Traffic congestion & parking problems in Abu Dhabi

Problem & solution essay.

Traffic congestion and parking problems are faced by most large cities around the world, and Abu Dhabi is no exception. Here in Abu Dhabi, however, lack of parking space, especially in the central business district, is arguably a bigger problem than traffic congestion, which is generally limited to the daily rush hours.

The main overall reason for these problems in Abu Dhabi is the rapidly expanding population. This, in turn, is linked to Islamic and cultural factors: Abu Dhabi has a very high birthrate, in common with most Arab countries and the emirate's population is a very young one. More people means more drivers and thus more cars on the roads. Many of these drivers are young and inexperienced which means more accidents and more hold-ups. Another factor is Abu Dhabi's rapid economic development over the past few decades, based on oil, of course. The emirate is oil-rich and this has led to massive infrastructure projects, most recently the island developments of Reem, Sadiyaat and Yas, where the new Yas Marina F1 circuit has been built. More building and industrialisation means more business and so more commercial vehicles, many of them large and slow-moving, and so contributing to traffic congestion. Although there are now many more new, high-rise buildings they haven't all been constructed with adequate parking space and this has led to massive parking problems in the business district. The fact that Abu Dhabi is an island with limited space for transport development has further added to the problem.

One obvious solution is to improve the existing road network by constructing more bridges, overpasses and underpasses to ease traffic flow. Another possible solution is to improve public transport, with better bus services and a new rail network, as in Dubai with its new metro. Yet another possibility is for the authorities, as in Singapore, to make motoring more expensive, through higher registration fees, restrictions on where and when motorists may use their cars, etc. Another solution, perhaps surprisingly mentioned by several of my students, is to raise the age at which young people can apply for a driving licence, from eighteen to twenty-one, or even twenty-five. This would help reduce the number of accidents and injuries, as well as easing congestion and parking problems.

The first solution is already underway, an example being the recently opened underpass on Salam Street, near Khalifa Park. Similarly, public bus services have been much improved recently. The buses are newer, safer, cleaner and more user-friendly. The problem with regard to greater restrictions on motorists is that many people will see them as an attack on individual liberty and no doubt they would prove unpopular, at least to begin with. What works in Singapore would not necessarily work in Abu Dhabi. Similarly, raising the age at which you can get a licence might not prove either practicable or popular. Finally with regard to solving parking problems, the most important solution is that the existing rules regarding new buildings having adequate parking space, preferably underground, must be strictly enforced.

503 words.