He added that roads are engineered to accommodate a specific number of vehicles per hour, and once that threshold is exceeded, traffic slows down rapidly.
Around 90 per cent of traffic on Dubai’s roads may be linked to business and daily work-related travel, according to a UAE-based traffic expert.
Emirati road safety and traffic specialist Dr Mustafa Aldah said most congestion is not caused by leisure trips or shopping visits, but by offices, schools, and other commercial activities.
“I would estimate that around 90 per cent of traffic on the roads is caused by businesses,” said Dr Aldah. “Only a minority comes from private trips.”
He explained that Dubai has grown into multiple population centres over the years, with many employees living far from their workplaces. Since most jobs do not provide on-site accommodation, thousands of residents travel long distances every day, contributing significantly to daily congestion.
“Vehicle traffic is a direct result of people not walking anymore,” he said. “Our city has evolved, and people now depend heavily on cars to move between home and work.”
Dr Aldah used schools to illustrate how daily movement impacts congestion. A school with 1,000 students can transport them using about 20 buses. But if each student is dropped off by a parent, that means 1,000 cars on the road at the same time.
“Which takes more space on the road, 1,000 cars or 20 buses?” he asked.
He added that roads are designed to handle a certain number of vehicles per hour, and once that limit is exceeded, traffic slows down quickly.
Dr Aldah also noted a recurring issue: there is often a gap between traffic impact studies prepared for new developments and the real traffic situation once projects are completed.
As Dubai continues to grow, he said, understanding what truly drives congestion—especially work and business travel—will be key to managing traffic more effectively in the future.
