According to a new study, 91% of motorists and residents in Dubai and Sharjah experience traffic congestion that incites feeling of frustration. The study was jointly commissioned by RoadSafetyUAE and Al Wathba Insurance and comprised a sample of 1,021 respondents. The aim of the study was to understand how residents felt about the country’s growing traffic problem.
– Results from the study showed:
– 86% of respondents across the UAE face traffic congestion
– Dubai and Sharjah top the list with 91% and 90% of the population dealing with traffic respectively.
– 80% of the respondents believe traffic has worsened compared to 2024.
Data shared by Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority backs up public sentiment. According to the authority, the number of vehicles on Dubai’s roads during the day had reached 3.5 million in 2024. The figure reflects a 10% increase in registered vehicles as opposed to the previous two years.
Where and When is the congestion most likely?
The study showed that congestion is most likely observed during the afternoons and mornings due to work commutes, early in the day due to school drop-offs, and at popular spaces like malls and supermarkets, especially during the weekends.
When asked about the causes for traffic congestion, the respondents had plenty of answers. Around 65% blamed too many vehicles on the road whereas 54% said that the cause was most workplaces opening up at the same time. While 48% believe schools starting at the same time to be the cause of congestion, 45% think it is due to excessive dependence on private transport.
Poor driving behaviour, low vehicle occupancy, and a lack of work-from-home opportunities can also be credited for congestion. On a larger scale, lack of adequate infrastructure to handle current traffic volumes and limited public transport has also contributed to jam-packed roads.
What is the Solution?
The study went a step further and also asked respondents to submit suggestions that could help resolve the country’s traffic problem. A whopping 83% suggested better public transportation options. Other responses included promoting work-from-home opportunities, expanding metro or train services, road capacity, and providing more buses. On a human front, the responses also mentioned encouraging better driving behaviours to cut down traffic.