3.5 million vehicles use Dubai's roads daily, registrations up 10%

The number of vehicles in Dubai during daytime hours has reached 3.5 million, with a 10 per cent increase in registered vehicles over the past two years, compared to a global average of 2–4 per cent, according to Dubai's Roads and Transport Authority (RTA).

The figures were revealed in a briefing to 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 from Mattar Al Tayer, Director-General, Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of Dubai's Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), while visiting their headquarters.

Despite significant traffic volume growth, Dubai ranks high on the global journey time index.

According to the 2023 TomTom Global Traffic Index, Dubai achieved a journey time of 12 minutes and 50 seconds for a 10 km trip within the central business district, compared to 16 minutes and 50 seconds in Singapore, 19 minutes in Montreal, 21 minutes in Sydney, 22 minutes in Berlin, and 36 minutes in London.

During the visit, His Highness was briefed on the RTA's initiatives which include the AED16 billion 2024-2027 Main Roads Development Plan, adding 22 projects across Dubai’s expanding road network, benefiting over 6 million people and supporting Dubai’s comprehensive development plans. 

He was informed the road network has expanded from 8,715 lane-kilometres to 18,990 lane-kilometres, marking a 117 per cent increase. The number of lanes across Dubai Creek rose from 16 to 61, a 281 per cent increase, while vehicle bridges and tunnels grew from 129 to 1,070, marking a 729 per cent rise, since 2006.

Pedestrian bridges and tunnels also increased from 26 to 129, encompassing Dubai Metro and Dubai Tram bridges and tunnels, a 396 per cent growth.