DUBAI // You know the feeling: the pointer on your petrol gauge is perilously close to empty but there’s a queue at the petrol station so you think, I’ll fill up tomorrow.
Well, be warned – such procrastination could cost you not just the embarrassment of a conked-out car in the middle of the road, but a hefty fine.
Police in Dubai report an alarming increase in the number of vehicles that have come to a halt because they have run out of petrol, which traffic police chief Col Saif Al Mazrouei describes as “extremely irresponsible and dangerous at the same time”.
“To stop in the middle of the road or disrupt traffic can lead to serious injuries, or worse, fatalities,” he said.
Running out of petrol is not an offence, but stopping in the road may attract a Dh500 fine and four black points, and the fine for disrupting traffic is Dh200.
“It just doesn’t make sense for a motorist to pass by a gas station when they notice the tank empty. In fact, people are advised to fill up their tanks when they still have a quarter left,” said Maj Mohamed Al Qaydi, head of traffic patrols in Bur Dubai.
“A person’s life is precious, and if someone does run out of gas, then it is imperative they do not end up in the middle of the street or disrupting traffic,” Maj Al Qaydi said.
“I understand that sometimes there are a lot of people waiting in line at the gas station, but that is no excuse to put your life and the lives of others in danger.”
An attendant at a petrol station on Sheikh Zayed Road said that he has at least two customers a day who ask for fuel be filled in a container because their cars have stopped near by.
“It happens on a daily basis. We get two or three people that come to the station and purchase a container for either Dh65 or Dh30,” he said.
Dubai resident Dina Kassem, 23, believed the reason for such incidents was that people were always in a hurry.
“I’ve had a few close calls in which I’ve felt the car was going to run out of fuel,” she said. “No one wants to intentionally run out of gas, but, in my case, I’m always either in a hurry in the morning to get to work or too exhausted to wait in a queue at the gas station after my shift.
“Almost every time I have gone to fill up, it would take me at least 15 minutes.”
Paul, 54, whose vehicle has come to a halt because it ran out of fuel, said he found crowded petrol stations an inconvenience.
“I was on my way to Dubai from Abu Dhabi and realised I needed to refuel. The first gas station I saw was very crowded, and I decided to drive to the next one.
“Unfortunately, my car stopped about 300 metres away from the station. My car started to stall, and I was forced to park on the side of the road and walk back to get fuel.
“You always think the next gas station is going to be less crowded, but that is never the case.”
For Rabia Jamal, 27, who recently moved to the UAE, waiting in line to fill up is still preferable to running out of fuel.
“I just moved here, and I’m constantly worried that I would run out of gas because I keep getting lost on the roads, and, sometimes, a detour would put me back another 20 minutes,” she said.
“I would rather leave my house early before an appointment to make sure I have a full tank than run the risk of getting stuck in the middle of nowhere.”
dmoukhallati@thenational.ae
Formula Middle East Calendar (Formula Regional and Formula 4)
Round 1: January 17-19, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 2: January 22-23, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 3: February 7-9, Dubai Autodrome – Dubai
Round 4: February 14-16, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 5: February 25-27, Jeddah Corniche Circuit – Saudi Arabia
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: HyperSpace
Started: 2020
Founders: Alexander Heller, Rama Allen and Desi Gonzalez
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Entertainment
Number of staff: 210
Investment raised: $75 million from investors including Galaxy Interactive, Riyadh Season, Sega Ventures and Apis Venture Partners
Biog
Mr Kandhari is legally authorised to conduct marriages in the gurdwara
He has officiated weddings of Sikhs and people of different faiths from Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Russia, the US and Canada
Father of two sons, grandfather of six
Plays golf once a week
Enjoys trying new holiday destinations with his wife and family
Walks for an hour every morning
Completed a Bachelor of Commerce degree in Loyola College, Chennai, India
2019 is a milestone because he completes 50 years in business
'The Batman'
Stars:Robert Pattinson
Director:Matt Reeves
Rating: 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
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Paatal Lok season two
Directors: Avinash Arun, Prosit Roy
Stars: Jaideep Ahlawat, Ishwak Singh, Lc Sekhose, Merenla Imsong
Rating: 4.5/5
WIDE%20VIEW
%3Cp%3EThe%20benefits%20of%20HoloLens%202%2C%20according%20to%20Microsoft%3A%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EManufacturing%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Reduces%20downtime%20and%20speeds%20up%20onboarding%20and%20upskilling%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngineering%20and%20construction%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Accelerates%20the%20pace%20of%20construction%20and%20mitigates%20risks%20earlier%20in%20the%20construction%20cycle%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EHealth%20care%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Enhances%20the%20delivery%20of%20patient%20treatment%20at%20the%20point%20of%20care%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEducation%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Improves%20student%20outcomes%20and%20teaches%20from%20anywhere%20with%20experiential%20learning%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The specs
Engine: 77.4kW all-wheel-drive dual motor
Power: 320bhp
Torque: 605Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh219,000
On sale: Now
Results
6.30pm: Maiden Dh165,000 (Dirt) 1,600m
Winner: Celtic Prince, David Liska (jockey), Rashed Bouresly (trainer).
7.05pm: Conditions Dh240,000 (D) 1,600m
Winner: Commanding, Richard Mullen, Satish Seemar.
7.40pm: Handicap Dh190,000 (D) 2,000m
Winner: Grand Argentier, Pat Dobbs, Doug Watson.
8.15pm: Handicap Dh170,000 (D) 2,200m
Winner: Arch Gold, Sam Hitchcott, Doug Watson.
8.50pm: The Entisar Listed Dh265,000 (D) 2,000m
Winner: Military Law, Antonio Fresu, Musabah Al Muhairi.
9.25pm: The Garhoud Sprint Listed Dh265,000 (D) 1,200m
Winner: Ibn Malik, Dane O’Neill, Musabah Al Muhairi.
10pm: Handicap Dh185,000 (D) 1,400m
Winner: Midnight Sands, Pat Dobbs, Doug Watson.
How to avoid crypto fraud
- Use unique usernames and passwords while enabling multi-factor authentication.
- Use an offline private key, a physical device that requires manual activation, whenever you access your wallet.
- Avoid suspicious social media ads promoting fraudulent schemes.
- Only invest in crypto projects that you fully understand.
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- Store funds in hardware wallets as opposed to online exchanges.
Dubai Bling season three
Cast: Loujain Adada, Zeina Khoury, Farhana Bodi, Ebraheem Al Samadi, Mona Kattan, and couples Safa & Fahad Siddiqui and DJ Bliss & Danya Mohammed
Rating: 1/5
Profile of Udrive
Date started: March 2016
Founder: Hasib Khan
Based: Dubai
Employees: 40
Amount raised (to date): $3.25m – $750,000 seed funding in 2017 and a Seed round of $2.5m last year. Raised $1.3m from Eureeca investors in January 2021 as part of a Series A round with a $5m target.
Match info:
Portugal 1
Ronaldo (4')
Morocco 0
Game Changer
Director: Shankar
Stars: Ram Charan, Kiara Advani, Anjali, S J Suryah, Jayaram
Rating: 2/5
If you go
Where to stay: Courtyard by Marriott Titusville Kennedy Space Centre has unparalleled views of the Indian River. Alligators can be spotted from hotel room balconies, as can several rocket launch sites. The hotel also boasts cool space-themed decor.
When to go: Florida is best experienced during the winter months, from November to May, before the humidity kicks in.
How to get there: Emirates currently flies from Dubai to Orlando five times a week.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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