Dubai Tour to have minimal impact on road traffic – RTA

Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has said that cycling event Dubai Tour 2017, which begins on Tuesday, will have a minimal impact on road traffic.

The fourth edition of the event, which runs from January 31- February 4, will see 16 teams competing in five stages over a combined distance of 865km.

The tour starts from Dubai and runs across all the six emirates of the UAE.

Maitha bin Adai, CEO of RTA’s Traffic and Roads Agency, said: “Necessary arrangements are in place to manage the traffic movement in coordination with tour organisers. The tour will not last more than 10 minutes on every part of the impacted streets, following which the traffic will be restored back to normal.

“The main signalised junctions will be programmed according to the planned stages and announced timings.”

The RTA is coordinating with the Dubai Police, UAE Cycling Federation and Dubai Sports Council to ensure safety of the participants, she said.

Bin Adai also urged road users to cooperate with the bodies concerned and adhere to the traffic instructions and directional signage set for streamlining traffic movement across Dubai over the five days of the tour.

In Dubai, the tour will cross through the following streets between 10.30am and 3.30 pm over the next five days-

First stage

The first stage of Dubai Tour starts on Tuesday from Dubai International Marine Sports Club at King Salman bin Abdul Aziz Street up to to Palm Jumeirah for a distance of about 181km.

It heads towards Sheikh Zayed Road, Jebel Ali-Lehbab Street, Dubai-Al Ain Street, Al Lisaili Street, Al Qudra Street, Emirates Street, Umm Suqeim Street, internal streets in Motor City and internal streets in Dubai Sports City. It also passes by Hessa Street, Al Asayil Street, Qarn Al Sabkha Street, Al Wurood Street, First Al Khail Street, Al Naseem Street, Al Fulk Street, Abdullah Omran Tariam Street, service road along Sheikh Zayed Road, and ends at Palm Jumeirah.

Second stage

The second stage starts on Wednesday from Dubai International Marine Sports Club at King Salman bin Abdul Aziz Street and heads towards Ras Al Khaimah over a distance of 187km.

It passes by Umm Suqeim Street, Al Khail Street, Ras Al Khor Street, Al Aweer Street, Emirates Street, then enters Sharjah and goes through Ras Al Khaimah.

Third stage

The third stage of Dubai Tour kicks off on Thursday morning from Dubai International Marine Sports Club at King Salman bin Abdul Aziz Street and heads towards Fujairah covering 200km.

It passes by Umm Suqeim Street, Al Khail Street, Ras Al Khor Street, Dubai-Al Ain Street, internal streets of Silicon Oasis, Academic City Street, Al Aweer Street and Emirates Street in the direction of Sharjah and down to the emirate of Fujairah.

Fourth stage

The fourth stage starts on Friday morning from Dubai International Marine Sports Club at King Salman bin Abdul Aziz Street and heads to Hatta over a distance of 172km.

It passes by Umm Suqeim Street, Al Khail Street, Ras Al Khor Street, Aweer Street and Hatta-Oman Street towards the emirates of Sharjah and Fujairah and down to Hatta.

Fifth stage

The fifth and final stage begins on Saturday from Dubai International Marine Sports Club at King Salman bin Abdul Aziz Street to City Walk over a distance of 127km.

It passes by Umm Suqeim Street, Al Asayil Street, Oasis Street, First Al Khail Street, Meydan Street, Dubai-Al Ain Street, Oud Metha Street, Al Khail Street, Rabat Street, Tripoli Street, Mushrif Park, Al Khawaneej Street, 222 Street, Tunisia Street, Al Nahda Street, Damascus Street, Baghdad Street and Cairo Street.

The Tour will also go through Al Mamzar Beach Street, Al Khaleej Street and Baniyas Street. Crossing through Al Maktoum Bridge, it will go via Khalid bin Waleed Street, Al Musalla Street in Bur Dubai, Al Fahidi Street, Ali bin Abi Talib Street, Ghubaiba Street, Al Falah Street, Al Khaleej Street, Sheikh Rashid Street, Jumeirah Street, Umm Al Sheef Street, Al Wasl Street, Al Safa Street, and down to the finish point in City Walk.