How Dubai-Sharjah commuters try to beat peak-hour traffic
Some rearrange their timings, some step out of their homes before dawn and then there are others who spend their time in dawdling cafes, mosques or Gyms after work. The traffic travelling back and forth between Dubai and Sharjah is a bane for thousands of commuters, who have been resorting to different methods to fool the peak-hour gridlock.
Federal National Council (FNC) member Adnan Al Hammadi recently underscored the problem when he pointed out an employee commuting between the two emirates spends around 460 hours a year commuting — which equals 60 working days.
In response to Al Hammadi's concerns, Suhail Al Mazrouei, Minister of Energy and Infrastructure said the ministry will carry out a "detailed study" and will coordinate with authorities on local and global levels to create a full plan.
Many such residents also commute between Sharjah and Dubai daily for work and wanted to know how the authorities were dealing with the congestion as well as how the situation was affecting them.
Waiting in a mosque
Advertising professional Reem Al Qaidhi wakes up in Al Noaf at 6.30 am and heads out of her home by 7.30 am to get to her office in Media City by 8am. On the way back, though, it really is another story for the Emirati, passing the traffic jam then heading to a mosque.
She said that "it sometimes takes me upwards of two hours to get home." I make sure to Google map for the route with the least traffic. If the roads were clogged, I would stop at a mosque to perform Asr and wait for the traffic to disperse before returning to the road.
“There are days when I even stay in the mosque for the traffic to ease down. Or, 'I waste so much of my days away,' she continued.
Going to the gym before going home
Indian expat Zaheer Hussain, who lives in Muhaisinah, said: "On normal days, I always log out at 6pm, but I don't ever consider leaving at that time."
After that, I pray Maghrib at a mosque nearby and then I go to the gym for an hour. When I leave at around 9pm, the roads are much clearer and I get back in about an hour — so even after a full work day it works out just fine.
Well, that has frustrated Hussain. In other words, sitting in my car to and from work is the only option that I have, and I would prefer to be home sooner, but no one is willing to take my desires into consideration. Last but not least traffic these days between Dubai and Sharjah has been worse than it was a few months ago," he said.
'I return home exhausted'
Ras Al Khaimah resident Noura Al Mandous said: "I have to wake up every day at 5.30am and it takes me until 8am to reach work. The traffic has gotten worse in Ramadan and I was usually home by 6pm and just dead tired.
She is stressed because traffic is unpredictable. Some days the reason for the traffic is not clear, but you are stuck there for hours. That is exhausting, mentally and physically.
'No time left for family'
Shamsa Darwish, who lives in Al Awir near the Sharjah border, frequently finds herself stuck in traffic even though her workplace is in Dubai.
Ramadan, on the other hand, means I get home about 4 pm and by the time I have my iftar, I’m too exhausted to do anything else at all, she explained.
Even off Ramadan exterior, she said the extended time spent in the footage have affected her individual life. I barely have quality time with my family. It impacts on my mental health, and there is no proper remedy in place."
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