Around 90% of Dubai traffic caused by work, business travel, expert says
Around 90 per cent of traffic on Dubai’s roads may be linked to businesses and daily work-related travel, according to a UAE-based traffic expert.Emirati road safety and traffic expert Dr Mustafa Aldah said most congestion is not caused by leisure trips or shopping visits, but by offices, schools and commercial activity.“I would estimate around 90 per cent of traffic on the roads is caused by businesses,” said Dr Aldah. “Only a minority comes from private trips.”He explained that Dubai has grown into different population centres over the years. Many employees do not live near their workplaces, and most jobs do not provide on-site accommodation. As a result, thousands of residents travel long distances every day.Stay up to date with the latest news. Follow KT on WhatsApp Channels.“Vehicle traffic is a direct result of people not walking anymore,” he said. “Our city has evolved, and people now depend heavily on cars to move between home and work.”Dr Aldah gave the example of schools to explain how daily movement affects congestion. A school with 1,000 students can transport them using about 20 buses. But if each student is dropped off by a parent, that means 1,000 cars on the road at the same time.“Which takes more space on the road, 1,000 cars or 20 buses?” he said.He added that roads are designed to handle a certain number of vehicles per hour. Once that limit is reached, traffic slows down quickly.Dr Aldah also said there is often a gap between traffic impact studies prepared for new developments and the real traffic situation once projects are completed.As Dubai continues to grow, he said understanding what truly drives congestion, especially work and business travel, will be key to managing traffic more effectively in the future.Dubai’s new transport systems could replace short car journeys in busy areasDubai motorists lose nearly 4 days to traffic in 2025 as congestion rises
Around 90 per cent of traffic on Dubai’s roads may be linked to businesses and daily work-related travel, according to a UAE-based traffic expert.
Emirati road safety and traffic expert Dr Mustafa Aldah said most congestion is not caused by leisure trips or shopping visits, but by offices, schools and commercial activity.
“I would estimate around 90 per cent of traffic on the roads is caused by businesses,” said Dr Aldah. “Only a minority comes from private trips.”
He explained that Dubai has grown into different population centres over the years. Many employees do not live near their workplaces, and most jobs do not provide on-site accommodation. As a result, thousands of residents travel long distances every day.
Stay up to date with the latest news. Follow KT on WhatsApp Channels.
“Vehicle traffic is a direct result of people not walking anymore,” he said. “Our city has evolved, and people now depend heavily on cars to move between home and work.”
Dr Aldah gave the example of schools to explain how daily movement affects congestion. A school with 1,000 students can transport them using about 20 buses. But if each student is dropped off by a parent, that means 1,000 cars on the road at the same time.
“Which takes more space on the road, 1,000 cars or 20 buses?” he said.
He added that roads are designed to handle a certain number of vehicles per hour. Once that limit is reached, traffic slows down quickly.
Dr Aldah also said there is often a gap between traffic impact studies prepared for new developments and the real traffic situation once projects are completed.
As Dubai continues to grow, he said understanding what truly drives congestion, especially work and business travel, will be key to managing traffic more effectively in the future.
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