Dubai & Sharjah Traffic Woes: 90% Residents Affected

If you're stuck in traffic most days, you're definitely not alone. A new survey has found that a huge number of people in the UAE—especially in Dubai and Sharjah—are dealing with daily traffic headaches. In fact, 91% of people living in Dubai and 90% in Sharjah say they regularly face traffic congestion.

This study was conducted by RoadSafetyUAE and Al Wathba Insurance, who surveyed 1,021 people across the country. The aim was to get a clearer picture of how residents feel about the current traffic situation and what they believe are the main causes.

Overall, 86% of people in the UAE said they experience traffic jams often. And it seems to be getting worse—80% of respondents said traffic has increased compared to 2024. In Dubai alone, 85% of people said they’ve noticed more congestion this year.

So, what’s behind this growing problem? According to Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority, there were 3.5 million vehicles on Dubai roads during daytime hours in 2024. That’s a 10% rise in the number of registered cars in just two years. More cars on the roads naturally lead to more traffic.

The survey also looked at when and where traffic is most felt. The worst times are during afternoon and morning work commutes, and morning school drop-offs. Even everyday tasks like picking up groceries, going to the mall, or school runs in the afternoon are affected. Abu Dhabi saw the most congestion during three types of trips, while Dubai was right behind with two.

When asked about the main reasons for traffic jams, people gave honest answers. About 65% said there are simply too many vehicles on the roads. Another 54% pointed out that most offices start at the same time, and 48% said schools start around the same time too. Add to that a heavy reliance on private cars (45%), and it’s no surprise that the roads are packed. People also mentioned things like poor driving habits, fewer people carpooling, limited work-from-home options, and not enough investment in public transport or biking and walking paths.

Thomas Edelmann, Founder of RoadSafetyUAE, said the goal of the study was to give useful feedback to authorities. “We want to help decision-makers better understand how the public sees this issue, and what changes they’d like to see,” he explained. Muralikrishnan Raman, CFO of Al Wathba Insurance, added, “It’s time we move from assumptions to facts, and really look at the data to find solutions.”

So, what do people want? A massive 83% of respondents called for better public transportation. The top suggestions included encouraging work-from-home options, expanding metro and train services, improving road design and intersections, making bus services more efficient, and promoting safer, more responsible driving.

With traffic continuing to grow along with the population, residents are hoping for long-term solutions. Smarter planning, stronger infrastructure, and a real push for public transport could help make daily life a lot easier—and much less frustrating—for everyone on the road.