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In many ways, a city’s transportation system is a testament to its urban sophistication. Shaping the way people experience the city and move around, it reflects human ingenuity, foresight and vision. It is part of the city’s heartbeat, whether it is a modern metro system transporting millions on their commutes, a pedestrian boulevard inviting people to stroll during their leisure time, a cycle lane that nudges residents to adopt a healthier lifestyle or a railway that meanders through sprawling districts.

Today, a confluence of factors is highlighting the pressing need for the modernization of transport in the Middle East and North Africa region. A fundamental shift is taking place in the region’s demographics, with the UN estimating that its population will double from 338 million in 2000 to 724 million by 2050. Urbanization rates are also intensifying cities’ densities, which are expected to reach 70 percent for the entire region and 90 percent in the Gulf Cooperation Council.

Population growth is driven by healthy fertility rates, as well as the region’s many successful talent attraction programs. These programs are inspired by the forward-looking economic policies that have bolstered the region’s investment and tourism profile. Meanwhile, technological advances, especially in artificial intelligence, are revolutionizing the transport industry, necessitating the replacement of outmoded systems with faster, more resilient and greener options.

Moreover, cities are pegged to meeting ambitious climate targets, requiring them to transition to cleaner energy options, while also designing climate-resilient transport systems that adapt to unpredictable and evolving climate challenges. Additionally, in recent years, many MENA governments have hosted globally renowned events — such as Expo 2020 Dubai, COP27 in Egypt and COP28 in the UAE, and the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar — which have demonstrated the importance of transport reform.

Consequently, the intersection of rapid population growth, climate change and economic success poses the need for more investment in the transport industry to keep up with demand. 

Technological advances necessitate the replacement of outmoded systems with faster, more resilient and greener options.

Sara Al-Mulla

Vitally, astute investment in this portfolio could deliver a suite of advantages, such as easing painstaking traffic congestion, improving last-mile connectivity, boosting economic productivity, improving societal well-being, reducing road fatalities, and contributing to greener, more climate-resilient urban environments.

Against this backdrop, the success of cities will increasingly depend on whether their transport systems meet the evolving needs of their bustling economies, while also offering reliable, affordable and varied mobility options that safeguard societal well-being.

Policymakers can explore a spectrum of solutions to enhance mobility and ease traffic congestion. Due to the multifaceted nature of transport, an orchestrated set of interventions is needed, blending policy, technology and behavioral science. Thus, mobility planners and experts need to harvest data and knowledge to understand the current and forecasted transport needs, popular reasons for commuting and hotspot areas, while building robust transport systems that cater to them. Partnerships with the private sector will be key to unlocking the many promising innovations and solutions that are available within the industry.

Diversifying transport options, especially diverting residents and tourists away from private car use, is a favorable approach. For instance, cities could expand tube or metro connections, create cycle paths and build pedestrian walkways to promote sustainable modes of travel. In this regard, it is important to consider multimodal journey planning, ensuring public transport offers seamless door-to-door connections.

New technologies, especially when driven by AI, are poised to revolutionize the sector, including enhancing overall rider experience, smart traffic management and dynamic routing, optimized scheduling, the predictive maintenance of infrastructure, smart vehicles and buses, smart ticketing, and simulation models to design and test infrastructure. 

An orchestrated set of interventions is needed, blending policy, technology and behavioral science.

Sara Al-Mulla

Moreover, the many climate-friendly transport options offered by novel technologies can help the region meet its ambitious climate targets. A useful example is Germany’s Deutsche Bahn, which uses AI cameras, robots and sensors to speed up inspections on Berlin’s S-Bahn rail network, saving 20 hours of maintenance daily per facility and easing physical workloads. Many MENA countries, including �������� and the UAE, are also investing in AI solutions within the transport sector.

Equally important is designing compact, self-sufficient neighborhoods that are modeled along the lines of a “15-minute city.” Essentially, this ensures important facilities and amenities — such as schools, clinics, parks, shopping malls and workspaces — are easily available to residents, eliminating the need for unnecessary journeys.

Coupled with the promotion of healthy options, such as cycling and walking, governments can encourage people to adopt positive mobility-related habits. A great example of this can be found in ��������’s impressive Neom project. Its transportation plan is mindful of sustainability, aiming to be car-free and offering modern high-speed rail with end-to-end journeys of just 20 minutes. Additionally, it is embracing a pedestrian-friendly way of living, allowing residents to meet their daily needs and access essential amenities within a five-minute radius.

Remote or hybrid working arrangements can also play a role in reducing the demand for transport systems, especially during peak hours. A 2021 report by the London School of Economics and Political Science, titled “Why working from home will stick,” claims that working from home can boost productivity by about 4.6 percent, with half of this gain being due to savings in commuting time. The UAE has embraced this trend by offering a “virtual work residence visa,” allowing expats to live there even while they work for companies outside the country.

At a crossroads like this, it is pivotal that policymakers and mobility experts craft roadmaps that advance cities’ transport systems. By harnessing the marvels of technology and integrating human-centric thinking into urban planning, cities can continue to reap the increasing prosperity of their economies while also safeguarding societal well-being.

• Sara Al-Mulla is an Emirati civil servant with an interest in human development policy and children’s literature. She can be contacted at www.amorelicious.com.