Heavy traffic leading to long commutes have forced 56 percent of Dubai residents to respond to emails and carry out work-related tasks while commuting, a new report reveals.
As tourism and business continue to thrive in the city, the roads have become “more congested with daily commuters, tourists, and residents alike,” chauffeur-hailing firm Blacklane said in a statement on Thursday.
The new report by Blacklane revealed that 34 percent of business commuters use travel time for emails and work communication, around 22 percent send an average of around seven to 10 work-related emails and messages outside of working hours, and more than 60 percent frequently find themselves needing to address emails and maintain available during long business travels.
“The report underscores the pressing need for innovative solutions to alleviate the burden on commuters in the UAE, as there is a growing demand among working professionals to remain productive and connected while commuting,” said Blacklane Middle East’s General Manager, Nicolas Soucaille.
Business travel and in-person meetings have also increased significantly.
Business travel surged 46 percent post-pandemic, with retail, catering, legal, and arts sectors leading the increase in in-person travel at 55 percent, 55 percent, and 54 percent respectively. In-person meetings also increased by 58 percent, with around 64 percent of UAE residents noting they are struggling to keep up with the demand for them.
“Across the board, we’re seeing a huge increase in the demand for business travel as we experienced a growth rate of 50 percent in the past year and our revenue quadrupled in 2022 compared to the previous year,” said Blacklane’s CEO and founder, Dr. Jens Wohltorf.
“People spend more time out and about meeting clients, colleagues, associates, and so on, and in turn this means more time spent away from the desk, impacting efficiency and ultimately meaning more work is trying to be squeezed into the same day.”
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