For an extended period of time, I thought that the dysfunctionality in the Middle East’s traffic stemmed from inadequate urban and infrastructural planning. I used to think that the poorly dimensioned roundabouts, abrupt lane merges, deficient road dimensions, a lack of pedestrian and bicycle paths and the absence of planned parallel parking spaces were the primary—if not, the sole cause of—the unpleasant traffic conditions, where one often feels incensed by the near-anarchic behavior exhibited by drivers on the roads. I would avoid driving in such conditions at all costs, even if it meant that I had to wait longer than 3 days to get a nail clipper delivered to me via an ecommerce site as opposed to taking a convenient ride to the nearest supermarket just a few blocks away. Through time, living here, driving has become an activity I undertake only when absolutely necessary and when no alternative means are available for accomplishing my tasks.

Indeed, urban life often brings with it a sense of isolation and congestion. In the West, many citizens are keenly aware of the daily hardships that come with commuting. However, having lived on both sides of the Atlantic, I must acknowledge that the scale and severity of traffic-related issues in the East are truly unprecedented. What is even more concerning is that these problems continue to worsen over time, largely because their underlying causes remain unaddressed. Without a concerted effort to tackle these systemic issues, the situation will only deteriorate further, exacerbating the strain on individuals and the city as a whole.₁

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