Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) recently organized a workshop titled ‘Connecting Bridges’ to strengthen engagement between the RTA and its partners on road infrastructure and mobility services, which are key enablers of economic growth and foundational to Dubai’s integrated urban development.
During the workshop, His Excellency Mattar Al Tayer, director general, chairman of the board of executive directors of the RTA, noted that the authority is working within a comprehensive framework to keep pace with Dubai’s rapid growth. Over the next three years, the authority will deliver more than 30 strategic road and transport projects, with a total investment exceeding AED40 billion ($11 billion).
Notably, His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defence, and Chairman of The Executive Council of Dubai, attended the workshop.
He was briefed on the workshop’s objectives, which focused on enhancing collaboration between the public and private sectors, particularly real estate developers, to support Dubai’s integrated development agenda and advance the leadership’s vision of making Dubai the world’s best city to live in.
Dubai invests over AED150 billion in infrastructure
The workshop featured presentations on RTA’s master plan for developing the road and public transport networks. It also included discussions on innovative solutions to address traffic density challenges, to facilitate smoother mobility for residents and visitors, while enhancing well-being and ensuring a high quality of life.
In his opening remarks, Al Tayer highlighted that the continued development of road and transport infrastructure remains a strategic priority, backed by the steadfast support of Dubai’s leadership. He noted that this commitment stems from a firm belief in infrastructure as a fundamental driver of economic growth and urban advancement, with more than AED150 billion invested in the sector by the Government of Dubai over the past 19 years.
Dubai’s daytime population to reach 8 million by 2040
The RTA’s director general outlined the main factors contributing to traffic density across Dubai’s road network, citing the emirate’s rapid urban growth compared to other global cities. Over the past decade, Dubai’s population has grown at an average annual rate of over 6 percent, significantly outpacing the global average of 1.1 percent. By 2040, the city’s daytime population is expected to reach eight million. At the same time, tourist numbers rose to more than 18 million in 2024, marking a 9 percent increase from the previous year.
Vehicle ownership in Dubai has also increased significantly, with the number of registered vehicles reaching 2.5 million in 2024. This figure represents half of all vehicles registered across the UAE. Additional factors contributing to traffic density include diverse driving behaviors shaped by the city’s multicultural population, limited trip planning and a general lack of awareness around peak travel hours. These elements collectively place added pressure on key traffic corridors.
Despite this substantial rise in traffic volumes, Dubai continues to outperform several global cities, including Singapore, London, Sydney and Montreal in average travel time, according to annual traffic analysis reports by TomTom.
Dynamic road tolling cuts traffic on Sheikh Zayed Road by 9 percent
The RTA’s director general also emphasized that tackling rising traffic density requires a focus on sustainable, long-term solutions. Key among these is improving traffic flow efficiency by 20 to 30 percent. Several measures have already been implemented, including flexible working hours, remote work policies, dynamic road and parking tariffs, and broader restrictions on heavy vehicle movement. The introduction of dynamic road tolling, for example, has reduced traffic volumes on Sheikh Zayed Road by 9 percent.
Among the key projects the RTA is implementing is the Dubai Metro Blue Line, which will serve nine key districts expected to accommodate around one million residents by 2040. The line is projected to reduce traffic density in those areas by up to 20 percent. Additional corridor enhancements are also planned to support mobility for a population projected to reach eight million by 2040.
To further boost efficiency across the transport and infrastructure ecosystem, the Government of Dubai has supported the commercial transformation of key services. This effort led to the establishment of four companies—Salik, Dubai Taxi, Parkin and Mada Media—with a combined market valuation of AED70 billion.
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Dubai’s traffic challenges require stronger public-private collaboration
Al Tayer stated that addressing traffic and mobility challenges requires stronger collaboration between the public and private sectors, along with better alignment of plans across all government and non-government entities in Dubai. He stressed the need to prioritize integrated urban planning and ensure the equitable distribution of service facilities, noting that urban planning remains one of the most effective tools for resolving mobility challenges due to its cross-sectoral scope.
The RTA’s director general also highlighted the importance of implementing supportive policies in a coordinated manner, such as flexible working hours, remote work, staggered school schedules and distance learning. Improving the integration of new development areas with Dubai’s existing road and public transport networks is equally essential to achieving seamless connectivity. Al Tayer further emphasized that expanding the use of big data and artificial intelligence will be key to better understanding and responding to community needs.
