Dubai transport officials have hit back at claims taxi drivers were ordered off the roads and threatened with fines during heavy rain over the weekend.
Many residents in the city were forced to abandon their homes as water and sewage poured into properties with little or no warning.
Some members of the public who had no choice but to flee said they struggled to book a taxi to take them to safety.
They said drivers claimed to have been warned by their management they risked a Dh5,000 fine if their vehicle suffered water damage, rising to Dh7,000 for hybrid vehicles.
On Wednesday, officials at the Roads and Transport Authority, the emirate’s transport regulator, denied taxis had been told to stop working and threatened with fines if they became stuck in floodwater.
It said more than 759,000 taxi journeys were completed between Thursday and Saturday during the peak of the storms, down slightly from 827,000 during the same period the week before.
“There is nothing in the list of quality violations for taxi and luxury drivers stipulating that the driver will be fined Dh5,000, or any other amount, in the event of a vehicle breakdown due to extreme weather conditions or rainfall,” a spokesman said.
“It is an emergency beyond the control and responsibility of the driver.
“In the event of any complaint to refuse delivery [of a passenger], the RTA verifies the case from the camera feed and refers the driver to investigation and penalty as per the applicable regulations.”
During two days of storms last week, many roads were brought to a standstill as flooding created major traffic congestion.
Police in Dubai responded to 1,880 accidents, 55 of which were serious, between Thursday and Saturday.
Videos of abandoned cars were posted on social media as the water levels rose. One image showed a taxi with water up to its windscreen.
After more heavy rain on Wednesday morning, forecasters said a period of calmer, more settled weather was now expected for the remainder of the week.
Thursday will begin with a cloudy start before temperatures rise throughout the day. The weekend is due to be sunny with light winds.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
England v South Africa schedule
- First Test: Starts Thursday, Lord's, 2pm (UAE)
- Second Test: July 14-18, Trent Bridge, Nottingham, 2pm
- Third Test: The Oval, London, July 27-31, 2pm
- Fourth Test: Old Trafford, Manchester, August 4-8
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
The Voice of Hind Rajab
Starring: Saja Kilani, Clara Khoury, Motaz Malhees
Director: Kaouther Ben Hania
Rating: 4/5
Winners
Best Men's Player of the Year: Kylian Mbappe (PSG)
Maradona Award for Best Goal Scorer of the Year: Robert Lewandowski (Bayern Munich)
TikTok Fans’ Player of the Year: Robert Lewandowski
Top Goal Scorer of All Time: Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United)
Best Women's Player of the Year: Alexia Putellas (Barcelona)
Best Men's Club of the Year: Chelsea
Best Women's Club of the Year: Barcelona
Best Defender of the Year: Leonardo Bonucci (Juventus/Italy)
Best Goalkeeper of the Year: Gianluigi Donnarumma (PSG/Italy)
Best Coach of the Year: Roberto Mancini (Italy)
Best National Team of the Year: Italy
Best Agent of the Year: Federico Pastorello
Best Sporting Director of the Year: Txiki Begiristain (Manchester City)
Player Career Award: Ronaldinho
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Getting there
The flights
Emirates and Etihad fly to Johannesburg or Cape Town daily. Flights cost from about Dh3,325, with a flying time of 8hours and 15 minutes. From there, fly South African Airlines or Air Namibia to Namibia’s Windhoek Hosea Kutako International Airport, for about Dh850. Flying time is 2 hours.
The stay
Wilderness Little Kulala offers stays from £460 (Dh2,135) per person, per night. It is one of seven Wilderness Safari lodges in Namibia; www.wilderness-safaris.com.
Skeleton Coast Safaris’ four-day adventure involves joining a very small group in a private plane, flying to some of the remotest areas in the world, with each night spent at a different camp. It costs from US$8,335.30 (Dh30,611); www.skeletoncoastsafaris.com
LA LIGA FIXTURES
Thursday (All UAE kick-off times)
Sevilla v Real Betis (midnight)
Friday
Granada v Real Betis (9.30pm)
Valencia v Levante (midnight)
Saturday
Espanyol v Alaves (4pm)
Celta Vigo v Villarreal (7pm)
Leganes v Real Valladolid (9.30pm)
Mallorca v Barcelona (midnight)
Sunday
Atletic Bilbao v Atletico Madrid (4pm)
Real Madrid v Eibar (9.30pm)
Real Sociedad v Osasuna (midnight)
The years Ramadan fell in May
Scores
Day 2
New Zealand 153 & 56-1
Pakistan 227
New Zealand trail by 18 runs with nine wickets remaining
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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
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
The five pillars of Islam
