The United Arab Emirates (UAE) will soon introduce an odd-even vehicle scheme to reduce the number of vehicles on the roads. This plan is similar to the one used in Delhi by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, which aimed to tackle traffic and reduce pollution.
Why the Scheme?
According to the Khaleej Times, the number of vehicles in the UAE has been increasing, causing traffic jams. People in the UAE own the most cars per person in the world. In Dubai alone, there are 400,000 registered vehicles with Salik tags, an 8.8% increase from the first six months of last year. The total number of cars is now 2.5 million, up from 2.2 million in the second quarter of 2023.
Vehicle Growth
Reports show that in the UAE, there is about one car for every two people. This is much higher than cities like New York, London, Singapore, and Hong Kong. For example, in 2006, there were 740,000 registered vehicles in Dubai, which doubled to 1.4 million by 2015 and reached 1.8 million by 2020. Each week, around 3 million cars are driven in Dubai, including those from neighboring emirates.
How the Plan Will Work
Dr. Monica Menendez, Associate Dean of Graduate Affairs at NYU Abu Dhabi, explains that the odd-even plan, also known as road space rationing, will limit some cars from being on the road. Vehicles with license plates ending in 1 and 2 will be banned on Mondays, 3 and 4 on Tuesdays, 5 and 6 on Wednesdays, 7 and 8 on Thursdays, and 9 and 0 on Fridays. All vehicles will be allowed on the roads on Saturdays and Sundays. This plan has been used in cities like Mexico City, Athens, and Beijing.
