Dubai Commuting & Toll Increases: What Does This Mean for Residents, Businesses, and the Road Systems?

Dubai, a dynamic and ever-changing city, is racing toward ambitious sustainability goals for 2030, 2050, and beyond. With projects like Dubai South, the Palm Jebel Ali, and surging population growth, over 1,000% in the last 40 years, this thriving metropolis faces immense pressure to expand its transport systems. This growth places stress on road networks and public transit, challenging authorities to keep pace with demand while maintaining efficiency and sustainability.

The Evolution of Dubai’s Transport System

The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has ambitious plans to make Dubai a greener, more commuter-friendly city. These include key milestones, such as:

• Electrification of Public Transport: All public buses are set to be converted to electric or hydrogen power by 2050, with a 10% adoption target by 2030.

• Emission-Free Taxis: By 2040, all taxis and limousines in Dubai aim to be fully emission-free.

In addition, recent policies like variable Salik toll fees, introduced in January 2025, and dynamic parking charges, in February 2025, reflect the city’s focus on managing congestion and encouraging alternative transport options. These measures, while initially challenging for commuters, are designed to reduce traffic and align with Dubai’s long-term sustainability goals.

The Impact: Shifting the Mindset of Commuters

The RTA’s efforts are already bearing fruit. Public transport usage in Dubai saw a 13% year-on-year increase from 2023 to 2024, with nearly 1.98 million daily commuters by mid-2024. This growth highlights the success of improved accessibility and infrastructure across the city.

However, despite these gains, Dubai still holds one of the highest inner-city car ownership rates globally—541 cars per 1,000 residents. This figure surpasses cities like New York and London and approaches the EU average of 560 cars per 1,000 residents. Vehicle ownership has grown by 14.5% since 2012, underscoring the cultural and logistical challenges of transitioning to shared mobility.

As Dubai continues to expand with developments like Dubai South and Palm Jebel Ali, some reports suggest the city’s population could surpass that of Sydney, Australia. Managing this rapid growth requires balancing long-term sustainability goals with short-term solutions that support commuters and businesses alike.

What Are the Solutions?

To navigate rising toll fees and ensure smooth commutes, Dubai residents and businesses must adopt innovative mobility solutions. Here are three promising approaches:

1. Bus Pooling

Demand-responsive transit solutions like Fluxx Buspooling, launched by Liftango with support from the RTA in late 2024, are gaining popularity. These services allow residents to share small, on-demand shuttle-like bus rides, reducing costs, traffic, and the environmental impact of rising toll fees while maintaining the convenience of taxi-like services. With increasing adoption, such initiatives can transform how people commute across the city.

2. Carpooling

Carpooling allows employees to share rides, splitting toll costs and reducing the number of vehicles on the road. Businesses can encourage carpooling through coordinated programs, drawing inspiration from global initiatives like the UK’s MyJourney platform, which has demonstrated significant reductions in congestion and emissions. Its successful adoption provides a model that Dubai could replicate to great effect.

3. Shuttle Services

Business-run shuttle services are another effective solution. For example, Cushman & Wakefield Core launched a shuttle service in Dubai Hills in partnership with Liftango, addressing employee commuting challenges such as long distances, limited public transport options, and parking constraints. These initiatives not only ease commutes but also align with corporate sustainability goals.

In Conclusion

Dubai is making remarkable strides in creating an accessible, sustainable, and commuter-friendly city. However, as it grapples with rapid population growth, ambitious sustainability goals, and a shifting commuter landscape, businesses have a critical role to play in supporting employees through innovative mobility solutions.

By adopting shared transport options like bus pooling, carpooling, and shuttle services, companies can boost employee satisfaction, reduce environmental impact, and align with ESG goals—particularly Scope 3 emissions reporting.

As Dubai leads the charge in building the city of the future, it’s an exciting time to witness and contribute to the transformation of urban mobility in the UAE. The journey has just begun, and businesses must seize the opportunity to be part of this extraordinary evolution.