Eid in Dubai: RTA braces for visitor influx with traffic plan over holidays

Sunday, Aug 27, 2017

Dubai: To avoid frustrating traffic gridlock in Dubai Downtown during Eid Al Adha holidays, the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has created an action plan to keep private cars and mass transit flowing in Dubai Downtown, especially around Dubai Mall, a senior traffic official said on Sunday.

The RTA anticipates the number of visitors to touch around 350,000 people a day over the holiday weekend beginning on August 31.

Maitha Bin Adai, CEO of Traffic and Roads Agency, said the authority is ready for the rush.

“The plan covers Burj Khalifa district, where 30 directional signs will be installed to guide traffic and road users in several directions, be it from Oud Metha Street via Al Asayel Street, Zabeel Bridges via Happiness Street, or through the internal roads of the Business Bay to Shaikh Zayed Road and Al Khail Road,” she said.

“The objective of the plan is to ease the pressure on the Financial Centre Street and ensure smooth traffic flow during peak hours. The traffic signals of the Financial Centre Street and Mohammad Bin Rashid Boulevard will be monitored and controlled to ensure seamless flow of traffic during peak times,” she said.

Commenting on the organisational procedures of bus and taxi services, Bin Adai said buses “and taxi pickup and drop-off points at Dubai Mall will be increased, furthermore the number of taxis will be raised by five per cent during peak hours compared to last year, to ensure the deployment of an additional number of cabbies.

“An extensive campaign is currently underway to ensure a safe environment within the right-of-way covering the cleaning of roads, and public areas, bridges, underpasses, and the surrounds of affiliated projects. The move is part of the efforts to engage with the community in celebrating Eid Al Adha whilst reflecting RTA’s keenness to provide a clean and serene environment thus bringing satisfaction to the city’s populace and visitors descending from the UAE and beyond during Eids and other occasions,” said Bin Adai.

Technical inspectors from the RTA will be ready to manage traffic in coordination with Dubai Police and Emaar to ensure the implementation of operational plans and the execution of the required closure of roads.

Staff Report