ABU DHABI // School children cheered and chanted as they watched five cars revving their engines, racing and skidding along an empty parking lot near the Corniche. The children giggled with excitement as the vehicles made sharp turns and sped dangerously close to one another.
However, the main message had yet to come. In a mock traffic accident scenario set up by the Abu Dhabi Police as part of the GCC Traffic Week, one of the cars, which contained two passengers, crashed into a simulated wall, a plume of red smoke rising.
Passengers of the other vehicles and bystanders rushed to the scene and called for help. Within minutes, the civil defence vehicles arrived - including a police car, the fire brigade and an ambulance. The rescue team had to completely remove the car doors in order to reach the passengers, who were both suffering from serious injuries.
As the medical team assessed the situation, they realised there was not a second to spare and immediately called for a helicopter. As it dove in from the sky, the medical team prepped the patients for takeoff.
In the meantime, a tow truck arrived and removed the damaged vehicle. The "accident" took place at 10:53am and within a timely 20 minutes, the area was cleared.
The purpose of the exercise, police officials said, was to relay the message that risky driving behaviour could lead to dangerous consequences, and to demonstrate the amount of collaboration and co-ordination required by the rescue team when attending an emergency.
"In order to protect society from traffic accidents, which cause significant human, social and economic losses, we must apply international best practices in [traffic] education and strengthen our partnership with the community," said Maj Gen Mohammed al Menhali, the director general of police operations.
"All the roles played by actors in the incident aim to transfer a realistic picture of the consequences of not complying with the law," he said, adding anyone who finds themselves in such a situation must immediately call 999.
For those who truly enjoy motor sports, the right facilities are available, police officials said.
"We want to tell students that yes they can enjoy themselves, but there are specific places available, such as the Yas Marina Circuit, where they can demonstrate their skills, and where they can even receive specialised training," said Brig Gen Hussein al Harethi, the head of the Abu Dhabi Traffic and Patrols Directorate. "But the public roads are not the place to engage in this behaviour where the driver can put himself and others in grave danger."
Another valuable message the police were trying to convey through this demonstration, was that bystanders and passing drivers must not crowd the scene.
"The reason the team acted as fast as they could is because the crowd left the area. These crowds obstruct the way for the ambulance, for the fire trucks and for the helicopter," Brig Gen al Harethi said. "This makes it very difficult for emergency vehicles to reach the scene and for the rescue team save the patient."
mismail@thenational.ae
The National in Davos
We are bringing you the inside story from the World Economic Forum's Annual Meeting in Davos, a gathering of hundreds of world leaders, top executives and billionaires.
Game Changer
Director: Shankar
Stars: Ram Charan, Kiara Advani, Anjali, S J Suryah, Jayaram
Rating: 2/5
German intelligence warnings
- 2002: "Hezbollah supporters feared becoming a target of security services because of the effects of [9/11] ... discussions on Hezbollah policy moved from mosques into smaller circles in private homes." Supporters in Germany: 800
- 2013: "Financial and logistical support from Germany for Hezbollah in Lebanon supports the armed struggle against Israel ... Hezbollah supporters in Germany hold back from actions that would gain publicity." Supporters in Germany: 950
- 2023: "It must be reckoned with that Hezbollah will continue to plan terrorist actions outside the Middle East against Israel or Israeli interests." Supporters in Germany: 1,250
Source: Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution
COMPANY PROFILE
Founders: Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi
Total funding: Self funded
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The biog
Born November 11, 1948
Education: BA, English Language and Literature, Cairo University
Family: Four brothers, seven sisters, two daughters, 42 and 39, two sons, 43 and 35, and 15 grandchildren
Hobbies: Reading and traveling
MATCH INFO
Quarter-finals
Saturday (all times UAE)
England v Australia, 11.15am
New Zealand v Ireland, 2.15pm
Sunday
Wales v France, 11.15am
Japan v South Africa, 2.15pm
MORE ON TURKEY'S SYRIA OFFENCE
COMPANY%20PROFILE%20
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Sri Lanka's T20I squad
Thisara Perera (captain), Dilshan Munaweera, Danushka Gunathilaka, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Ashan Priyanjan, Mahela Udawatte, Dasun Shanaka, Sachith Pathirana, Vikum Sanjaya, Lahiru Gamage, Seekkuge Prasanna, Vishwa Fernando, Isuru Udana, Jeffrey Vandersay and Chathuranga de Silva.
Zayed Sustainability Prize
UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
'Lost in Space'
Creators: Matt Sazama, Burk Sharpless, Irwin Allen
Stars: Molly Parker, Toby Stephens, Maxwell Jenkins
Rating: 4/5
The specs
Engine: Direct injection 4-cylinder 1.4-litre
Power: 150hp
Torque: 250Nm
Price: From Dh139,000
On sale: Now
Yemen's Bahais and the charges they often face
The Baha'i faith was made known in Yemen in the 19th century, first introduced by an Iranian man named Ali Muhammad Al Shirazi, considered the Herald of the Baha'i faith in 1844.
The Baha'i faith has had a growing number of followers in recent years despite persecution in Yemen and Iran.
Today, some 2,000 Baha'is reside in Yemen, according to Insaf.
"The 24 defendants represented by the House of Justice, which has intelligence outfits from the uS and the UK working to carry out an espionage scheme in Yemen under the guise of religion.. aimed to impant and found the Bahai sect on Yemeni soil by bringing foreign Bahais from abroad and homing them in Yemen," the charge sheet said.
Baha'Ullah, the founder of the Bahai faith, was exiled by the Ottoman Empire in 1868 from Iran to what is now Israel. Now, the Bahai faith's highest governing body, known as the Universal House of Justice, is based in the Israeli city of Haifa, which the Bahais turn towards during prayer.
The Houthis cite this as collective "evidence" of Bahai "links" to Israel - which the Houthis consider their enemy.
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Almnssa
Started: August 2020
Founder: Areej Selmi
Based: Gaza
Sectors: Internet, e-commerce
Investments: Grants/private funding
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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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
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MATCH INFO
Liverpool v Manchester City, Sunday, 8.30pm UAE
Tips to avoid getting scammed
1) Beware of cheques presented late on Thursday
2) Visit an RTA centre to change registration only after receiving payment
3) Be aware of people asking to test drive the car alone
4) Try not to close the sale at night
5) Don't be rushed into a sale
6) Call 901 if you see any suspicious behaviour
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
Paatal Lok season two
Directors: Avinash Arun, Prosit Roy
Stars: Jaideep Ahlawat, Ishwak Singh, Lc Sekhose, Merenla Imsong
Rating: 4.5/5
Everton 1 Stoke City 0
Everton (Rooney 45 1')
Man of the Match Phil Jagielka (Everton)
