USA2UAE.COM

Review of Lemongrass in Al Kasbah, Sharjah (4 of 5 stars)

Here is the first of USA2UAE.com’s video restaurant reviews. Lemongrass is a new Thai restaurant recently opened in the now rebranded Al Kasbah along the corniche in Sharjah, UAE. It was well-deserving of 4 out of 5 stars and now takes over the slot as best Thai food in Sharjah from Bangkok Town. However, both restaurants are better (and have better prices) than any of Dubai’s Thai offerings. Both restaurants are well worth the trip to Sharjah.

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Downpours Lead to Accidents and
Traffic Jams in UAE

ABU DHABI/DUBAI - Sudden downpours on Sunday caused traffic jams and road accidents in the UAE in which two persons were killed and 16 others injured.

The sky is expected to be partly cloudy in eastern and northern parts of the country on Monday, with some possibility of rain.

Besides wreaking havoc on traffic flow, the rain also led to 47 road accidents in Abu Dhabi in which 16 people were injured. In Dubai, two Indians were killed in accidents.

Sharjah and Dubai witnessed massive traffic jams in the morning with residents complaining that it took over four hours to reach their destinations. Over 1,500 schoolchildren reached schools late due to congestion on arterial roads.

Lt- Col. Yaslam Al Tamimi, Head of Serious Road Accidents, Abu Dhabi Traffic and Patrols Department, said, “Most of the road accidents occurred inside the capital, while other mishaps took place on the Dubai-Abu Dhabi highway. One person was seriously injured while the others suffered minor injuries.”

He noted that the most of these accidents happened because motorists did not keep their vehicle at safe distance from others, a factor especially important on slippery roads. A number of roads also saw partial water-logging, further hampering traffic.

The bout of bad weather follows a sand storm in Dubai that reduced visibility drastically…SOURCE

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New Bridge over Dubai Creek

DUBAI - A new, 12-lane bridge with an inverted metal arch will be the seventh crossing over Dubai Creek and the latest effort to ease traffic congestion. The bridge, costing Dh810 million, will be located near Dubai Creek Park, Wonderland Park and Dubai Courts in Bur Dubai, and Deira City Centre and Dubai Golf Club in Deira.

Called Dubai Smile, the design was approved on Sunday by His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.

Mattar Al Tayer, executive director of the Roads and Traffic Authority, said bridge could carry around 24,000 vehicles an hour, easing traffic across the creek, particularly in the area of Deira City Centre. 

The width of the bridge would be 61.6 metres and the arch would rise up to 100 metres.

The bridge would accommodate around 24,000 vehicles per hour, which would boost the intake of vehicles from surrounding roads and ease traffic across the creek, particularly in the neighbouring area of Deira City Centre, Mattar Al Tayer, Chairman of the Board and Executive Director of the Roads and Traffic Authority (RTA), said on Sunday.

The crossing would allow free flow of traffic in all directions and full navigational traffic 24 hours a day as it rises 15 metres above the water level of the creek.

The width of the waterway is 400 metres, enabling large yachts to pass through, said Al Tayer.

In Bur Dubai, the 7^th Crossing will be linked with the underpasses of Rashid Hospital Project. From Deira side, it will be linked with Al Ittihad Road, which is currently being widened by the RTA at a cost of Dh800 million…SOURCE

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UAE ID card website continues to frustrate expatriates

Abu Dhabi: With the deadline to get National Identity Cards approaching fast, people are frustrated as many of them are neither able to fill up an online application form nor get an appointment with Emirates Identity Authority (EIDA) to register for their cards.

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World’s Largest Mall Opens in Dubai

The Dubai Mall, opened yesterday (November 4, 2008) at 2pm with close to 600 retailers opening their doors for business – marking the world’s largest-ever single-day mall opening in retail history.

Emaar Malls Group, the developer of The Dubai Mall marks the opening with a series of high profile events, beginning with a public unveiling of the highly anticipated Dubai Aquarium & Discovery Centre at 4pm, today. The festive vibe will resonate throughout the mall with fashion shows taking place in the Fashion Catwalk, public skating at Dubai Ice Rink and high profile exhibits, galleries and performers providing entertainment for the entire family.

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Say Goodbye to Satwa

When the bulldozers arrived, it sent shockwaves through Satwa, one of the cheapest residential areas at the heart of Dubai. Speaking to the people living there inspires confusion: what do the green municipality numbers mean that have been spray-painted everywhere? When do they have to move out? Here Time Out attempts to show all sides of the story, from the voices of the tenants to those of the developers, as well as highlighting the parts of Satwa you should be soaking up while you can – and how to find out whether your home is set to be flattened.

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Emirates to fly to Los Angeles

Emirates, the Arab world’s biggest airline, said it will start flying to Los Angeles from September.

“Los Angeles represents Emirates’ commitment to the American market. We have evaluated the US for expansion opportunities and have carefully examined our existing services in Houston and New York- both of which have been very successful…MORE

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First two metro trains arrive in Dubai

First two trains for Dubai Metro have arrived in Dubai from Japan, Gulf News has learnt

The trains have been off-loaded from the ship at Dubai’s Port Rashid and have been moved to storage areas.

“We have achieved a crucial milestone for Dubai Metro Project with the arrival of first two trains on schedule,” said Adnan Ahmed Al Hammadi, Director of Rail Project Construction Department at the Dubai Roads and Transport Authority (RTA)

He told Gulf News that the trains will be used for the trail run which is set to start in late April this year on the test track between the Jebel Ali Industrial Station and the Ibn-e-Battuta Station on Shaikh Zayed Road.

“More consignments of trains will start arriving in June after we complete at least two months of trail run to check trains,” he said.

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Burj Dubai Nears Competion: An Image Gallery

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Aldar unveils $5b Al Dana plan

Aldar Properties has revealed a detailed plan for its $5 billion commercial development, Al Dana, at the heart of the 10.5-kilometre Raha Beach development.

Work on the development is underway, with several buildings under construction.

They include four integrated buildings comprising the World Trade Centre, and the Gateway, building which was designed by celebrated architect Rafael Vinoly who designed New York’s new World Trade Centre.

“The total investment in Al Raha Beach is about $48 billion, and of that, $5 billion is the cost of Dana, which is the commercial heart of the development,” Ronald Barrot, the company’s chief executive officer, told Gulf News.

With this, total projects under construction exceed $90 billion, taking into consideration the $40 billion Yas Island development comprising 6,000 acres, and the iconic Old Market in the Abu Dhabi city centre…

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