Dubai motorists to be able to access real-time traffic data

ABU DHABI // Motorists in Dubai will soon be able to check online for up-to-the-minute information about traffic and accidents around the city, according to the assistant director general of the Smart Dubai Office.

Residents will be able to access real-time information at www.dubaidata.ae from next month, said Younus Al Nasser.

“This will make sure people can travel through the city faster,” said Mr Al Nasser, who was speaking to students at the Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis for Future Generations about how the use of data can transform a city into a smarter and happier place.

“All this data generated in the past was used to produce reports,” he said. “Youth can now participate in unlocking the benefits from it. We want to make sure we are enabling everyone and the youth to decide based on the data what would be their future because they are responsible for making the UAE a country that is independent of oil in 2050.”

He said the next generation of Emiratis will be the catalysts in making that happen.

“Data will empower them to take the decisions, to put the right plans. That is very important for the future.”

Information collected by the government, from traffic updates, to finding out what businesses need, to demand for healthcare and universities, will be used to benefit the city.

“We value that data is the way to take us to our future, that data is our asset and our next generation’s asset. It’s the fuel of the future and [key] in unlocking creativity. It will benefit us and make our city more seamless, safe, efficient and create an impactful experience to integrating people’s happiness.

“The UAE is a country that is very dependent on creating an economy that is very diversified from oil. All of that generates data so we understand what kind of businesses are there, what kind of industries will be created and what is needed, so we will take all of them and put them in one centralised location for people to benefit. This will create an insight into the future, to make sure people can get services more efficiently and choose the right academic programme, for instance.”