About a week after the fourth consecutive fuel price increase in the UAE, many residents say their destinations haven't changed, but the way they get there has completely changed.

Some drivers are now planning their routes more than before, some are walking short distances, and others have replaced part of their daily commutes with more fuel-efficient vehicles or public transport. According to them, the result of these changes is a savings of between 50 to 100 Dirhams a week.

Tanveer Ahmed, a resident of Al Nahda Sharjah who commutes to Dubai for work every day, says the savings start even before turning on the car. He now pays more attention to the length of the route and traffic conditions when choosing a path and does not rely solely on navigation app suggestions.

He states that even one wrong exit can add several kilometers to the route. Ahmed also tries to combine shopping, pharmacy visits, and family gatherings into one plan; a change that he claims has saved him about 50 Dirhams a week.

For Mohammad Faisal, another Sharjah resident, reducing car usage for short trips has had the most impact. Living just one kilometer from his local mosque, he now walks many of these routes.

He says he used to drive even for small purchases or to enjoy a cup of Karak tea with friends and family, but now he prefers to do these activities along his daily routes without making separate trips for them. Faisal mentions that this change has not only reduced fuel consumption but has also become part of his daily exercise routine, saving him 60 to 70 Dirhams a week.

Meanwhile, Muzammil Maseeh, a resident of Nad Al Sheba, has decided to change his vehicle instead of his lifestyle. He, who owns a Toyota Land Cruiser and a Toyota Corolla, now uses the Corolla more for daily commutes and has set the Land Cruiser aside for family trips.

He says that with the continuous rise in fuel prices, the cost difference between the two vehicles has become more noticeable, and this change, along with a reduction in unnecessary trips, saves him nearly 100 Dirhams a week.

Mohammad Gol, an Afghan restaurant owner residing in the UAE, has found another solution. He uses the metro more to get to his restaurant branch in Deira and only uses the car for routes that do not have rail access.

According to him, the savings are not limited to fuel; the reduction in parking fees and Salik tolls also plays a significant role in lowering weekly expenses.

Overall, the experience of many UAE drivers shows that the rise in fuel prices has not decreased commutes but has directed them towards smarter choices; choices that can save dozens of Dirhams in household expenses at the end of each week.

Source: Gulf Times