Dubai plans flexible work hours, school bus incentives to ease traffic congestion

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Dubai’s Executive Council unveiled a comprehensive plan aimed at reducing traffic congestion in the city by introducing flexible working hours and incentivising the use of school buses.

The initiative, announced during the ongoing Arabian Travel Market at the World Trade Centre, aims to capitalise on Dubai’s economic growth and global reputation as a key transport hub.

Chaired by Dubai Crown Prince Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, the Executive Council meeting approved several projects focused on improving traffic flow in the emirate and enhancing the overall transportation infrastructure.

Flexible work or remote work options for office workers

Key components of the plan include the development of priority bus routes to significantly reduce trip times by up to 59 per cent.

Additionally, efforts will be made to encourage more students to utilise school buses, which is projected to improve traffic flow around schools by 13 per cent.

Flexible working hours and remote working options are also being considered as part of the strategy to reduce traffic congestion during peak hours.

Sheikh Hamdan emphasised the importance of community engagement in shaping Dubai’s future and achieving balanced economic and social development.

“Dubai represents a bridge between North, South, East and West. It provides state-of-the-art infrastructure for companies, setting the foundation for global expansion,” said Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Crown Prince of Dubai.

“We aim to achieve balanced economic and social development through placing people at the heart of progress and by engaging Dubai’s community in designing its future.”

RTA survey

While details about the implementation timeline were not immediately available, Dubai authorities had previously conducted a comprehensive survey to gather insights into the potential impact of flexible working hours and remote work on traffic congestion.

To further understand public opinion and driving patterns, the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) posted another survey on its social media accounts targeting residents of Dubai.

In its effort to manage traffic flow and address congestion, #RTA, in cooperation with other relevant entities in the Emirate of Dubai, is conducting a survey that takes about 10 minutes to complete, to understand the current situation in the private sector in relation to…

— RTA (@rta_dubai) May 6, 2024

This initiative follows a similar survey conducted by the Dubai Statistic Centre in October, which engaged private sector workers in assessing traffic patterns and potential solutions.

Data collected from these surveys will inform future traffic management strategies and infrastructure developments in Dubai, aligning with the city’s vision for sustainable growth and efficient transportation systems.