Long commutes, heavy traffic and daily fatigue have become routine for many Ras Al Khaimah residents who choose to stay near family while working in other emirates.
Long hours behind the wheel have become a daily reality for many Ras Al Khaimah residents who choose to stay close to their families while pursuing career opportunities in Dubai and other emirates.
While the lifestyle offers a quieter home environment and lower living expenses, it also comes with early starts, long traffic-filled journeys, around Dh3,000 in monthly petrol costs and less personal time. Despite the challenges, many commuters say the benefits of staying close to family make the daily trade-off worthwhile.
Every weekday before sunrise, 24-year-old junior architect Fidah Abdul Saleem starts a routine she has come to know almost minute by minute.
Every weekday before sunrise, 24-year-old junior architect Fidah Abdul Saleem follows a routine she has memorised almost down to the minute.
She wakes shortly after 6am, completes her morning preparations, packs her lunch, water and snacks, and picks up a breakfast smoothie lovingly prepared by her mother or grandmother. Before heading out, she says goodbye to her family, takes a moment to admire the flowers in her garden, offers a prayer for a safe journey and sets off towards Emirates Road.
By 6.45am, her nearly 120km daily commute from Ras Al Khaimah to Dubai Design District is underway.
“I use Emirates Road because even five minutes of extra traffic makes a difference,” she said.
The drive is usually manageable until she reaches Sharjah, where congestion can quickly bring traffic to a standstill. A section that should take only a few minutes can stretch to half an hour before she continues towards Dubai, reaching her workplace shortly after 8am.
To avoid parking expenses, she leaves her car at a free parking area and walks another 15 minutes to her office — often in the summer heat.
At this point, the commute is only halfway complete
After finishing work at 6pm, Abdul Saleem begins the same journey in reverse, reaching home between 7.45pm and 8pm when traffic conditions are favourable.
By the end of each weekday, she spends around four hours behind the wheel.
Home over convenience
Although she once considered moving closer to her workplace, the plan never became a reality.
“High rent and finding a suitable roommate made it difficult,” she said. “Now, when I think about living in Dubai, I feel like I would be homesick. Even if I had an apartment there, it wouldn’t really be home.”
For Fidah, Ras Al Khaimah is more than just a place to live.
“I’ve lived here my whole life. It’s part of my identity.”
That emotional connection to home is shared by many residents who continue making long daily commutes despite the challenges.
For Ghaya, a nurse who has worked in Dubai for just over a year, travelling between emirates twice a week for 12-hour shifts was a necessity rather than a preference.
“There simply weren’t opportunities available where I live, so working in another emirate was the easiest option,” she said.
Her day begins even earlier. She wakes around 4.30am and leaves home by 5am on weekdays to avoid heavier traffic before starting her shift at 7am.
The journey usually takes around one hour and 20 minutes, but peak-hour congestion can extend it considerably. After completing a 12-hour shift, she reaches home at around 9pm.
Life measured by the road
For many commuters, the biggest sacrifice is time.
“The commute affects me a lot,” Fidah said. “By the time I get home, I’m physically and mentally drained. I eat dinner and sleep.”
She said weekdays leave little time for exercise, hobbies or quality moments with family. Sometimes, she does not even get to see her father if he is not home before she arrives.
Weekends have become her only chance to rest and recharge.
Ghaya described the experience in simple terms: “It’s very exhausting. A lot of effort, and most of your time disappears on the road and in traffic.”
Finding moments of peace
Despite the demands, both women have gradually adapted to the commuting lifestyle.
Fidah uses her drive as personal time, listening to the Quran, reflecting, planning her day or catching up with loved ones over the phone. She also enjoys singing along to music, which she says helps her stay connected with herself despite the pressures of work.
The daily journey has also taught her patience.
“Every day you deal with different kinds of drivers. You learn to understand people better.”
For Ghaya, what initially felt overwhelming has become part of her routine.
“At first, the traffic and the long drive were tiring,” she said. “But with time, I got used to it and learned when the roads would be busy.”
Why they keep doing it
Despite the exhaustion, neither regrets choosing to remain in Ras Al Khaimah.
Ghaya said supportive colleagues and managers make the journey worthwhile. “The road is tiring, but once I reach work, I forget about it.”
For Fidah, the motivation comes from what awaits her at the end of every trip.
“The only reason that makes everything worth it is coming back to my family,” she said.
She looks forward to calls from her parents checking where she has reached and seeing them waiting when she arrives home.
“The relief on my dad’s face, my mum waiting for me, my siblings and grandmother feeling comfortable because I’m home — that makes everything worth it.”
“I’m blessed to have a family that understands how tired I am. They don’t expect much from me when I get home. They just make things easier.”
