A study conducted by Khaleej Times revealed that during the evening rush hour, the longer route from Dubai to Sharjah proved to be the fastest, demonstrating a 37-minute difference between two main routes.
Four drivers started their journey from the Al Quoz area around four in the afternoon on Wednesday, heading to Sharjah via different roads: Emirates Road, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road, Al Ittihad Road, and the route through Infinity Bridge-Al Mamzar.
Of the three routes for which full travel times were recorded, Emirates Road was the fastest. The trip to Al Mahatta Museum took about 1 hour and 2 minutes.
Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road required 1 hour and 40 minutes, while Al Ittihad Road, being the shortest, took 1 hour and 27 minutes. The fourth option, passing through Infinity Bridge and Al Mamzar, took 1 hour and 20 minutes.
The test clearly showed that under heavy traffic conditions, the shortest path is not always the fastest. Emirates Road added over 25 kilometers to the trip compared to the shortest route, but movement remained continuous for most of the way; despite the presence of traffic, there were no long periods of complete stoppage.
This allowed the driver to arrive in Sharjah 25 minutes earlier than the person who chose Al Ittihad Road. However, Emirates Road is not suitable for everyone; it is more useful for those heading to areas such as University City, Hoshi, Al Suyouh, and other parts of the outer areas of Sharjah. For residents of central Sharjah, the extra distance may not be justified.
The driver who used Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road encountered slowdowns in the Mirdif area. Initially, traffic slowed down, then moved again, and then braked again on another section. After City Centre Mirdif, traffic became significantly denser, and in some places, the speed dropped below 10 km/h. Despite this, the trip still took 1 hour and 40 minutes, which was 13 minutes longer than the trip via Al Ittihad Road.
E311 may be a useful option for those traveling towards Muwaileh, Industrial Zones, and some neighboring areas of Sharjah. Al Ittihad Road turned out to be the slowest of the three routes. Traffic was dense starting from approximately the Garhoud Bridge and remained slow on the way to Sharjah. The trip to Al Mahatta Museum took about 1 hour and 45 minutes. For many residents of Al Nahda, Al Taawuna, Al Hana, Al Majaz, Abu Shagara, and central Sharjah, Al Ittihad Road remains one of the most direct ways to get home, meaning many passengers use this road during the evening rush hour.
Some drivers try to avoid major highways. Ahmed Suhaim, who regularly travels to Sharjah, usually uses Infinity Bridge, and sometimes the Al Sheindagha Tunnel. He noted that traffic on Infinity Bridge can be very intense. Usually, the situation starts to improve near Waterfront Market, but drivers may soon encounter another traffic jam near Al Mamzar when the flow connects with roads leading into Sharjah.
Ashfaq Ahmed also tries various routes, such as the airport tunnel, internal roads of Al Qusais, or the route from Sonapur to E311. However, he reported that these roads are also becoming very congested. He added: 'Trips were a bit easier before the summer holidays. He said that recently the traffic has become much more complicated, and he believes that the current road works in Sharjah are also exacerbating the problem.'
For Abbas, the long commute is part of his daily routine. He usually leaves Al Quoz for Sharjah between 5:00 PM and 6:00 PM. Abbas stated: 'Now the trip takes at least 1 hour and 40 minutes. On some days, it can exceed two hours.' He emphasized that the serious problem is the slow movement of traffic after entering Sharjah. Thus, a trip that might take 25-30 minutes without traffic jams can take over an hour during peak hour.
The traffic situation changes in the morning when a large number of residents travel from Sharjah to Dubai. Google Maps screenshots viewed by Khaleej Times between 7:30 AM and 8:10 AM on Thursday showed long stretches of heavy traffic on roads leading to Dubai. For the trip from Al Mahatta Museum to Al Quoz, Google Maps showed travel times ranging from 1 hour and 11 minutes to 1 hour and 27 minutes, depending on the chosen route. The maps also displayed several warnings about accidents or incidents during the morning rush hour.
Heavy traffic was observed around Al Hana, Al Mamzar, Al Qusais, Muhaysna, and on sections of Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road. In comparison, Emirates Road demonstrated longer stretches of moving traffic. However, since it is a longer route, time savings depend on the driver's final destination.
Recently, two new lanes were opened on a 5-kilometer section of Emirates Road designated for travel from Sharjah to Dubai. The road was expanded from six to eight lanes, increasing capacity on this section.
There is no single best road for passengers every day. But based on the evening test by KT, the conclusion was clear: traveling along the longer Emirates Road allowed reaching Sharjah significantly earlier than using the more direct Al Ittihad Road.