Three people were killed in a massive traffic accident Tuesday on a highway between Dubai and Abu Dhabi, a police official said.
More than 300 people were injured in the accident, which involved 60 vehicles, said Col. Osman al-Tamimi of the Abu Dhabi Police Department.
Al-Tamimi said six people were in critical condition and 39 in serious but stable condition. The remainder sustained minor injuries in the crash. Most of the injured were taken to Abu Dhabi's two main hospitals — Al Rahba and Al Mafraq, he said.
Hospital officials refused to comment on the condition of the crash victims.
More than a dozen cars burst into flames during the accident, turning the highway between the United Arab Emirates' two main cities into an inferno during Tuesday morning rush hour, said al-Tamimi. Thick fog and poor visibility caused the accident, he added.
Authorities cordoned off the site of one of the worst accidents in the Persian Gulf country's history. The police investigation of the site backed up traffic in both Dubai and Abu Dhabi for hours, stretching into the evening rush hour.
Traffic in the Emirates has increased dramatically in recent years as the country's economy has boomed, especially in the city of Dubai, which has become the de facto business center of the Middle East.