Page 120 - SALIK PR REPORT OCTOBER 2024

moving in now. Same with Dubai Hills Estate. There should be clear plans on

how these areas will be serviced with alternate transportation systems to
reduce crowding.”

Is dynamic pricing an option?

Shweta said that although dynamic pricing was feasible on paper, it had
huge limitations, especially in a city like Dubai. “The increased tolls might not
be high enough to shift behaviour significantly as most people will simply pay
more to travel at peak times, without solving the congestion problem,” she

said. “The alternative, traveling at odd hours, can disrupt people’s quality of
life. In cities with robust public transport systems, dynamic pricing
encourages people to leave their cars at home, but in Dubai, where those
alternatives aren’t always feasible, it’s more of a financial burden than a traffic

solution.”
Dr. Khaled said even the dynamic pricing system of tolls in Abu Dhabi is not
applicable in Dubai. “In Abu Dhabi, tolls are charged during peak traffic
hours,” he said. “However, Dubai is always busy. Even if you go out at

midnight, there are a lot of cars on the road.”
According to Shweta, introducing alternative mobility options and creating
the necessary soft mobility infrastructures like dedicated bike lanes,
pedestrian-friendly streets, and better public transit connectivity was

essential. “Moreover, citywide transport strategies should be integrated to
avoid bottlenecks caused by isolated planning,” she said. “Without this
alignment, we’re merely moving congestion around instead of solving it.”

https://www.khaleejtimes.com/uae/toll-gates-on-more-roads-tax-to-enter-busy-areas-how-dubai-
can-tackle-traffic-jams-better