe that a good railway system can bring a new experience to the commuter.
"The stress levels will be reduced, which have a direct effect on the quality of life."
Nor would the expansion necessarily make the commute safer for motorists, said Dr Yaser Hawas, a civil engineer and professor of transport and traffic engineering at UAE University.
"Do we really need to add more capacity because we want to reach areas for development or are we doing this only because of the congestion?" Dr Hawas asked. "I have concerns about what the severity of the crashes would be.
"It would definitely decrease the number of accidents on the road but the severity may increase because there will be less traffic, and this could encourage road users to driver faster."
Road design, "better monitoring and more active patrolling", and a strict enforcement of the 120 kph speed limit would go a long way to addressing these problems, he added.
Better movement of traffic would mean improved access for emergency services, and weather concerns could be eased with control centres that warn drivers of hazards, Dr Hawas said.
Road design should take visibility into account. Sharp turns in the road are best avoided but mild variations every five kilometres keep drivers alert.
"You need to introduce a little bit of curvature to help gain the driver's attention back," Dr Hawas said.
A 100km expansion could be built within two years, said Ralph Giebeler, the branch manager for transport and infrastructure at the construction company Strabag Abu Dhabi.
Motorways to be built in the Emirates must follow new safety specifications: wider roads, shoulders on the right and left, emergency spots and surfaces with better grip that reduce stopping distances.
The expansion could also include integrated traffic management that records how many vehicles use sections to regulate speed limits depending on congestion.
"Ten years ago roads were simply designed as to alignment. Since maybe two or three years it has got a lot better," Mr Giebeler said.
Police, road-safety experts, contractors and authorities now work together more closely than ever on road design.
Regardless of the road, a long daily commute can cause long-term stress.
This is manifested as physical and mental fatigue, pain, dizziness, stomach problems, raised blood pressure, moodiness, anxiety, irritability and agitation.
"There is a certain need [for the extension] in the sense of making the commute less stressful for the drivers," said Dr Carrie York, a psychologist at the American Centre for Psychiatry and Neurology in Abu Dhabi.
"That being said, you also have to take into account the larger picture and what effect that new road will have on the environment, because the environment affects our well-being as well."
In any case, commuters should find exercise or social outlets to help battle stress.
"Stress of any kind, whether it's [from] driving or other factors, can have a long-term effect if it's not dealt with or discharged," Dr York said.
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How to improve Arabic reading in early years
One 45-minute class per week in Standard Arabic is not sufficient
The goal should be for grade 1 and 2 students to become fluent readers
Subjects like technology, social studies, science can be taught in later grades
Grade 1 curricula should include oral instruction in Standard Arabic
First graders must regularly practice individual letters and combinations
Time should be slotted in class to read longer passages in early grades
Improve the appearance of textbooks
Revision of curriculum should be undertaken as per research findings
Conjugations of most common verb forms should be taught
Systematic learning of Standard Arabic grammar
From Zero
Artist: Linkin Park
Label: Warner Records
Number of tracks: 11
Rating: 4/5
Financial considerations before buying a property
Buyers should try to pay as much in cash as possible for a property, limiting the mortgage value to as little as they can afford. This means they not only pay less in interest but their monthly costs are also reduced. Ideally, the monthly mortgage payment should not exceed 20 per cent of the purchaser’s total household income, says Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching.
“If it’s a rental property, plan for the property to have periods when it does not have a tenant. Ensure you have enough cash set aside to pay the mortgage and other costs during these periods, ideally at least six months,” she says.
Also, shop around for the best mortgage interest rate. Understand the terms and conditions, especially what happens after any introductory periods, Ms Glynn adds.
Using a good mortgage broker is worth the investment to obtain the best rate available for a buyer’s needs and circumstances. A good mortgage broker will help the buyer understand the terms and conditions of the mortgage and make the purchasing process efficient and easier.
