Traffic Congestion in Sharjah: Strategies Between Urban Growth and Innovation

This study diagnoses the causes, impacts, and mitigation strategies for traffic congestion in Sharjah, UAE, proposing technology-driven solutions aligned with urban sustainability goals.
Methods: A mixed-methods approach was employed, combining:
• Systematic literature review (Scopus, ResearchGate, police archives)
• Quantitative field survey of 134 residents/visitors via Google Forms
Key Results:
1. Primary drivers include rapid population growth (1.8 million, 2023), high private vehicle dependency (71,844 vehicles, 2022), and peak-hour bottlenecks (E11 corridor delays averaging 45 mins).
2. Economic/environmental costs: $220M annual productivity loss; 40% of citywide CO₂ emissions from congestion.
3. 78% of respondents expressed openness to AI-based traffic solutions despite infrastructure limitations.
Three projects were designed, prioritizing Nasaq (NSQ)—an AI-integrated platform leveraging IoT sensors and real-time data analytics to optimize traffic flow, reduce delays by 30%, and cut emissions.
NSQ’s seamless compatibility with existing systems (e.g., Salik) enables immediate deployment. Recommendations include digital infrastructure upgrades, public transport expansion, stakeholder partnerships, and pedestrian-centric urban redesign. This positions Sharjah as a model for sustainable smart-city transformation under UAE’s AI Strategy 2031 and Net Zero 2050 framework.