Dubai : Traffic congestion continues to be a major challenge across the UAE, with 91% of Dubai residents and 90% of Sharjah residents regularly experiencing traffic jams, according to a new study released this month.
Commissioned by RoadSafetyUAE in collaboration with Al Wathba Insurance, the survey polled 1,021 UAE residents to assess public sentiment toward traffic conditions and identify key causes and possible solutions.
Traffic Woes Persist in 2025
The study found that 86% of all respondents across the UAE reported regular traffic congestion.
- Dubai recorded the highest percentage, with 91% of residents impacted
- Sharjah followed closely at 90%
Moreover, 80% of UAE respondents believe traffic has worsened compared to 2024 — a sentiment especially strong in Dubai, where 85% of respondents noted deterioration.
Data from Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) revealed that daytime vehicle volume reached 3.5 million in 2024 — a 10% increase in registered vehicles over two years.
When and Where is Traffic Most Noticeable?
The top three trip types where congestion is most felt are:
- Afternoon work commutes
- Morning work commutes
- Morning school drop-offs
Other affected trips include weekend outings, afternoon school pickups, and supermarket or mall visits.
- Abu Dhabi ranked highest in congestion for three of these trip types
- Dubai topped two categories
Experts Call for Data-Driven Policy
Thomas Edelmann, Founder and Managing Director of RoadSafetyUAE, emphasized the need for a fact-based approach:
“We want to support authorities by presenting public perceptions on traffic congestion — the perceived causes and areas for improvement — based on data, not just anecdotes.”
Muralikrishnan Raman, CFO of Al Wathba Insurance, echoed this, adding:
“The goal was to elevate the discussion around traffic congestion with research-backed insights that can help drive policy decisions.”
Top Causes of Traffic Congestion
According to survey respondents, the main reasons for increasing traffic include:
- Too many vehicles on the road (65%)
- Uniform office start times (54%)
- Simultaneous school start times (48%)
- Over-reliance on private cars (45%)
Other contributing factors cited were:
- Poor driving behavior
- Low carpooling and vehicle occupancy
- Limited work-from-home flexibility
- Inadequate infrastructure
- Lack of public transport and alternatives like cycling and walking
Suggested Solutions: What the Public Wants
Respondents were also asked to propose improvements. A strong 83% agreed that enhancing public transportation is key to reducing congestion.
The top 5 recommended solutions:
- Promote remote working and flexible hours
- Expand and improve metro/train services
- Widen roads and improve traffic flow through better design
- Enhance public bus networks
- Encourage responsible driving behavior
As the UAE continues to grow, both demographically and economically, the findings of this study point to the urgent need for smart urban planning, multimodal transport integration, and flexible mobility policies to alleviate traffic pressures in the country’s busiest emirates.
