>TRAFFIC jams cost Dubai US$1.25 billion (S$1.78 billion) a year, equivalent to 3.15 per cent of its GDP, according to Dr Abdul Malek Ebrahim Abu Shaikh, head of Transportation Studies and Planning at the Roads and Transport Authority.
He points out that Dubai has 541 cars for every 1,000 people - higher than New York (444), London (345) and Singapore (111). If current trends continue, it will have 5.3 million cars by 2020. The government is looking at ways to slow down the growth rate, including raising vehicle and road taxes.
