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29 March 2024

Back-to-school traffic has Dubai in a jam

JLT traffic at 9.45am. (Dubai Traffic Report @ Twitter)

Published
By Bindu Rai

As several schools opened its doors to students returning from the summer break, Dubai roads have been in gridlock since the morning on Sunday, according to eyewitnesses.

Multiple accidents across major highways, including Sheikh Zayed Road and Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road, are adding to the morning congestion.

At 9.30am, there was slow moving traffic being reported from Times Square, up to the Safa Park junction, heading north towards the World Trade Centre.

An eyewitness told Emirates 24|7 that a four-vehicle crash involving two sedans and two SUVs around 8.30am near Oasis Mall, could be one of the reasons causing the slow-moving traffic.

Another accident was also reported around 8am on E44 or Al Aweer Road, near the intersection of Emirates Road (former Dubai Bypass Road) and Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road.

Nearly an hour-and-a-half later, reports on social media were still of slow-moving traffic in the area.

Further down the highway, another minor crash was reported on Hessa Street, slowing commuters there due to back-to-school traffic; congestion was reported starting from SMBZR towards Sheikh Zayed Road.

Another eyewitness reported a minor crash at 8.30am on D61 Hessa Street after Al Khail Road intersection towards Jumeirah.

On near Discovery Gardens and beyond, T Richardson was tweeting: “My five-minute journey to work is currently sitting at 25 minutes and still increasing...”

They posted again at 9am to say: “Forty minutes now for my drive to work. Can’t get through the lights at Jebel Ali village due to gridlock school buses.”

Residents of Jumeirah Lakes Towers (JLT) are facing new road diversions in place.

Click to read: 4 lanes into 2: Traffic alert after JLT traffic diversions in place

At 9.45am, gridlock was still being reported on social media in the community.

The next wave of schools is scheduled to open tomorrow and Tuesday.