Dubai is rolling out a sweeping strategy to combat worsening traffic congestion, as vehicle registrations in the city hit 2.5 million—accounting for half of all vehicles in the UAE.
The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) expects its long-term, sustainable measures to boost traffic flow by up to 30 percent. The sharp rise in car ownership—10 percent over two years—has far outpaced the global average of 2 to 4 percent, prompting action from both local and federal authorities.
Key Causes Behind the Congestion
According to the RTA, several factors have contributed to the growing strain on Dubai’s roads:
- Vehicle numbers: 2.5 million registered vehicles in 2024
- Daytime traffic volume: Peaks at 3.5 million vehicles
- Rapid population growth: Over 6% annually, compared to the global average of 1.1%
- Inconsistent driving habits: Multicultural population and limited planning around peak hours
Dubai’s daytime population is expected to reach 8 million by 2040, further intensifying demand on the road network.
Infrastructure and Policy Solutions
The RTA has laid out a multi-tiered approach combining infrastructure upgrades, smart policy tools, and behavioural changes:
Dynamic Tariffs and Public Transport Incentives
- Introduced in 2024, new toll and parking pricing models have:
- Cut traffic volumes by up to 9%
- Boosted public transport use by 4%
Major Infrastructure Projects
Over 30 road and transport projects are planned by 2027, with a Dh40 billion investment. Key developments include:
- Dubai Metro Blue Line: Expected to reduce traffic in serviced areas by up to 20%
- Dedicated bus lanes (2025–2027): 13 km across six roads, cutting journey times by nearly 60%
- 11 road corridor upgrades to accommodate future population growth:
- Umm Suqeim–Al Qudra: Travel time to drop from 46 to 11 minutes
- Hessa Street: 60% complete; time cut from 30 to 7 minutes
- Al Fay Street: Added capacity for 64,400 vehicles per hour
Smart Urban Management and Policy Shifts
- Flexible work initiatives: Encouraging remote work and flexible hours, which could reduce traffic by up to 30%
- Commercialisation of transport services: Launch of four companies—Salik, Dubai Taxi, Parkin, and Mada Media
- Truck movement restrictions: Expanded bans on Emirates Road and other key routes
- School zone upgrades: Eight projects completed in 2024, reducing congestion around 37 schools by up to 20%
Federal Discussion on Ownership Limits
The issue also reached the UAE’s Federal National Council in March, where Minister of Energy and Infrastructure Suhail Al Mazrouei proposed stricter car ownership rules to curb the rising vehicle population.
News Source: Khaleej Times
