'Use public transport', Dubai RTA urges visitors as Gulfood draws massive crowd
Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has urged visitors attending Gulfood to rely on public transport to reach the event venues, a recommendation displayed on digital signboards across the emirate as the food exhibition draws large crowds.Heavy traffic was reported on major roads on Tuesday morning, with some commuters experiencing significantly longer travel times during peak hours. With Gulfood running until Thursday (January 29), authorities encouraged attendees to avoid spending extra time on the roads by opting for public transport instead of private cars.Commuters reported that traffic built up much earlier than usual, causing slow-moving conditions on highways and internal roads. Some travelling from Sharjah, Ajman, and within Dubai said their journeys took far longer than on a typical weekday, with some reporting commutes of nearly three hours. They also mentioned that traffic remained slow across long stretches, forcing them to drive at low speeds for most of the commute.Stay up to date with the latest news. Follow KT on WhatsApp Channels.Syed Ahmed, a Sharjah resident who usually leaves home at 7am left at 6.30am on Tuesday morning, as the maps showed heavy traffic buildup on his route. “Even after leaving at 6.30am, I knew something was wrong,” he said. “The roads were already packed, and cars were barely moving.”Ahmed said traffic continued from Sharjah until the Garhoud Bridge, with vehicles at bumper to bumper for long stretches. “At many points, I was not even crossing 40kmph. It felt like peak-hour traffic had started much earlier than usual,” he said. He reached his office in JLT close to 9.30am, a journey that usually takes him about an hour and a half.From Ajman, the experience was similar. Shahbaz Ali, who left his home in Rashidiya at 6am, said traffic started building up even before entering E311. “Usually, the road opens up once you get closer to the highway, but today it was slow right from Ajman itself,” he said. “Cars were bumper to bumper, and there were long stretches where no one could move.”Ali said he barely crossed 60kmph during the drive. “At some points, we were just rolling forward,” he said. He finally reached his workplace in Dubai after nearly three hours. “By the time I reached, I was already tired. It felt like I had finished half a workday on the road.”Even commuters living within Dubai faced delays. Mohammed Abu Nael, a resident of Al Nahda, left home at 7.30am, expecting a normal weekday commute. “I thought being inside Dubai would make it easier, but it was not,” he said. “Traffic was heavy on several Dubai roads, and it got worse as I moved towards Al Quoz.”Abu Nael said long stretches of Sheikh Zayed Road were slow-moving. “It wasn’t just one spot. There was traffic at almost every stretch, including on roads leading into Al Quoz,” he said. “Everyone was moving slowly, and there were no clear open stretches.”With Gulfood taking place at both Dubai World Trade Centre and Expo City Dubai, large crowds are expected throughout the week. Authorities are urging visitors to use public transport to ease pressure on the roads, especially during peak morning and evening hours.And if motorists are planning to drive to the event, parking arrangements for Gulfood has been arranged by the organisers. At Dubai World Trade Centre, visitors can use paid multi-level parking facilities, while street parking around the area remains limited.At Expo City Dubai, free parking has been provided, and visitors are encouraged to use shuttle buses and public transport.Dubai gears up for largest edition of Gulfood; commute, parking explainedWater with gold flakes, frozen onions: 10 cool things to check out at Gulfood in DubaiThailand showcases halal food leadership at Gulfood 2026
Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has urged visitors attending Gulfood to rely on public transport to reach the event venues, a recommendation displayed on digital signboards across the emirate as the food exhibition draws large crowds.
Heavy traffic was reported on major roads on Tuesday morning, with some commuters experiencing significantly longer travel times during peak hours. With Gulfood running until Thursday (January 29), authorities encouraged attendees to avoid spending extra time on the roads by opting for public transport instead of private cars.
Commuters reported that traffic built up much earlier than usual, causing slow-moving conditions on highways and internal roads. Some travelling from Sharjah, Ajman, and within Dubai said their journeys took far longer than on a typical weekday, with some reporting commutes of nearly three hours. They also mentioned that traffic remained slow across long stretches, forcing them to drive at low speeds for most of the commute.
Stay up to date with the latest news. Follow KT on WhatsApp Channels.
Syed Ahmed, a Sharjah resident who usually leaves home at 7am left at 6.30am on Tuesday morning, as the maps showed heavy traffic buildup on his route. “Even after leaving at 6.30am, I knew something was wrong,” he said. “The roads were already packed, and cars were barely moving.”
Ahmed said traffic continued from Sharjah until the Garhoud Bridge, with vehicles at bumper to bumper for long stretches. “At many points, I was not even crossing 40kmph. It felt like peak-hour traffic had started much earlier than usual,” he said. He reached his office in JLT close to 9.30am, a journey that usually takes him about an hour and a half.
From Ajman, the experience was similar. Shahbaz Ali, who left his home in Rashidiya at 6am, said traffic started building up even before entering E311. “Usually, the road opens up once you get closer to the highway, but today it was slow right from Ajman itself,” he said. “Cars were bumper to bumper, and there were long stretches where no one could move.”
Ali said he barely crossed 60kmph during the drive. “At some points, we were just rolling forward,” he said. He finally reached his workplace in Dubai after nearly three hours. “By the time I reached, I was already tired. It felt like I had finished half a workday on the road.”
Even commuters living within Dubai faced delays. Mohammed Abu Nael, a resident of Al Nahda, left home at 7.30am, expecting a normal weekday commute. “I thought being inside Dubai would make it easier, but it was not,” he said. “Traffic was heavy on several Dubai roads, and it got worse as I moved towards Al Quoz.”
Abu Nael said long stretches of Sheikh Zayed Road were slow-moving. “It wasn’t just one spot. There was traffic at almost every stretch, including on roads leading into Al Quoz,” he said. “Everyone was moving slowly, and there were no clear open stretches.”
With Gulfood taking place at both Dubai World Trade Centre and Expo City Dubai, large crowds are expected throughout the week. Authorities are urging visitors to use public transport to ease pressure on the roads, especially during peak morning and evening hours.
And if motorists are planning to drive to the event, parking arrangements for Gulfood has been arranged by the organisers. At Dubai World Trade Centre, visitors can use paid multi-level parking facilities, while street parking around the area remains limited.
At Expo City Dubai, free parking has been provided, and visitors are encouraged to use shuttle buses and public transport.
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