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UAE: Motorists face more traffic, double travel time as schools prepare to reopen
Dubai Airport is bracing for 3.6 million passengers as residents return to the country — and the highways are feeling it too
- PUBLISHED: Thu 21 Aug 2025, 2:17 PM UPDATED: Fri 22 Aug 2025, 3:43 PM
Traffic on UAE roads has surged in recent days as residents return from summer vacations and international travel ahead of the new school term.
Many commuters report significantly longer travel times, with some saying their daily commute has more than doubled.
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“A couple of weeks ago, you could get from point A to point B without worrying about major delays. However, this week, I’ve started noticing bottlenecks creeping back, especially on stretches that were recently smooth and easy. During the holidays, my commute was a quick 20 minutes. Now, with more residents back in town and schools about to reopen, the same journey takes anywhere from 35 to 45 minutes. That’s an additional 15 to 25 minutes behind the wheel — which may not sound like much, but it adds up over the week,” said Pradnya Naik, a UAE resident for 30 years.
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Dubai International Airport (DXB) recently announced it is preparing for a busy end to the summer break, with families returning and students flying back ahead of the academic year. Between August 13 and 25, DXB is expected to welcome more than 3.6 million passengers, with daily averages reaching 280,000.
This seasonal surge comes on the heels of a record-breaking first half of 2025, during which Dubai welcomed 9.88 million international overnight visitors — a six per cent year-on-year increase. DXB also handled over 46 million passengers in the same period.
Shereen S., another long-time UAE resident, described a particularly gruelling journey this week.
“It was exhausting. It took me more than three hours to get from Abu Dhabi to Deira, Dubai — a journey that usually takes just two hours. While there was a minor accident, the delay wasn’t because of that. It’s mainly due to residents returning from long vacations. Everyone is getting back to work and preparing for the school term next week,” said Shereen, a European expat.
Ahmed Malik, a Pakistani resident, also noticed a significant increase in his commute time between Sharjah and Dubai.
“Traffic was much lighter from July to mid-August when many people were away and schools were closed. But this week, it’s picked up again. Starting next week, I expect my commute to increase by at least an hour. We all know how slow traffic can be between Sharjah and Dubai during peak hours,” Malik said.
Tweaking schedules to beat traffic
To cope with the growing congestion, some residents are adjusting their travel schedules.
“I’ll either leave earlier from Sharjah or delay my return from Dubai. I’m also considering stopping by malls for grocery shopping on the way, to avoid sitting in bumper-to-bumper traffic,” Malik added.
Pradnya Naik has also started modifying her daily routine to avoid peak traffic hours.
“I now leave home a bit later than usual, and it’s made a noticeable difference. I’m able to avoid the worst of the congestion,” she said. “While I understand traffic is inevitable as the city gets busier, I think drivers need to be more cautious and responsible. What really stands out to me is the reckless driving — abrupt lane changes, tailgating, and speeding — all of which just make things worse,” she added.
