Dubai: Heavy traffic congestion between Dubai and Sharjah has become an unavoidable daily challenge for thousands of commuters, forcing many to adjust their schedules to minimize travel time.
Some leave home before dawn, while others wait out rush hour in mosques, cafes, or gyms before heading home. The worsening situation has sparked fresh calls for urgent solutions.
Federal National Council (FNC) member Adnan Al Hammadi recently brought attention to the issue, revealing that an employee commuting between the two emirates spends approximately 460 hours annually in traffic—the equivalent of 60 working days. He urged authorities to take swift action to address the crisis.
Responding to these concerns, Suhail Al Mazrouei, Minister of Energy and Infrastructure, assured that an in-depth study would be conducted in collaboration with local authorities to develop a comprehensive plan to alleviate congestion.
Commuters Adjust Schedules to Cope with Traffic
Many residents commuting between Dubai and Sharjah have found alternative ways to work around the gridlock.
Reem Al Qaidhi, an advertising professional living in Al Noaf, leaves home at 6:30 am to reach her office in Media City by 8:00 am. However, her return journey is far more challenging.
“Sometimes, it takes me more than two hours to get home,” she said. “I always check Google Maps to find the least congested route. If the roads are packed, I stop by a mosque to pray before continuing my drive. There have been days when I just sit in the mosque, waiting for the traffic to ease. I lose so much time daily.”
Zaheer Hussain, an Indian expatriate living in Muhaisinah, has developed a routine to avoid peak traffic hours.
“I log out at 6 pm, but I don’t even think about leaving then,” he said. “I go to a nearby mosque for maghrib prayers, then hit the gym for an hour. When I leave around 9 pm, the roads are much clearer, and I get home in about an hour.”
Despite his efforts, Hussain finds the situation frustrating. “I would rather be home earlier, but this is the only way to avoid sitting in my car for two hours. Traffic between Dubai and Sharjah has worsened over the past few months.”
Mental and Physical Toll on Commuters
The grueling daily commute is also affecting residents’ well-being. Noura Al Mandous, a Ras Al Khaimah resident, shared how the unpredictability of traffic adds to her stress.
“Every day, I leave home at 5:30 am and reach work around 8:00 am. During Ramadan, the congestion has become worse, and I often get home around 6:00 pm, completely exhausted,” she said. “Some days, there’s no clear reason for the congestion, yet you still find yourself stuck for hours. It’s draining, both mentally and physically.”
For some, the time spent in traffic means sacrificing quality time with family. Shamsa Darwish, who lives in Al Awir near the Sharjah border, lamented the impact on her personal life.
“I reach home around 4:00 pm during Ramadan, and by the time I break my fast, I’m too tired to do anything else,” she said. “Even outside Ramadan, I hardly get quality time with my family. It affects my mental well-being, and there’s no real solution in sight.”
Urgent Call for Action
Al Hammadi highlighted the staggering rise in traffic, noting that 1.2 million cars enter Dubai daily, up from 850,000 a year and a half ago. He also pointed out that Dubai’s Traffic and Licensing Department issues around 4,000 new driver’s licenses each day, exacerbating the congestion problem.
“This is a constant and painful issue for all road users, and we need prompt solutions,” he said.
With thousands of residents spending hours stuck in gridlock daily, the pressure is mounting on authorities to implement effective measures to ease congestion and improve the commuting experience between Dubai and Sharjah.
This article was created using automation technology and was thoroughly edited and fact-checked by one of our editorial staff members