44% street lights in Dubai to be switched off after 10pm

Street lights in some of Dubai’s interior roads will be switched off after 10pm to save energy. A senior official from the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) in Dubai confirmed the development saying 44 per cent of streetlights would be switched off.

“After conducting a thorough study about the street lighting system of Dubai’s residential areas, the authority put in place the power-saving plan that will be implemented in a way that ensures smooth flow of traffic as well as safety and security of the road users,” said Maitha bin Udai, CEO of RTA Traffic & Roads Agency.

Streetlights would be switched off after 10pm with certain exceptions like lights at intersections and curves in order to maintain traffic safety.

The initiative will help reduce power wastage and reduce carbon emissions. Awareness campaigns are being launched to educate residents about the initiative and the benefits of saving power despite the fact that the authority is receiving several complaints from the public regarding the implementation of such initiatives.

These campaigns focus on the importance of conserving various resources of the UAE, including electric power, to support the government’s efforts towards reducing consumption.

muaz@khaleejtimes.com