With the World Government Summit in town, expect heavier traffic across the city
Gulfood 2026 has wrapped up, but sadly, the traffic in Dubai hasn’t died down, and if you’re wondering why, it’s because of the World Government Summit taking place.
Running from February 2 to 5, Dubai will be home to world leaders, policymakers, CEOs, academics and future-focused thinkers this week, which means there are more cars than usual on the road.
The summit takes place at Madinat Jumeirah, but traffic will be felt across the city.
You can also expect heavier traffic during morning and evening rush hours, particularly near major hotels, business districts and popular routes leading to the summit venue. Ride-hailing services may take longer to arrive, and fares could increase due to demand. In other words, if you need to be somewhere on time, make plans to leave in advance.
Planning on using the Dubai Metro? It’s an option a lot of the city are opting for to escape the traffic, but here too you can expect lines and packed cabins. So if this is an option you are considering, you still need to plan your escape plan in advance.
What is the World Government Summit
Preliminary Day of the World Governments Summit 2026. pic.twitter.com/FspaakScP6
— Dubai Media Office (@DXBMediaOffice) February 2, 2026
The World Government Summit is an annual global event held in Dubai, bringing together leaders from governments, international organisations, businesses and academia to tackle future-facing challenges. This year, it welcomes more than 60 heads of state and government and their deputies, over 500 ministers, and representatives from more than 150 governments. The summit also convenes 80-plus international and regional organisations, over 700 CEOs of leading global companies, and 87 Nobel Prize-winning and award-winning scientists, with total attendance exceeding 6,000 participants.
Across three days, discussions focus on shaping the future of governance, from technology and healthcare to the global economy and sustainability, through keynote talks, panels and workshops designed to spark real-world solutions.
The summit begins today, February 3, 2026, under the theme “Shaping Future Governments”, and runs until February 5.
Images: Getty Images
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