Dubai to push for flexible working and school bus fleets to reduce congestion

Flexible working hours and incentives for more children to use school buses are among plans to take vehicles off the roads and ease congestion in Dubai.

Announced by the Dubai Executive Council, several projects aim to build on economic growth and the emirate’s prime reputation for global tourism.

A crucial goal of the projects is to improve traffic flow in the emirate by easing choke-points at peak times. Plans include the development of priority bus routes to improve trip times by 59 per cent, and encouraging more pupils to use buses to improve traffic flow around schools by 13 per cent.

The introduction of flexible working hours and remote working are also under consideration.

“Dubai represents a bridge between North, South, East and West. It provides state-ofthe-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.”

According to a recent YouGov survey, about half of UAE workers – 46 per cent – work remotely in some capacity. To gauge public opinion, Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority will survey those living in the emirate to assess when they are most likely to be driving and which areas need improvement.

It will be the second survey commissioned in seven months to engage the public over traffic calming measures.

In October, private sector workers were asked by Dubai Statistic Centre to take part in a similar survey. Confidential data obtained from the latest survey will be used to shape traffic requirements for the emirate.

Respondents have been asked to take part in a 10-minute survey, providing their company position, personal details, current flexible working options and how they are used.

Nora Khalid, 47, from Egypt, who drives to Dubai every day from Ajman, said introducing a plan for flexible working hours could make a significant difference for commuters.

“By staggering start and end times not only in businesses but also in schools, commuters could avoid peak rush hours, reducing congestion on the roads,” she told The National. “Given that my office already has flexible hours, a structured system where schools would have different start times and where employees can choose to start their day earlier or later could be beneficial.”

Addressing driving behaviours on the roads is also crucial to improving traffic, Ms Khalid said.

“Introducing stricter rules to enforce lane discipline and discourage rubbernecking could also improve traffic flow and reduce delays because most congestion on my way is often caused by misbehaving drivers,” she said.

Shireen Ahmad, 38, from Jordan, who has fixed working hours from 8am to 5pm and drives from Ajman to Silicon Oasis in Dubai each day, said her routine contributes significantly to long commute times.

“Introducing flexible working hours could be a game-changer,” she said.

One approach, she suggested, could be to allow employees to start their workday between 7am and 10am and finish between 4pm and 7pm.

“This helps me avoid the peak traffic periods, potentially cutting down my travel time,” Ms Ahmad said.

“Also, encouraging a workfrom-home option for a few days a week could further reduce the need to commute daily. Implementing such policies would not only ease traffic congestion but also improve overall work-life balance for many employees facing similar challenges.”

To gauge public opinion, Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority will survey residents to assess what could be improved