A MINECRAFT MOVIE
Director: Jared Hess
Starring: Jack Black, Jennifer Coolidge, Jason Momoa
Rating: 3/5
THE SPECS
Engine: 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder
Transmission: Constant Variable (CVT)
Power: 141bhp
Torque: 250Nm
Price: Dh64,500
On sale: Now
Volvo ES90 Specs
Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)
Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp
Torque: 480Nm, 670Nm, 870Nm
On sale: Later in 2025 or early 2026, depending on region
Price: Exact regional pricing TBA
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
The biog
Siblings: five brothers and one sister
Education: Bachelors in Political Science at the University of Minnesota
Interests: Swimming, tennis and the gym
Favourite place: UAE
Favourite packet food on the trip: pasta primavera
What he did to pass the time during the trip: listen to audio books
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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Three tips from La Perle's performers
1 The kind of water athletes drink is important. Gwilym Hooson, a 28-year-old British performer who is currently recovering from knee surgery, found that out when the company was still in Studio City, training for 12 hours a day. “The physio team was like: ‘Why is everyone getting cramps?’ And then they realised we had to add salt and sugar to the water,” he says.
2 A little chocolate is a good thing. “It’s emergency energy,” says Craig Paul Smith, La Perle’s head coach and former Cirque du Soleil performer, gesturing to an almost-empty open box of mini chocolate bars on his desk backstage.
3 Take chances, says Young, who has worked all over the world, including most recently at Dragone’s show in China. “Every time we go out of our comfort zone, we learn a lot about ourselves,” she says.
The National's picks
4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young
A list of the animal rescue organisations in the UAE
MATCH INFO
Barcelona 2
Suarez (10'), Messi (52')
Real Madrid 2
Ronaldo (14'), Bale (72')
'Panga'
Directed by Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari
Starring Kangana Ranaut, Richa Chadha, Jassie Gill, Yagya Bhasin, Neena Gupta
Rating: 3.5/5
The specs
Engine: Four electric motors, one at each wheel
Power: 579hp
Torque: 859Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh825,900
On sale: Now
Various Artists
Habibi Funk: An Eclectic Selection Of Music From The Arab World (Habibi Funk)
Which honey takes your fancy?
Al Ghaf Honey
The Al Ghaf tree is a local desert tree which bears the harsh summers with drought and high temperatures. From the rich flowers, bees that pollinate this tree can produce delicious red colour honey in June and July each year
Sidr Honey
The Sidr tree is an evergreen tree with long and strong forked branches. The blossom from this tree is called Yabyab, which provides rich food for bees to produce honey in October and November. This honey is the most expensive, but tastiest
Samar Honey
The Samar tree trunk, leaves and blossom contains Barm which is the secret of healing. You can enjoy the best types of honey from this tree every year in May and June. It is an historical witness to the life of the Emirati nation which represents the harsh desert and mountain environments
Washmen Profile
Date Started: May 2015
Founders: Rami Shaar and Jad Halaoui
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Laundry
Employees: 170
Funding: about $8m
Funders: Addventure, B&Y Partners, Clara Ventures, Cedar Mundi Partners, Henkel Ventures
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The UAE's journey to space
Profile
Name: Carzaty
Founders: Marwan Chaar and Hassan Jaffar
Launched: 2017
Employees: 22
Based: Dubai and Muscat
Sector: Automobile retail
Funding to date: $5.5 million
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HOW TO WATCH
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Real estate tokenisation project
Dubai launched the pilot phase of its real estate tokenisation project last month.
The initiative focuses on converting real estate assets into digital tokens recorded on blockchain technology and helps in streamlining the process of buying, selling and investing, the Dubai Land Department said.
Dubai’s real estate tokenisation market is projected to reach Dh60 billion ($16.33 billion) by 2033, representing 7 per cent of the emirate’s total property transactions, according to the DLD.
The years Ramadan fell in May
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The biog
Name: Abeer Al Bah
Born: 1972
Husband: Emirati lawyer Salem Bin Sahoo, since 1992
Children: Soud, born 1993, lawyer; Obaid, born 1994, deceased; four other boys and one girl, three months old
Education: BA in Elementary Education, worked for five years in a Dubai school
Abu Dhabi GP schedule
Friday: First practice - 1pm; Second practice - 5pm
Saturday: Final practice - 2pm; Qualifying - 5pm
Sunday: Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix (55 laps) - 5.10pm
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
