Dubai-Sharjah Traffic Woes 'Lead To Anxiety', Says UAE Official Urging Action

Thousands of commuters struggle with the daily gridlock between Dubai and Sharjah, with heavy congestion causing long delays and frustration. Despite various infrastructure upgrades, traffic bottlenecks persist, impacting travel time and productivity.

This struggle has gained traction again after it was highlighted by a Federal National Council (FNC) member. Dr Adnan Al Hammadi raised concerns over the psychological effects of traffic congestion UAE residents experience on a daily basis.“It leads to anxiety,” he told Khaleej Times.

The issue was raised during last week's session at the FNC. In response, Minister of Energy and Infrastructure Suhail Al Mazrouei proposed stricter car ownership rules, among other solutions.“The proposed solutions help organise traffic, but there is no legislation addressing traffic congestion. The method of granting licences needs to be regulated,” Dr Al Hammadi said.

Stay up to date with the latest news. Follow KT on WhatsApp Channels.

Authorities in Dubai issue an average of 4,000 driving licences daily, while driving schools register 36,000 training hours every day, he added.“This exacerbates the problem rapidly unless we find quick solutions.”

In November, the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) said Dubai sees 3.5 million vehicles during daytime hours . The emirate has recorded a 10 per cent increase in registered vehicles over the past two years, compared to a global average of 2-4 per cent.

Highlighting the impact of traffic congestion on employees, the FNC member said: "Driving between Dubai and Sharjah over a distance of 15km results in employees spending 460 hours (annually) - equating to 57 to 60 workdays wasted on the road, which represents one-third of an employee's working days."

He pointed out that these figures apply under normal traffic conditions. "If there are road modifications or accidents, the wasted time could be even greater."

He also addressed the situation on internal roads within residential neighbourhoods, mentioning that residents often take shortcuts through these areas.“Many parents who drop off their children at schools located 6 to 10km away take over an hour due to congestion on the main roads they must use,” he said.

Dr Al Hammadi raised the issue of traffic last year as well. He praised the FNC for allowing him to ask a similar question this year.“This is a new precedent in re-asking the question in a different format, which has not happened before.

"They (FNC) agreed that I could pose the question again this year differently. My main request in re-asking the question was to know exactly when work on the solutions would commence," he asserted.

He emphasised the positive aspects of urban and economic expansion and the significant increase in population from other countries to the UAE. "However, we need to implement quick solutions to address the traffic."

As traffic congestion continues to pose challenges for residents and commuters, the call for immediate and effective solutions has never been more urgent. With general suggestions from people to allocate multiple routes for main roads, main entrances, and other suggestions regarding work hours and remote work.

MENAFN24032025000049011007ID1109351194