Apple Maps Gets Traffic Data for Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates - MacRumorsOpen MenuShow RoundupsShow Forums menuVisit ForumsOpen Sidebar
Skip to Content

Apple Maps Gets Traffic Data for Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates

by

Apple has updated its Maps app with traffic data for major metropolitan areas in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

So far, the new coverage extends to the capitals of the two countries and other heavily populated areas, with more limited traffic information on major highways and thoroughfares also available.

Middle East Maps
Examples in UAE include Abu Dhabi, Fujairah, and Al Ain, with locations in Saudi Arabia including Jeddah, Mecca, Medina, and Ta'if.

Turn-by-turn navigation still appears to be unavailable in the Middle East regions, which may explain why Apple hasn't added the countries to its iOS feature availability page, but the inclusion of traffic data strongly suggests Apple is about to follow up with live direction information.

The update marks Apple's first visible effort to increase its geographical data services to the Middle East beyond the standard street information and notable points of interest.

(Thanks, Ram!)

Top Rated Comments

123 months ago
Being gay is punishable by death in UAE. Cook will overlook that for money, and then pick up another humanitarian award in a couple of weeks.
You can either have nothing to do with that country and let this medievality continue to happen indefinitely, or you try to export and spread your western culture and technology and make them absorb western values along with it.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
123 months ago
Being gay is punishable by death in UAE. Cook will overlook that for money, and then pick up another humanitarian award in a couple of weeks.
Women also don't have any rights. I assume therefore the US government does not maintain any relations with Saoudi Arabia, or buy any of its oil. Ooh wait...
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
canny Avatar
123 months ago
Being gay is punishable by death in UAE. Cook will overlook that for money, and then pick up another humanitarian award in a couple of weeks.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
123 months ago
Being gay is punishable by death in UAE. Cook will overlook that for money, and then pick up another humanitarian award in a couple of weeks.
Tim Cook has lived most of his life in a country where it was illegal to be gay. Lawrence was only 14 years ago.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
123 months ago
Being gay is punishable by death in UAE. Cook will overlook that for money, and then pick up another humanitarian award in a couple of weeks.

Yeah let's crucify TC for what the UAE does. He should be more like you right and not have any dealing with that country. So I'm guessing you don't put gas in your vehicle or light and heat your home with anything that derives from oil? Or eat and wear any products that gets transported with oil products that come from the UAE?

Yes, yes I'm sure you did all that so you can have righteous indignation against TC.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
bitfactory Avatar
123 months ago
Traffic is most likely light since women aren't allowed to drive there.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Popular Stories

trump lake america

Apple Maps Renames Lake Ontario 'Lake America'

Tuesday September 1, 2026 1:58 pm PDT by
Apple Maps users in the United States will now see "Lake America" instead of "Lake Ontario" for the Great Lake on the border of Ontario and New York. The updated name is currently rolling out to iPhone, iPad, and Mac users. The Maps app still has the Lake Ontario label for the body of water, but tapping it now says "Lake America." Apple will likely change the label in the next few hours....
Apple Maps Google Maps Icons

Google Maps Showing 'Lake America' in U.S., Apple Maps Yet to Follow

Monday August 31, 2026 6:33 am PDT by
Google Maps users in the U.S. will now see the name "Lake America" instead of "Lake Ontario" for the Great Lake that straddles the New York—Ontario border. Google said it made this change in response to the U.S. Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) updating the name for "Lake Ontario" to "Lake America," following an executive order issued by U.S. President Donald Trump last week....
apple maps ads live

Apple Maps Ads Are Here, and There's No Way to Turn Them Off

Tuesday August 25, 2026 1:40 pm PDT by
Ads in Apple Maps are live in the United States and Canada, which means iPhone and iPad users will see them when searching for locations and when viewing Suggested Places. Apple announced plans to bring ads to the Maps app in March, and said the feature would roll out starting in late summer. Apple confirmed to 9to5Mac that ads began showing up for users over the last few days, with ad...

🔗 Related Apple News & Rumors

Stay updated with the latest Apple ecosystem news and verified rumors