Every result of a traffic study is built on traffic count figures: the level of service, the required improvements, and the design of access points and parking. A count at the wrong time means a wrong study and comments from the municipality, or worse: a study that is approved, then real congestion appears after opening. That is why the procedural guide sets precise requirements for counts in terms of duration, timing and vehicle categories. This guide explains the automatic and manual count requirements, the vehicle categories, why timing is decisive, and how to plan the count so it does not delay your permit.
Automatic Vehicle Counts
- Seven days a week for 24 hours.
- Under normal traffic loads, that is, not during school or public holidays, Ramadan or Eid.
Manual Vehicle Classification Counts at Intersections
- Three days a week.
- Also at normal times.
- During the morning, evening and afternoon peak hours.
Table: Automatic vs Manual Counts
| Item | Automatic count | Manual count |
|---|---|---|
| Location | Street sections | Intersections |
| Duration | 7 days × 24 hours | 3 days at peak times |
| What it measures | Volumes and their variation over the week | Turning movements and vehicle classification |
| Use in the study | Identifying the peak and saturation ratios | Analysing intersection level of service |
Also read: Traffic data collection methods.
Required Vehicle Categories
- Passenger cars.
- Taxis.
- Vans and pickups for passengers and light goods.
- Buses.
- Lorries and trucks.
- Trailers and semi-trailers.
- Motorcycles.
- Bicycles.
- Specially classified vehicles such as cement mixers and loaders.
Why Is Timing Decisive?
A count during a school holiday gives lower volumes than reality, so the network looks better than it is, and the results are rejected or discovered later as real congestion after opening. In Ramadan, the peak times themselves change. Read: Why traffic studies are rejected.
A Planning Tip
If your project needs a study, arrange the count early, before holiday seasons. Postponing the count by weeks may delay the building permit. Read: Study components and preparation time and When do you need a traffic study?.
- Approve the methodology and count points before the count date.
- Avoid the weeks next to holidays and Eid.
- Make sure the afternoon peak is covered if the project is commercial or near schools. Read: Road safety near schools and commercial projects.
To identify the peak: How do you identify your project's peak hours?.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a manual count enough?
The guide requires automatic counts for streets and manual classification counts at intersections.
Can an old count be used?
The study assesses current conditions; the consultant and the municipality decide this as part of methodology approval.
Who sets the count points?
The consultant, within the methodology approved by the municipality.
Does weather affect the count?
Exceptional conditions may affect volumes, so counting on normal days is advisable.
Are pedestrians and bicycles counted?
Bicycles are among the count categories, and active transport has its own chapter in the study.
How Abak Engineering Consultancy Helps
Abak is an accredited engineering office that carries out automatic and manual traffic counts in line with the procedural guide, schedules them outside holiday seasons, and analyses the data for your traffic study. See our traffic count and data collection service, or contact us.
Regulatory information is based on the Balady platform and the Ministry of Municipalities and Housing, and procedures may be updated by the competent authority. Last reviewed: October 2026.