The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has announced that its Dynamic Message Signs system has reduced travel times by up to 20 per cent on key corridors whilst enhancing road safety across Dubai’s road network.
“The system significantly enhances road safety by generating sequential messages based on the location of an incident,” said Salah Al Marzouqi, Director of Intelligent Traffic Systems at RTA’s Traffic and Roads Agency. “It automatically creates consecutive alert zones at different distances, starting 2 kilometres before the incident site, followed by a congestion zone, and finally a guidance zone further away with lighter traffic, to redirect vehicles away from the accident site and reduce the risk of secondary collisions.”
Road message system enhances safety
The RTA currently operates 112 electronic signs strategically placed across the emirate’s main road network, integrated within the advanced iTraffic system at Dubai’s Intelligent Traffic Systems Centre. The signs provide early warnings about accidents, traffic congestion and adverse weather conditions, with 22 dedicated to displaying travel times to key destinations such as Dubai International Airport and Dubai Marina.
“Dynamic Message Signs are among the most important real-time communication channels with road users,” Al Marzouqi added. “They are used to broadcast alerts about congestion, accidents, and vehicle breakdowns, manage traffic diversions, guide movement during major events, and support road safety awareness campaigns.”
During the first half of 2025, a total of 17,819 messages were displayed through the system. Accident-related messages topped the list with 12,283, followed by 1,038 warning messages, 984 congestion alerts and 905 breakdown notifications. Additionally, 90 messages were issued for full road closures, along with 2,519 other alerts covering weather conditions, roadworks and more.
The system integrates with field sensor data, including travel time monitoring systems, traffic volume and speed detectors, and weather stations. The central iTraffic platform analyses this data using artificial intelligence to develop immediate response plans, which are either approved by operators or automatically executed during emergencies such as fog or heavy rain.
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