DUBAI: Following the approval of Dubai’s Traffic Flow Plan by H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the city is implementing measures to improve traffic efficiency and ease mobility. This plan focuses on enhancing the balance between business productivity and quality of life by promoting flexible working hours and remote work policies across the emirate.

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Both the public and private sectors are encouraged to adopt these policies to reduce traffic congestion. Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) and the Dubai Government Human Resources (DGHR) Department conducted surveys on remote working and flexible hours. The first survey, covering 644 companies and over 320,000 employees, revealed that 32% of private companies currently have remote work policies, and 31% offer flexible work hours.

The findings show that adopting flexible working hours and remote work could reduce morning peak travel time by 30%. For example, with 20% of employees working remotely, traffic on Sheikh Zayed Road could drop by 9.8%, and on Al Khail Road by 8.4%. Flexible hours alone could reduce traffic volumes by 5.7% on Sheikh Zayed Road and 5% on Al Khail Road.

RTA’s Mattar Al Tayer emphasized that the plan aligns with Dubai’s goal of becoming the world’s best city to live in by improving traffic flow, boosting community happiness, and enhancing accessibility. The plan includes expanding truck restrictions, dedicated bus and taxi lanes, and promoting public transport use.

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Abdulla Ali bin Zayed Al Falasi, DGHR Director-General, highlighted that remote work and flexible hours have become integral to Dubai’s work culture. The initiative fosters a supportive work environment that promotes employee well-being while reducing traffic congestion, making Dubai a more livable city.