UAE | Traffic and Transport

Dubai Municipality declares car-free day

Residents and visitors encouraged not to use cars

  • By Emmanuelle Landais, Staff Reporter
  • Published: 12:54 February 9, 2010
  • Gulf News

No-car day in Dubai
  • Image Credit: Gulf News Archive
  • On the day that former US president George Bush visits Dubai in December 2008, Shaikh Zayed Road was completely empty of cars as police sealed off areas of Dubai from all traffic. On February 17, 2009, authorities are hoping that there would be less cars on the roads as the emirate celebrates no-car day.

Dubai: February 17 has been declared 'car-free' day by Dubai Municipality.

The authority's employees and visitors are encouraged not to use their cars, and other companies are also being urged to do the same.

Transport accounts for 42 per cent of CO2 emissions in Dubai.

Comments (19)

  1. Added 07:11 February 10, 2010

    I concur with Ellen...Why 17th Feb (Wednesday)?? How do they expect people to go to work/school etc given that not everybody in Dubai has easy access to the public transport to/from their home/work. Why not do it on a Friday instead??

    Abdul Samad, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

  2. Added 23:47 February 9, 2010

    How about us working in construction sites? how can we get there, since it's not accessible for public transpo. even taxis won't like going there, and our cabin site offices are located in the middle of the construction site as well.

    Anonymous, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

  3. Added 23:13 February 9, 2010

    Great idea. Cars could be avoided by using public transport or just car-pooling with friends.

    Ankeet, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

  4. Added 21:49 February 9, 2010

    Ok. So I live in Dubai sports city. Does this mean I do not take the kids to school (I have 4 at two different schools) and I do not go to work!!

    Anonymous, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

  5. Added 21:00 February 9, 2010

    I am ready to not to use of car on feb 17, if muncipality made the free parking all the day on the same day, If I will park my car at parking at Karama and Burdubai area I am residing at golden sands area,who will put parking fee at every 1 hour while we are on duty.

    Abraham T C, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

  6. Added 18:54 February 9, 2010

    I think it would have been more encouraging for the residents if the Municipality decided to reduce the fares for public transport on that day as well. Otherwise, like one of the above comments rightly says that this is unrealistic for Dubai out of all places.

    Hamad, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates

  7. Added 18:47 February 9, 2010

    How feasible is this idea? How do people that work in places like Jebel Ali commute? ride the train up until Nakheel then what? there would be a mad rush for taxi's and buses...the Car Free Day' should be on Friday's instead, not during a working week. The intention is good, but the day should be moved to a Friday.

    Anonymous, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

  8. Added 18:24 February 9, 2010

    i dont think that this is great idea?????what will uae authority achieve by doing so?????

    Anonymous, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates

  9. Added 18:17 February 9, 2010

    if there will be no cars on the road then how people will travel for offices or schools? big question...? i dont think it will help on 17th Feb, if its on weekends then there was possibility for very few cars on roads...

    Faisal, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

  10. Added 17:40 February 9, 2010

    Great going...I will not use my car on that day. Will hop onto a RTA bus for a day or may be more regularly!!

    S Dev, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

    11. View more comments

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