New RTA tunnel eases traffic congestion with 61% drop in travel time in Dubai

Dubai; The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has opened an 800-metre tunnel featuring four lanes in each direction on Umm Suqeim Street, significantly enhancing connectivity between four of Dubai’s key highways: Sheikh Zayed Road, Al Khail Road, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road, and Emirates Road.

The tunnel forms a central component of the ongoing Umm Suqeim Street Development Project, which spans 4.6 km between Al Khail Road and Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road. The infrastructure upgrade aims to accommodate Dubai’s continued urban growth while easing congestion across vital traffic corridors.

Mattar Al Tayer, Director General and Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of RTA, said: “The Umm Suqeim Street Development Project extends from the intersection with Al Khail Road to the intersection with Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road, covering a distance of 4.6 km. The works included upgrading the intersection of Umm Suqeim Street with Al Barsha South Street, near Kings’ School, where an 800-metre-long underpass with four lanes in each direction was constructed, in addition to a signalised surface-level intersection.”

Al Tayer noted that this project is part of a broader plan to improve the Umm Suqeim–Al Qudra corridor, which stretches 16 km from Jumeirah Street to Emirates Road.

“This development is considered one of the most important strategic projects for developing transverse east–west roads to enhance connectivity with vertical north–south roads. The completion of the project complements RTA’s efforts to upgrade this corridor,” he added.

The new tunnel increases Umm Suqeim Street’s capacity to 16,000 vehicles per hour in both directions and reduces travel time between Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road and Al Khail Road by 61% from 9.7 minutes to just 3.8 minutes.

“The project enhances connectivity between four strategic corridors in Dubai: Sheikh Zayed Road, Al Khail Road, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road, and Emirates Road,” Al Tayer said. “It increases the capacity of Umm Suqeim Street to 16,000 vehicles per hour in both directions, improves traffic flow, and reduces travel time... It also serves several residential and development areas, including Al Barsha South 1, 2, and 3, Dubai Hills, Arjan, and Dubai Science Park, home to a population of over one million.”

Al Tayer also highlighted the use of advanced technology in project monitoring.

“Drones were used to analyse construction data using artificial intelligence, enhancing operational efficiency on-site, accelerating decision-making, and providing real-time, highly accurate information,” he explained.

These smart tools helped double the on-site presence, cut field survey times by 60%, and increased monitoring efficiency by 40% through time-lapse imaging.

This tunnel marks the latest in a series of infrastructure upgrades along Umm Suqeim Street. In 2013, RTA completed Phase I of the project between Sheikh Zayed Road and Al Khail Road, including two bridges and multiple signalised intersections. In 2020, a major bridge at the entrance to Dubai Hills and Al Barsha South was added to support growing traffic from Dubai Hills Mall.

The ongoing development of this vital corridor reflects RTA’s broader mission to future-proof Dubai’s road networks and integrate cutting-edge technologies into urban planning.