As navigation glitches become more common, some residents are turning back to traditional ways of finding directions.
For many residents in the UAE, travelling from one place to another relies heavily on GPS-powered navigation apps. Whether navigating Dubai’s busy highways or locating a new café in Abu Dhabi, motorists have become increasingly dependent on digital directions in their daily lives.
However, when signals weaken, maps freeze or locations appear inaccurate, drivers can quickly become disoriented — sometimes leading to stressful or even unsafe situations on the road.
Traffic expert Mustafa Al Dah said people have become overly reliant on a system that was not originally intended for everyday civilian use.
“It’s important to understand a bit of the history behind GPS,” Mustafa Al Dah told Khaleej Times. “As far as I remember, the system was originally developed by the American military many years ago to support military operations. It was never specifically designed for everyday civilian use, but over time it became widely adopted, and people grew heavily dependent on it.”
He explained that although GPS is now commonly used around the world, disruptions are still possible because the technology was not created as a completely flawless civilian navigation system.
Al Dah also referred to alternative satellite navigation systems such as GLONASS, developed by the former Soviet Union, though he noted that interference and signal-blocking technologies can still affect accuracy.
Explaining how GPS works, he said navigation systems rely on triangulation, requiring signals from at least three satellites to accurately identify a location.
“If the system cannot connect to at least three satellites, the location will not be accurate,” he said.
He added that dense urban areas can make reception more difficult. “High-rise buildings and underground parking areas often block satellite signals. The deeper you move into urban areas or underground spaces, the weaker the accuracy becomes.”
According to Al Dah, metal structures can also interfere with signals through what is known as the “Faraday cage” effect, which partially blocks reception.
As navigation issues become more common, some residents are beginning to rely again on traditional ways of finding directions.
Al Dah stressed that drivers should always prioritise road safety instead of attempting to fix navigation issues while driving.
“The most important task is driving safely,” he said. “If the signal drops and you lose your route, continue driving normally until you can safely stop somewhere.”
He warned against sudden stops or unpredictable movements on busy roads.
“The worst thing a driver can do is stop in the middle of the road or in an unsafe location,” he explained. “Other motorists have no idea your GPS stopped working, and sudden movements are often what lead to accidents.”
Instead, he encouraged motorists to rely on road signs, landmarks and offline navigation tools when necessary.
“There are many options available now, including downloading offline maps or saving routes beforehand,” he said. “People should start thinking about backup solutions.”
Al Dah added that non-GPS navigation technologies have existed for years, including older vehicle systems that used stored maps and movement sensors instead of live satellite connections.
Looking ahead, he believes current challenges could encourage new innovations in navigation technology.
“I’m confident that innovators and technology companies will find solutions to these issues,” he said. “The technology already exists, and modern computing capabilities are far more advanced than they were in the past.”
