Authorities advised that fog has reduced visibility to below 1,000m in some locations
Dubai: The National Centre of Meteorology (NCM) issued a fog alert for Tuesday morning, warning motorists of reduced visibility across internal and coastal areas until 9am. The alert follows dense fog that settled over parts of the UAE overnight, creating difficult conditions for early-morning commuters.
Authorities have urged motorists to exercise maximum caution, reduce speeds, and maintain safe following distances while driving in foggy conditions. Dubai’s RTA and Sharjah Police also issued traffic advisories on social media, warning residents to drive carefully and expect delays on major routes.
Heavy morning congestion hits key routes
Commuters across Dubai and Sharjah faced heavy rush-hour traffic on several major corridors on Tuesday morning. Real-time data from Google Maps and Waze showed significant congestion on key arterial roads linking the two emirates.
Sharjah’s busiest stretches
In Sharjah, Al Wahda Street saw severe congestion from the Al Khan area through to Al Mulla Plaza. Fog-related visibility issues compounded the usual morning rush, with traffic moving at a crawl in several sections. Waze reported delays of up to 25 minutes on the route during peak hours.
The road leading to Sahara Centre also saw heavy build-up, with Google Maps showing deep red indicators of slow-moving traffic throughout the morning. Sharjah Airport Road experienced significant delays as well, with commuters reporting prolonged stop-and-go conditions.
Several of Sharjah’s Industrial Areas, particularly Industrial Area 3 and surrounding zones linking to Dubai, faced bottlenecks. Roads such as 125 Street and 4 Street were gridlocked with bumper-to-bumper traffic as workers made their way to offices and industrial sites.
Al Nahda near the S102 Sharjah Ring Road emerged as a major chokepoint, with traffic barely moving for extended periods. Google Maps data showed critical congestion in the area.
Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Road (E311) was also among the worst affected routes of the morning. From Al Zahia City Centre in Sharjah to Muhaisnah 4 in Dubai, vehicles were nearly at a standstill. Waze users reported delays of 35 to 45 minutes on a stretch that typically takes around 15 minutes during peak hours.
Dubai
Within Dubai, several key roads recorded heavy traffic volumes during the morning rush. E11 Al Ittihad Road — the most direct route from Sharjah — saw significant congestion, with fog-related cautious driving combined with high vehicle volumes causing extended delays from border areas into central Dubai.
E44 Ras Al Khor Road, stretching from Dubai Design District to Business Bay, experienced heavy traffic flow, with Google Maps indicating moderate to severe congestion. Commuters heading toward Business Bay and DIFC reported longer-than-usual journey times.
Al Khail Road also saw notable morning congestion, particularly as traffic converged near central business and educational hubs. Real-time navigation apps showed delays of approximately 15 to 25 minutes beyond normal travel times.
In residential and industrial areas, 13 Street in Al Warqa’a 1 recorded heavy build-up, while Al Zumorrod Street in Al Quoz Industrial Area 2 experienced slow-moving traffic as commercial vehicles mixed with commuter flows.
Alternative routes
With main corridors heavily congested, some commuters turned to alternative routes. Emirates Road (E611), though longer in distance, offered relatively moderate traffic flow, according to Google Maps data. Drivers passing through Academic City found the route provided some relief from gridlock on E311 and E11.
For motorists travelling to areas near Festival City or Dubai Silicon Oasis, the Dubai–Al Ain Road via Mirdif showed smoother traffic conditions compared with heavily congested border crossings, based on Waze traffic data.
Safety remains top priority
The combined challenge of morning fog and heavy traffic has reinforced the importance of road safety. The NCM and traffic authorities have reminded motorists to:
- Use low-beam headlights in foggy conditions
- Avoid using hazard lights while driving, as these should only be activated when stopped in an emergency
- Maintain a safe following distance of at least three to five car lengths
- Drive at reduced speeds and avoid sudden braking or sharp turns
- Stay within designated lanes and use road markings as visual guides
As the UAE continues to experience variable winter weather, commuters are advised to check real-time traffic updates on Google Maps and Waze before setting out, allow extra travel time during peak hours, and consider public transport options such as the Dubai Metro where possible to ease congestion and reduce travel stress.
