Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has announced that it is conducting a survey along with other relevant government authorities to better understand the current work practices of the private sector in an effort to tackle traffic congestion.
The survey aims to determine how to expand flexible hours and remote working arrangements to reduce congestion during peak hours.
On the survey’s webpage, the RTA said that it is seeking participation from private sector employees to collect data on their work patterns and schedules. The confidential 10-minute survey asks questions about flexible work start times, remote work policies, and commuting times. Participants have the option to provide their contact details to enter a prize draw for various incentives.
“When participating in the study, your name will enter into the draw for various prizes, so please enter your name, phone number, or email in the space provided, it is optional to do so, these information will remain strictly confidential and will only be used for research purposes,” the survey states at the beginning.
The data collected will be utilised by the RTA and partners to formulate strategies around widening the implementation of flexible work policies. These include flexible work start windows that allow employees to choose their start time within a set range, like 7AM to 9AM.
Traffic in Dubai has significantly increased since last year with more people returning to work in offices post-pandemic. Routes to Sharjah and areas like JVC and Sports City see lengthy traffic jams during peak hours in the morning and evening as many commute to and from work.
Dubai’s population growth has also put pressure on infrastructure, with over 25,700 additional residents recorded in Q1 2024 alone according to the Dubai Statistics Centre, taking the total to more than 3.65 million. This number is projected to reach 5.8 million by 2040.
Through the survey results, the RTA believes flexible work arrangements can help smooth traffic flow by staggering commutes over a longer period in the mornings and evenings. Wider adoption of remote working policies could also limit the number of vehicles on the roads.
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