‘460 hours lost a year': How Dubai-Sharjah commuters try to beat peak-hour traffic

Khaleej Times

20-03-2025

Some rejig their schedules; some leave home before dawn; while there are those who wait out in cafes, mosques, or gyms after work. Travelling between Dubai and Sharjah is a struggle for thousands of commuters who resort to various ways to avoid peak-hour gridlock.
The issue was recently highlighted by Federal National Council (FNC) member Adnan Al Hammadi, who revealed that an employee commuting between the two emirates spends approximately 460 hours annually — equivalent to 60 working days.
Responding to Al Hammadi's concerns, Suhail Al Mazrouei, Minister of Energy and Infrastructure, stated that the ministry would conduct an in-depth study and work closely with local authorities to develop a comprehensive plan.
Khaleej Times reached out to several residents who commute between Sharjah and Dubai every day to their workplaces to know about the measures they are taking to work around the traffic congestion and the toll that the grave traffic situation is taking on them.
Waiting in a mosque
Reem Al Qaidhi, an advertising professional, leaves her home in Al Noaf at 6:30 am to reach her office in Media City by 8 am. For the Emirati, the return journey is, however, a different story, as she often chooses to go a mosque to beat traffic congestion.
'Sometimes, it takes me more than two hours to get home,' she said. 'I always check Google Maps to find the least congested route. If the roads are packed, I stop by a mosque to pray Asr and wait for traffic to ease before continuing my drive.'
'There have been days when I just sit in the mosque, waiting for the traffic to ease. I lose so much time daily,' she added.
'Hitting the gym before heading home'
Zaheer Hussain, an Indian expat living in Muhaisinah, says: 'On regular days, I log out at 6 pm, but I don't even think about leaving then.'
'I go to a nearby mosque for Maghrib prayers, then hit the gym for an hour. By the time I leave around 9 pm, the roads are much clearer, and I get home in about an hour.'
Hussain finds the situation frustrating. 'I would rather be home earlier, but this is the only way to avoid sitting in my car for two hours straight. Traffic between Dubai and Sharjah has worsened over the months,' he said.
'I return home exhausted'
Noura Al Mandous, a Ras Al Khaimah resident, said: ' Everyday I leave home at 5:30 am and reach work around 8 am. During Ramadan, the congestion has become worse, and I often get home around 6 pm, completely exhausted.
The unpredictability of traffic adds to her stress. 'Some days, there's no clear reason for the congestion, yet you still find yourself stuck for hours. It's draining, both mentally and physically.'
'No time left for family'
Shamsa Darwish, who lives in Al Awir near the Sharjah border, often gets caught in congestion despite working in Dubai.
'I reach home around 4 pm during Ramadan, and by the time I break my fast, I'm too tired to do anything else,' she said.
Even outside Ramadan, she feels the long hours in traffic have taken a toll on her personal life. 'I hardly get quality time with my family. It affects my mental well-being, and there's no real solution in sight.'