DUBAI: Travel to and from Al Ras, a densely populated area in old Dubai where the Deira Gold Souk is, was suspended from Tuesday, as the UAE undergoes a nationwide sterilization program to curb the spread of COVID-19.
Although travel restrictions were put across the country, Al Ras was the first area to be in full lock down. Residents will not be allowed to leave their homes, and visitors will be restricted entry to the area from Tuesday, March 31 to Tuesday, April 14.
Al Ras is home to iconic heritage shops in old Dubai. (Arab News)
Roads leading into the zone will be closed during the period, as well as three metro stations.
The UAE’s Supreme Committee of Crisis and Disaster Management ordered the lock down to facilitate “intensified sterilization procedures” in the area, as reported by state-run WAM.
Other government agencies, including the Dubai Police and the Dubai Health Authority, have been tapped to ensure the success of the two-week sanitation.
Al Ras is a famous tourist destination in Dubai because of its distinct historical look as opposed to the rest of Dubai’s modern landscape. It is home to iconic heritage buildings, as well as traditional shops including the Spice Souk, Perfume Souk, and the Gold Souk.
The locality houses some of the oldest hotels in Dubai, as well as Al Ahmadiya School, the oldest educational institution in the emirate.
