Traffic flow along Dubai’s busiest highway has improved, thanks to the introduction of dynamic road tolls earlier this year. The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) announced a 9% reduction in traffic on Sheikh Zayed Road since Salik implemented variable pricing at the Al Maktoum Bridge toll gate on January 31.
Under the new structure, motorists are charged AED 6 during weekday rush hours and AED 4 during off-peak periods. This shift, along with the rollout of premium parking fees in April—now AED 6 per hour during peak times—forms part of a broader strategy aimed at easing congestion across the city.
“These measures are designed to be sustainable, long-term solutions to manage increasing road traffic,” the RTA stated. The goal is to boost traffic efficiency by up to 30%, using a combination of policy changes and tech-driven systems.
During a recent workshop attended by Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, RTA officials highlighted six focus areas to tackle congestion. These included encouraging flexible work setups, promoting alternative transport, improving public awareness, and expanding intelligent traffic systems.
Mattar Al Tayer, RTA Director-General, emphasized that Dubai’s rapid growth is a key factor behind the mounting traffic. “The city’s population has grown over 6% annually in the last decade—far above the global average,” he said. Dubai’s daytime population is expected to hit 8 million by 2040, with tourist arrivals exceeding 18 million in 2024 alone.
He also pointed to high car ownership, with 2.5 million registered vehicles in the emirate—nearly half of all vehicles in the UAE—and a wide range of driving habits due to the city’s diverse population as added pressure points on road networks.
Despite these challenges, Al Tayer noted that Dubai still ranks better than global cities such as London, Singapore, and Montreal when it comes to average travel times.