ABU DHABI 5 February 2019: The Abu Dhabi Police (ADP), has prepared a traffic plan aimed at intensifying the traffic monitoring through smart systems and deploying patrols on the roads leading to Zayed Sports City to facilitate the flow of traffic on the occasion of the Mass of Pope Francis on Tuesday.
Brigadier General Khalifa Mohammed Al Khaili, Director of Traffic and Patrols Directorate, Central Operations in the ADP, stressed their keenness to facilitate the arrival of the participants to the location easily, in line with the country’s approach in setting foundations of tolerance, fraternity and coexistence between different nationalities living in the UAE.
Noon to 6 pm
According to the plan, which will start from noon to 18:00 pm, vehicles will not be allowed to enter the area around Sheikh Zayed Sports City, and trucks and heavy vehicles (3 tonnes and above) and buses transporting workers through the Maqta Bridge and the Sheikh Zayed Bridge to Abu Dhabi, will not be allowed to enter from 01:00 to 18:00 pm. The traffic movement will be transferred to Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Street in the area after the Al Maqta Bridge to the Al Jaweyah two-way air roundabout for a temporary period.
The following parking lots have been identified for buses transporting participants to the event from different emirates: Al Bateen Airport’s bus stops coming from Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Fujairah, Umm Al Qaiwain and Ras Al Khaimah; parking lots of Sheikh Zayed Mosque, and the Ministry of Interior, have been allocated for buses coming from Abu Dhabi, Al Ain and Al Dhafra.
Etihad to telecast live Papal Mass on board flights
Etihad Airways, UAE’s national airline, will broadcast the Papal Mass of His Holiness Pope Francis, Head of the Catholic Church, on board its flights through a live broadcast of this historic event on inflight entertainment screens and at the airline’s lounges worldwide.
The live screening will also be available for Etihad employees in selected locations throughout the company’s offices.
In recognition of the significance of this event, Etihad Aviation Group employees with confirmed tickets for the mass will be given the day off in order to attend, subject to operational requirements.
At the end of his visit, Etihad Airways is honoured to be flying His Holiness the Pope back to Rome’s Ciampino Airport on an Etihad Boeing 787 Dreamliner.
Zayed Sports City covered with ribbon of love and peace
Zayed Sports City is being readied for the historical Mass to be performed by Pope Francis, Head of the Catholic Church, today to be attended by more than 135,000 people.
The Pope’s Mass represents the largest gathering in the UAE.
In his statement to the Emirates News Agency, Khalfan Mohammed AlMazrouei, Member of the Mass Organising Committee, said that thanks to the directives of the wise leadership the Higher Organising Committee of the Historical Mass has completed its preparations to receive Pope Francis and the participants at the Mass tomorrow as per the highest international standards, in terms of facilitating the movement of people and all other logistical services.
He pointed to the comprehensive plans to receive the delegations coming from inside and outside the country as well as the provision of all necessary facilities for the People of Determination and the elderly.
Aisha Al Bakoush, Director of the Events Department in the Ministry of Presidency Affairs, said that they have installed large screens all over the stadium for people to watch this important event from every corner.
Murshid Al Rumaithi, Administrative Officer in the Ministry of Presidency Affairs, said they have completed all preparations for the Mass, which is expected to be the largest such event ever addressed by the Pope anywhere in the world. He highlighted the fact that the supervising committee has undergone intensive training procedures for the past 24 hours and more than 1,500 workers are ensuring the performance of religious practices in addition to the preparations related to the easy movement of the People of Determination.
All foreign communities living in the UAE will participate in the evening in an environment of love and brotherhood sending a strong message of solidarity and cooperation that the country will present to the world as a living model of peaceful coexistence and harmony in human relations.
The Zayed Sports City is considered one of the landmarks of urban development whose foundations were laid by the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan to be a key landmark of establishments and facilities to host different social activities and global sports events.
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