Submitting a traffic study does not mean it will be approved. The procedural guide sets a clear route: methodology approval, then a draft report, then a results meeting, then approval. At each stage the study may come back with comments, and every round of comments means extra weeks before the building permit. The good news is that most reasons for comments are recurring and well known, and can be avoided if the study is prepared in line with the guide from the start. This guide sets out the seven most common reasons, responsibility for corrections, and a checklist before submission.
Common Reasons for Comments
1. A methodology not approved in advance
The guide requires the consultant to submit the methodology first, including: a project summary and preliminary generated traffic calculation, the geographic scope, count points, the survey method, horizon years and growth rate, with an aerial map of roads, intersections, parking, future projects, taxi stands and public transport.
2. Traffic counts at the wrong time
Counts must be at normal times, not during school or public holidays, Ramadan or Eid. Read: Traffic counts and their timing.
3. Insufficient improvements
The guide requires improvements for every road section where the volume-to-capacity ratio (V/C) exceeds 85%, for intersections with a level of service of D or lower, for turning lanes below D even if the intersection average is A to C, and for intersections affected by increased active transport.
4. Impractical improvements
Preliminary designs must be prepared by an accredited road design engineer on the consultant's team, be practical, show property boundaries and setbacks, align with the municipality's policies, and include a cost and schedule. Read: Traffic simulation for intersections.
5. Inadequate parking analysis
A table comparing provided and required parking, dimensioned drawings, an operational capacity analysis, and vehicle movement plans using AutoTurn. Read: Parking requirements by activity and Parking dimensions and angles.
6. Weak access analysis
Sight distances, distance from intersections and U-turn points, and drawings overlaid on an aerial image. Read: Project access requirements.
7. Ignoring active transport
Pedestrians, bicycles and scooters now have their own chapter in the guide. Read: Traffic study components.
Table: The Stage of the Comment and How to Avoid It
| Stage | Common comment | How to avoid it |
|---|---|---|
| Methodology | Insufficient geographic scope or count points | A comprehensive aerial map and detailed methodology |
| Counts | Counting during a holiday or Ramadan | Scheduling counts early |
| Analysis | Improvements not covering all weak points | Applying the V/C and level-of-service criteria in full |
| Designs | Solutions outside property boundaries or not buildable | An accredited road engineer and respecting municipal policies |
| Results meeting | Unclear recommendations | A short, direct visual presentation |
Responsibility for Corrections
The guide states that any corrections required in the study are the responsibility of the owner's consultant, who is responsible for the accuracy of the count and generated traffic data.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who approves the study?
The municipality, whose responsibilities include assessing the study, giving its views and approving it.
Is there a meeting to discuss the results?
Yes, the municipality invites the relevant authorities to a final meeting where the consultant gives a visual presentation of the results.
Does the owner bear the cost of redoing the study?
Corrections are the consultant's responsibility under the guide; make this clear in the contract.
Do the proposed improvements oblige the owner to build them?
The municipality decides this at approval, and the study includes the cost and schedule of the improvements.
How many rounds of comments should I expect?
Fewer rounds when the methodology is approved in advance and the study is prepared in line with the guide.
How Abak Engineering Consultancy Helps
Abak is an accredited engineering office that prepares traffic impact studies in line with the procedural guide from the methodology to the results meeting, with a team that includes a road design engineer, and resolves comments through to approval. See our traffic impact study 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.