Skip to main content

Middle East cities lead the world in transport, says new study

Dubai and Riyadh’s ambitious transport plans are setting a template for cities around the world to follow, according to a major new study commissioned by Siemens, which is thought to be the most comprehensive of its type ever undertaken. The preliminary findings of the independent study, released for the first time just ahead of the Gulf Traffic Exhibition on 9 December, show that Dubai’s massive and sustained recent investment places it highly in the thirty-plus cities studied, while Riyadh’s high quali
December 10, 2013 Read time: 2 mins
%$Linker: 2 Internal <?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-16"?><dictionary /> 4 9782 0 oLinkInternal <span class="oLinkInternal"><span class="oLinkInternal">RSS</span></span> Events (Diary) false /rss/events/ true false%>Dubai and Riyadh’s ambitious transport plans are setting a template for cities around the world to follow, according to a major new study commissioned by 189 Siemens, which is thought to be the most comprehensive of its type ever undertaken.

The preliminary findings of the independent study, released for the First time just ahead of the 553 Gulf Traffic Exhibition on 9 December, show that Dubai’s massive and sustained recent investment places it highly in the thirty-plus cities studied, while Riyadh’s high quality road and forthcoming metro networks will allow Saudi Arabia’s capital to confidently manage future growth in population and traffic levels.

Credo, an independent strategy consultant, conducted the study, examining over thirty cities around the world, analysing and comparing them for transport provision, quality, development and planning. Credo also examined external factors such as population growth, the potential impact of emerging technologies and working practices, and historic investment to provide cities and policymakers with the information they need to draw on best practice from around the world and identify the best channels for future investment.

Dubai and Riyadh are highly praised for the lack of congestion on roads and public transport and on their plans both to build new road and rail infrastructure and to maximise the capacity of existing assets through the use of advanced traffic management technologies.

Wider findings from the study – which will not be completed in full until 2014 – confirm the importance of good transport networks in cities to generate wealth and growth, cater for rising populations and limit the environmental impact of transport on a city’s inhabitants.

Related Content

  • September 20, 2016
    Last call for Gulf Traffic award nominations
    Time is running out to submit nominations for the 2016 Gulf Traffic awards, which honour those companies and persons who have shown their commitment to developing and improving projects, initiatives or products for the benefit of the public and the region. Categories include: best new parking produce or supplier; ITS product of the year; consultancy of the year; contractor of the year; TRL student award; product innovation award; and many others. Submit nominations before 25 September 2016. More infor
  • October 10, 2018
    Gulf Traffic signs partnership with Saudi Transport Ministry
    The Gulf Traffic exhibition and conference has signed its first strategic partnership with the Saudi Transport Ministry (TM). Saudi Arabia has recently announced a $453 million infrastructure project to extend 23 roads across the country. “As we progress with our plan for the private sector to operate much of the kingdom's future transport infrastructure, being part of international platforms, such as Gulf Traffic in Dubai, will give us access to the transport suppliers needed to drive this strategy,” s
  • May 20, 2016
    Intertraffic Mexico moves to bigger hall
    Having had an extensive waiting list some six months before the doors open, the organisers of Intertraffic Mexico (16-18 November) have moved the exhibition to a bigger location (Hall C) in Mexico City’s Centro Banamex exhibition complex. The bigger hall offers 50% more stand space, has 7,000m2 of floor area and already 110 exhibitors from 23 countries have signed up to Mexico’s inaugural ITS exhibition. With 21 cities having populations of more than 500,000 people, heavy traffic congestion and poor air
  • September 25, 2012
    Navigate the ITS World Congress 2012
    To be premiered at the 19th ITS World Congress in Vienna, the “Kongressnavigator” app for iPhone, Android and mobile web is the first app to combine navigation through the city with guidance to the congress centre. The app provides GPS based navigation with real time public transport information, suggesting the best metro, car and cycle routes. It also integrates the conference programme, enabling visitors to plan their visit before they leave home, bookmark sessions and demonstrations and providing them