New maps on way in road-naming shake-up

MAPPED OUT: New addresses are being introduced in Dubai to make life easier for motorists to find their destination. (Getty Images)

New maps of Dubai are to be drawn up in the latest campaign by transport chiefs to ease congestion on the city's roads.

The maps are part of a major initiative by the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) to change the way emirate addresses are named and signposted.

Instead of district names, RTA chiefs are to adopt building numbers and road and zone names in a move they say will help road users, including taxi drivers, find their destination.

A trial of the new system is being introduced in selected places designated by the RTA covering residential zones of Jumeirah 3 and the surrounding areas between the 2nd and 4th Interchange of Sheikh Zayed Road.

A project committee is being chaired by engineer Metha bin Adai, CEO of RTA Traffic & Roads Agency. Other committee representatives include those from Dubai Municipality, General HQ of Dubai Police, General Directorate of Civil Defence, Dubai Electricity & Water Authority, Unified Ambulance Centre, and Emirates Post Holding Group.

Metha described the new system as clear, concise, simple and easily memorised. He said it adopted building numbers, road & zones names, displayed on directional signs, rather than the district names used in the previous system which was mainly based on city landmarks and road numbers.

“Launching the trial phase of the project is in line with Dubai Strategic Plan 2015; particularly the provisions of Infrastructure, Lands & Environment Plan calling for an integrated roads and transport system capable of ensuring seamless traffic flow and highest levels of safety for all road users," he said.

As part of the new project, forward directional signboards will be positioned to specify distances to the next exit to give more information to motorists.

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READERS' COMMENTS

mapping system - Dubai
Posted by jes galang, dubai, uae on Tuesday 2 September 2008 at 16:32 UAE time


Just a reminder. Dubai Emirate (main) is divided into 9 sectors. Deira from the Creek to the Sharjah border and bounded on the East by Al Itihad Rd or Road 202 is Sector 1. The airport and environs including Mirdif and Mushrif Park is Sector 2. Jumeirah and from the Creek up to Jebel Ali Village is Sector 3. Festival City - Dubai Lagoons up to Al Warqaa is Sector 4. Jebel Ali FZ up to Dubai Investment Park until Abu Dhabi border is Sector 5. Nadd Al Shiba - Ras Al Khor - Warsan and South until you reach Dubai Investment Park is Sector 6. The Northeastern part of the Emirate bounded by Sharjah and the Al Awir Road or Road 401 is Sector 7. The Area from Road 401 or Al Awir Road going South up to Road 607 or Dubai - Al Ain Road is Sector 8. And the rest which is the big Southern part of the Emirate and bounded by Abu Dhabi is Sector 9.

When you look at the street signs, on the left side of the sign, you will see a 3-digit number. For example, in Jumeirah, you might read "342". This is the Community Number and the first digit denotes the Sector. Thus, Jumeirah belongs to Sector 3.

This Community number is important when you tell somebody where you are living. For example if you tell him you are at Villa No. 9 on Street 18 in Jumeirah(2), he could end up in Street 18 but in Community 352 (Jumeirah 3) if you don't specify that you are in Community 342. Or even in Jumeirah 1 which is Community 332. Thus Community Number should be the starting direction and then search for the Street Number.

For each community, streets are numbered sequentially by odd numbers and even numbers. For each community, even numbers start from the direction of the sea.... thus 2, 4, 6, 8 .... Odd numbers start from the direction of the Creek.... thus 1, 3, 5, 7.....

You can now understand the logic of the Dubai mapping system. If one can not read.... then that is another matter. But if you can read, I suggest you buy the Dubai Street Map book with the Community Numbers.

Road Names
Posted by Roger Woodward on Monday 1 September 2008 at 11:51 UAE time


Dubai has created another first, unitelligible road names without destinations. In an area where routes change frequently the one thing that needs to be kept is the destination name. I ahve lived here for 4 years and renaming the roads has made me miss turning at least once. Fortunately I know Manama rd goes to Umm Sequim but the destination sign was much clearer. Please go back to clarity.

new maps and names
Posted by jes, dubai, uae on Monday 1 September 2008 at 09:20 UAE time


The existing system is ok and good. It just needs to be popularized. I suggest that all making maps including Etisalat which issues maps in their telephone directory use the Municipal mapping system indication Community Numbers.

New Maps
Posted by dave, Dubai, United Arab Emirates on Sunday 31 August 2008 at 17:03 UAE time


New maps and names are a great idea. But it will not solve congestion. You don't have to be a rocket science to know that it is coursed by too many cars, no public transport of note, poor road planning and minimal co-operation between Dubai and Sharjah.... but hey bring on the new maps.....

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