Motorists in cities such as Dubai may have noticed an unusual quirk in recent weeks: their GPS apps occasionally showing the wrong location.
Some social media posts suggest navigation apps such as Waze and Google Maps have, at times, briefly placed users in the middle of the sea rather than neighbourhoods like Al Quoz, Karama or Business Bay, with screenshots appearing to show cars driving across open water.
For many residents, the glitches have become the subject of light-hearted jokes: delivery drivers arriving far from the intended address, ride-hailing pickups landing on the wrong street, or navigation apps insisting you’ve taken an impossible route.
But experts say these kinds of brief disruptions can sometimes occur during periods of geopolitical tension around the world.
“In many cases, such disruptions are linked to signal interference or protective security measures used to safeguard sensitive areas or counter drones and other threats,” Mahammad Haneef, head of digital transformation at Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre Lab at University of Dubai, told Gulf Business.
“Civilian devices may experience these effects because they rely on the same GPS signals.”
Satellite navigation has become deeply embedded in everyday life, from ride-hailing and food delivery to logistics and aviation. But during periods of regional tension, signal interference can occasionally affect accuracy.
“Since civilian apps rely on the same satellite signals, users may occasionally experience unusual routes or incorrect locations,” Haneef said.
GPS interference explained
The technical terms often used to describe this phenomenon are GPS jamming or GPS spoofing.
GPS jamming involves blocking satellite signals so devices cannot determine their position. GPS spoofing, meanwhile, sends false signals that trick devices into believing they are somewhere else.
“When GPS signals are jammed or spoofed, the phone receives incorrect satellite data,” Haneef explained.
“Because GPS works by calculating position from multiple satellites, even small errors can cause the device to suddenly display a location far away or in unrealistic places such as the sea.”
“Disruptions are usually temporary and location-specific rather than affecting the entire country,” Haneef said.
A global issue — and not just a land problem
Lisa Dyer, executive director of the Washington-based GPS Innovation Alliance, said similar interference has been observed in multiple regions around the world during periods of geopolitical or economic tension.
“This phenomenon has been seen for decades in regions across the world, particularly during times of geopolitical tension,” Dyer told Gulf Business.
“When apps are affected, it can sometimes be difficult to determine exactly which signals are experiencing interference,” she added.
GPS interference isn’t limited to motorists either.
Aviation and maritime industries have also encountered similar issues in different parts of the world.
In a video published last year, global flight-tracking platform Flightradar highlighted how GPS interference has become a growing challenge for commercial aviation.
“Over the past few years GPS interference has grown from a minor annoyance to a major issue for commercial aviation,” the company noted.
“Whether it’s jamming, which blocks receivers and renders GPS unavailable, or spoofing which makes the aircraft believe it is somewhere it isn’t, pilots must be aware that their instruments could occasionally be wrong.”
However, aviation and maritime sectors typically have multiple backup navigation systems, reducing the risk.
“Sectors such as aviation, maritime navigation, logistics and telecommunications rely heavily on satellite signals. However, these industries use multiple backup systems and stricter navigation controls, so they are generally better protected than consumer devices,” Haneef said.
What drivers can do
For residents who occasionally experience a navigation glitch, experts say there are a few simple steps that can help:
- Restart your phone or navigation app
Turning your device off and on again can force it to reconnect to satellites and often resolves temporary errors.
- Refresh your GPS signal
Toggle airplane mode on and off or reopen your navigation app to re-establish the connection.
- Download offline maps
Many apps such as Google Maps allow users to download maps in advance, helping navigation continue even if the signal briefly drops.
- Cross-check with landmarks
If your GPS suddenly places you in an unlikely location, double-check using street signs, nearby landmarks or a secondary navigation app.
- Give drivers clear pickup points
When ordering a ride or delivery, sending a quick message with a visible landmark can help avoid confusion if the GPS is briefly inaccurate.
For most users, the glitches are short-lived and quickly resolve themselves, though they may occasionally make navigating roads a little more adventurous than usual.
