DUBAI // Buses were in high demand on Monday with Eid travellers looking to spend the holidays with friends and relatives.
Hundreds of people, many carrying shopping bags filled with gifts, queued to buy tickets for bus services in Abu Dhabi, Al Ain and Sharjah from the Ghubaiba station at the start of the Eid break.
“I bought some sweets, perfume and scarves for my nieces and some toys for my nephews,” said gardener Ayan Rafi. “I have been waiting for these three days for a long time and I’m looking forward to spending some time with my family in Abu Dhabi.”
Others such as Nazim Ali, a fabricator with an aluminium company, arrived from Al Ain.
“I have so many family and friends in Dubai, so I never have to spend Eid alone, even if I’m far away from home,” he said. “We eat together, talk all day and night, so it feels like I’m back in Pakistan.”
Under a large umbrella, Bea Angelina watched for her friends from the Philippines. The group planned to take the Metro to Union bus station and then go to Fujairah to stay with a friend. “We made this plan last year and all of us have got leave so it is very exciting to go and celebrate Eid with friends.”
A Roads and Transport Authority official said queues started at 8am and were expected to grow throughout the day.
“We have extra staff because we know every Eid that lots of people come to buy bus tickets, so we must be prepared,” he said. “The sun has not stopping people from waiting. In the evening there will be a lot more people because it is cooler.”
rtalwar@thenational.ae
Moon Music
Artist: Coldplay
Label: Parlophone/Atlantic
Number of tracks: 10
Rating: 3/5
Avatar%20(2009)
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Jigra
Starring: Alia Bhatt, Vedang Raina, Manoj Pahwa, Harsh Singh
ACC%20T20%20Women%E2%80%99s%20Championship
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About Housecall
Date started: July 2020
Founders: Omar and Humaid Alzaabi
Based: Abu Dhabi
Sector: HealthTech
# of staff: 10
Funding to date: Self-funded
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The%20specs
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The specs
Engine: 2-litre or 3-litre 4Motion all-wheel-drive Power: 250Nm (2-litre); 340 (3-litre) Torque: 450Nm Transmission: 8-speed automatic Starting price: From Dh212,000 On sale: Now
'Worse than a prison sentence'
Marie Byrne, a counsellor who volunteers at the UAE government's mental health crisis helpline, said the ordeal the crew had been through would take time to overcome.
“It was worse than a prison sentence, where at least someone can deal with a set amount of time incarcerated," she said.
“They were living in perpetual mystery as to how their futures would pan out, and what that would be.
“Because of coronavirus, the world is very different now to the one they left, that will also have an impact.
“It will not fully register until they are on dry land. Some have not seen their young children grow up while others will have to rebuild relationships.
“It will be a challenge mentally, and to find other work to support their families as they have been out of circulation for so long. Hopefully they will get the care they need when they get home.”
COMPANY PROFILE
Founders: Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi
Total funding: Self funded
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The UAE squad for the Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games
The jiu-jitsu men’s team: Faisal Al Ketbi, Zayed Al Kaabi, Yahia Al Hammadi, Taleb Al Kirbi, Obaid Al Nuaimi, Omar Al Fadhli, Zayed Al Mansoori, Saeed Al Mazroui, Ibrahim Al Hosani, Mohammed Al Qubaisi, Salem Al Suwaidi, Khalfan Belhol, Saood Al Hammadi.
Women’s team: Mouza Al Shamsi, Wadeema Al Yafei, Reem Al Hashmi, Mahra Al Hanaei, Bashayer Al Matrooshi, Hessa Thani, Salwa Al Ali.
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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