Bustling Dubai shuts down for Bush visit

The bustling Gulf emirate of Dubai will close down on Monday as part of security measures for hosting U.S. President George W. Bush.

Authorities announced that Monday will be a holiday in Dubai, a member of the United Arab Emirates that is undergoing a spectacular economic boom, due to the planned closure of a number of bridges, tunnels and main roads.

The announcement did not give more details about the security measures that will be put in place for Bush's trip to Dubai, during which he is expected to be shown some of the city state's landmarks.

A brief announcement on the state WAM news agency did not refer to Bush's visit, but said it had been decided that Monday would be a holiday in both the public and private sectors.

It quoted government sources as urging residents to steer clear of main roads in order to avoid any inconvenience.

Dubai has gained world fame for its frenetic growth and extravagant projects ranging from the world's tallest skyscraper to a world-shaped cluster of man-made islands.

With hundreds of construction projects under way, including a metro, its streets are heavily congested. The usual traffic jams worsened on Sunday as heavy rains poured down, a rare event in the desert emirate.

Bush was in the UAE capital Abu Dhabi on Sunday as part of a week-long Middle East tour that began in Israel and the West Bank. He has also visited Kuwait and Bahrain, and is due to travel on to Saudi Arabia and Egypt.