The Roads and Transport Authority of Dubai has identified the increasing role of its Dynamic Message Signs (DMS) system in enhancing road safety and mobility within the emirate.
RTA has claimed that real-time alerts via the DMS boards have reduced travelling time by up to 20 per cent along major road networks, as well as enhancing road safety by giving early warnings of accidents, congestion, breakdowns, and bad weather.
The authority already has 112 electronic message signs that are located in the major road system of Dubai. These signs will be fully linked to the iTraffic system in the Intelligent Traffic Systems Center to ensure that the traffic conditions will be constantly monitored and that responding to the changed traffic conditions is as quick as possible.
The growth of the DMS network indicates that RTA considers the implementation of new technologies for managing traffic on a global level to provide more efficient and safer trips to residents and visitors.
The system will enable Dubai to reach its broader smart city goals and its people-first mobility strategy by helping motorists to avoid congestion and possible hazards.
Speaking about the system, Director of Intelligent Traffic Systems at RTA’s Traffic and Roads Agency, Salah Al Marzouqi, said, “The system significantly enhances road safety by generating sequential messages based on the location of an incident. It automatically creates consecutive alert zones at different distances—starting 2 kilometres before the incident site, followed by a congestion zone, and finally a guidance zone further away with lighter traffic—to redirect vehicles away from the accident site and reduce the risk of secondary collisions.”
He stated, “Dynamic Message Signs are among the most important real-time communication channels with road users. They are used to broadcast alerts about congestion, accidents, and vehicle breakdowns, manage traffic diversions, guide movement during major events, and support road safety awareness campaigns. The RTA has dedicated 22 signs to display travel times to key destinations such as Dubai International Airport and Dubai Marina, with data broadcast automatically around the clock to help drivers make better route decisions.”
Al Marzouqi further added, “During the first half of 2025, a total of 17,819 messages were displayed through the DMS system. Accident-related messages topped the list with 12,283, followed by 1,038 warning messages, 984 congestion alerts, and 905 breakdown notifications. Additionally, 90 messages were issued for full road closures, along with 2,519 other alerts covering weather conditions, roadworks, and more. These figures highlight the system’s pivotal role in effectively responding to diverse operational scenarios.”
RTA indicated that the DMS platform is connected to a large array of field sensors, such as travel time indicators, traffic volume and speed sensors, and weather stations.
The central iTraffic system interprets this data through artificial intelligence and provides an immediate response plan, which is either approved by operators or automatically implemented in the case of an emergency scenario, like heavy rain or fog.
