Electricity blackout brings chaos to Dubai

Lights went out, telephones were cut off and air-conditioners failed for several hours in Dubai yesterday, as the city was hit by widespread power failures.

Officials reported that a sudden technical fault cut electricity in Dubai at about 9.45am.

However, engineers succeeded in restoring power to 80 per cent of the city by 2pm, according to the Emirates news agency Wam. But large areas of Dubai remained without electricity yesterday afternoon.