Dubai road upgrade: Cut travel time from 20 to 6 minutes with new bridges, tunnels and bike lanes

Dubai: In line with its long-term strategy to modernise road infrastructure and expand traffic capacity, Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has announced a major urban development project to upgrade Umm Suqeim Street, from Jumeirah Street to Al Khail Road.

The project aims to accommodate Dubai’s rapid population growth and urban expansion while improving quality of life for residents and visitors. Once completed, the upgrade will ensure seamless travel along a 20-kilometre stretch from Jumeirah to Al Qudra Road, complementing ongoing works between Al Khail Road and Emirates Road.

In addition to road enhancements, the project will deliver modern pedestrian walkways, a dedicated cycling track, landscaped boulevards, and vibrant public spaces. A new link will also connect Mall of the Emirates Metro Station to nearby residential communities, enhancing last-mile connectivity.

Wider master plan for Dubai roads

The Umm Suqeim Street upgrade is part of a broader RTA master plan to enhance surrounding roads, including Jumeirah Street, Al Wasl Street, and Al Safa Street. Further details will be revealed in upcoming phases.

Mattar Al Tayer, Director General and Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors at RTA, said the project will serve key residential and business zones—Jumeirah, Umm Suqeim, Al Manara, Al Sufouh, Umm Al Sheif, Al Barsha, and Al Quoz—home to over two million people.

Once complete, the street’s capacity will rise to 16,000 vehicles per hour in both directions, with travel time between Jumeirah Street and Al Khail Road slashed from 20 minutes to just six.

Dedevelopment of 6 key intersections

Al Tayer outlined that six major intersections will be redeveloped as part of the project:

• Jumeirah Street: Two-lane tunnel in each direction with a signalised junction

• Al Wasl Street: Two-lane tunnel for traffic from Sheikh Zayed Road to Jumeirah Street

• Sheikh Zayed Road: Two bridges to ease congestion and improve flow

• First Al Khail Street: Tunnel to carry traffic from Al Barsha to Sheikh Zayed Road

• First Al Khail to Al Asayel: Widened to four lanes each way

• Al Khail Road: Two new flyovers to serve Al Quoz and Deira traffic

In total, the project includes four new bridges and three tunnels with a combined length of 4,100 metres.

Al Khail to Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road works

Construction is well underway on a 4.6-kilometre stretch between Al Khail Road and Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road. This phase includes an 800-metre tunnel near Kings’ School in Al Barsha South. Over 70% of the work is complete, with the segment scheduled to open in Q3 2025.

Major upgrades along Al Qudra Road

Simultaneously, the RTA is executing a significant upgrade of intersections along Al Qudra Road—from Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road to Emirates Road, passing through Sheikh Zayed bin Hamdan Al Nahyan Street.

Key features include:

• 2,700 metres of new bridges

• Widening of 11.6 km of existing road

• Reduced travel time from 9.4 minutes to just 2.8 minutes

Highlights of Al Qudra intersection developments

• A 600-metre, four-lane bridge at the junction between Arabian Ranches and Dubai Studio City

• A 700-metre bridge with seven lanes in both directions at Sheikh Zayed bin Hamdan Street

• Two-lane auxiliary ramps to ease vehicle transitions

• A 500-metre bridge for traffic heading to Jebel Ali

• A 900-metre bridge for vehicles going towards Downtown Dubai and Dubai International Airport

• Three kilometres of new service roads along Sheikh Zayed bin Hamdan Street

Road extensions and new access links planned

The upgrade also includes extending Al Qudra Road from Emirates Road to a key roundabout that serves several major developments. Lanes will be expanded in both directions to accommodate higher traffic volumes.

In a later phase, RTA will build a new road connecting the southern Developers Area to Emirates Road, while also widening Emirates Road itself to boost connectivity and streamline access to adjacent projects.