If you’re ever stumped for something to say or need to make small talk, the outrageous situation with traffic in Dubai right now is a good place to start.

Just like the Brits love to chat about the weather, UAE residents cannot stop talking about the traffic in Dubai.

You’d have to be living under a rock not to spot that our roads seem more congested than ever.

And as the Dubai Executive Council announces new measures to cut traffic, including encouraging remote work and flexible hours, there’s no better time to look at why our roads are so clogged.

We’re not ones for idle conversation, so we’ve discovered the real reasons why traffic in Dubai is so heavy right now, and why your journeys are taking longer than ever.

Funnily enough, it’s all for very good reasons.

Number one, there are more people living in Dubai than ever before.

According to the Dubai Statistics Centre, the Dubai population now is 3,604,030 (as of July 2023). Using the same calculator, in July 2022 the population was 3,515,264, marking a rise of 88,766 from the last recorded statistics. Phew.

November is also one of the peak tourism periods in Dubai, meaning even more people in the city temporarily.

How is this translating into more traffic in Dubai?

Ride-hailing app Careem recorded a 23 percent rise in trips in the UAE from January 2023 to October 2023, compared to the same period in 2022.

At the same time, dynamic pricing on Dubai toll gates (Salik) has been introduced in a bid to reduce rush hour delays.

There were 461.4 million Salik trips by the end of 2023, a 11.7 per cent increase from the previous year.

Traffic may be irritating (especially when a journey that used to take you ten minutes on the road now takes 20), but another reason behind the delays is actually down to it being easier than ever to get a driving licence. All part of the city’s commitment to inclusivity and opportunities for residents.

Since January 2023, several initiatives have allowed more people to have access to driving in the city.

Dubai traffic: It’s easier to get a driving licence

A key initiative that’s led to a boom in road users has been the introduction of the ‘golden chance’ scheme.

Before this year, those who obtained their driving licence in countries not approved by the Roads & Transport Authority (RTA) would need to sit lessons and a driving test to convert it.

The ‘golden chance’ scheme has made it easier for people from countries including India, Pakistan and the Philippines to get on the road.

This year, the (RTA) also introduced speedy delivery for those wanting to get their driving licence and vehicle registration cards quickly.

As part of the service, driving licences and vehicle registration cards can be delivered in two hours within Dubai and on the same day to Abu Dhabi and Sharjah.

Plus, golden visa holders who would not normally be eligible for instant driving licences, now are. A new rule was issued whereby golden visa holders are no longer required to undergo lessons to secure a driving licence.

They just need to submit their valid driving licence from their home country and pass the knowledge and road tests to acquire a driver’s licence in Dubai.

Between January and June 2023 there has been a 52 percent year-on-year increase in golden visas issued in the UAE, so this too could have had an impact.

These new initiatives all make driving in Dubai more accessible for expats. Easier processes = higher uptake. The result? More traffic in Dubai.

More taxis on the roads

Careem and its Hala taxi service is helping residents and tourists by increasing the number of its cars on the road. In 2023, there were 4,700 Hala taxis in the city.

Antonio Al Asmar, General Manager for Careem in the UAE, commented: “Demand for Careem rides continues to grow as the population of Dubai increases and as more tourists choose to visit the city as a holiday destination.

“We’re pleased to enable residents and tourists to move across the city with ease, and continue to do everything we can to ensure that we provide both customers and captains with a swift and reliable service.”

There’s also improvements to the taxi service from Dubai International Airport with 350 additional taxis added to the fleet in February of 2024.

To help people exit the airport more quickly, there’s a ‘pin and queue’ system. You request a vehicle on your phone, receive a pin number, and join a queue to meet a driver at one of the pick-up zones (which are signposted).

Expanding Dubai Metro

Dubai’s RTA also wants to get work started on a new Metro line. The authority has issued a notice seeking expressions of interest from contractors for the new design and building of an entirely new line, which will be the Dubai Metro Blue Line.

The Blue line will connect the existing Red and Green lines and be 30 kilometres in length.

It’s understood that the line will have 14 stations; seven of which will be elevated and five underground stations.

Take a gander at what the Blue Line route could look like right here.

And with the massive expansion of Al Maktoum International Airport, there should also be a new line to serve the demand.

Dubai traffic: Improvements are coming

Dubai’s Road and Transport Authority (RTA) is on a mission to keep congestion down and is doing so with major road improvements in the Emirate.

Whether that’s new routes, flyovers or even footbridges, Dubai’s roads are just getting better and better.

Highlights include the construction of three underpasses stretching 1.65km along Al Khaleej Street, 32 new roads to be built in the Al Qusais Industrial Areas 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 and the construction of an extra exit in the direction of Garn Al Sabkha Street intersection at Dubai Marina.

Other much-anticipated updates in the works include the construction of four bridges, spanning 3,000 metres and capable of carrying 17,600 vehicles per hour at the Garn Al Sabkha Street and the Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Road intersection.

Meanwhile, Hessa Street’s overall capacity will be increased (hurrah!) and Al Khail Road to Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road will be extended by 4.6km.

The RTA has also recently brought in smaller-scale traffic improvements which could make a big difference including a new U-turn at Umm Suqeim and a free exit at Dubai Marina.

As well as road improvements, the RTA is deploying drones, lasers and robots in a bid to cut down on traffic jams.

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