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Hamdan bin Mohammed opens Dubai-Al Ain Road Improvement Project

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DUBAI, 29th May, 2022 (WAM) — H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince o

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4 years ago

May 29, 2022

Abhishek Sengupta

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WAM

DUBAI, May 29: Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of Dubai Executive Council, has officially opened the Dubai-Al Ain Road Improvement Project built at a cost of AED2 billion.

Undertaken as part of Dubai’s master transport plan, the project affirms Dubai’s efforts to accelerate its economic development with major projects.

Speaking on the occasion of the opening, Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed said: “Dubai continues to advance the implementation of infrastructure development plans aimed at enhancing human welfare and catalysing sustainable economic growth. It is also part of our broader strategy to transform Dubai into the world’s best place to live, work and visit as well as strengthen our readiness to meet future needs in one of the fastest growing cities worldwide.”

Sheikh Hamdan further said that the government has always placed the highest priority on constantly improving Dubai’s road infrastructure, since it plays an important role in raising the emirate’s competitiveness in addition to creating an attractive business and investment environment and providing a high quality of life for the community.

The scope of the Dubai-Al Ain Road Improvement Project spans 17 km from the intersection of Emirates Road to the intersection of Ras Al Khor Road along the Dubai-Al Ain Road. Construction works included widening the road from three to six lanes in each direction, and constructing six main interchanges along with bridges and ramps stretching 11.5 km.

Upon arrival at the project site, Sheikh Hamdan was received by Mattar Al Tayer, Director-General, Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA).

Benefits to the community

The project will ease traffic flow and improve links with the Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road, Sheikh Zayed bin Hamdan Al Nahyan Road, and Emirates Road, besides serving the current and future communities such as Dubailand Residence Complex, Liwan and Silicon Oasis on either side of the Dubai-Al Ain Road.

This stretch of Dubai Al-Ain road connects the Mohamed bin Zayed and Emirates roads. Courtesy WAM

It will benefit a population of 1.5 million living or working in the neighbourhood on both sides of the road. It also serves 25 universities and colleges where a total of 27,500 students are enrolled. The improvements will double the intake of the road from 12,000 to 24,000 vehicles per hour in both directions.

It will also slash the travel time on the Dubai-Al Ain Road from the intersection of Ras Al Khor Road to the intersection of the Emirates Road by 50% from 16 minutes to eight minutes during peak time. Furthermore, it will solve traffic snarls that used to extend about two kilometres.

Connectivity

Sheikh Hamdan was also briefed on two projects under construction. The first is the Al Manama Street Improvement Project where the existing roundabouts will be transformed into signalised junctions. Construction for the project is expected to be completed in September.

The other is the improvement of the junction of the Academic City on Sheikh Zayed bin Hamdan Al Nahyan Street Project, which is scheduled for completion in December this year. In future, the sector of Sheikh Zayed bin Hamdan Al Nahyan Street from the Academic City to the junction of Al Awir Road will be further improved.

Ramping it up

Outlining the project’s highlights, Al Tayer said, “The improvement of the Dubai-Al Ain Project included the construction of four two-lane ramps at the junction of Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road extending 2,600 metres to ensure free and smooth traffic movement in all directions at the junction.

Dubai-AlAin1

The previous bridge on Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Road had been improved to allow for the widening of the Dubai-Al Ain Road from three to six lanes in each direction in addition to the construction of service roads on both sides of the road. The total capacity of bridges at the junction will jump to 36,000 vehicles per hour in all directions, which will ensure smooth traffic flow on the Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road from Al Qusais in the direction of Al Ain.”

Works included widening the road from three to six lanes in each direction and constructing service roads on both sides to enhance traffic safety levels. Overall, the project covered the improvement of six key junctions with the Emirates Road, Sheikh Zayed bin Hamdan Al Nahyan Street, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road, Nad Al Sheba Road, Al Meydan Road and Ras Al Khor Road.

These junctions facilitate smooth traffic flow and serve the residential communities on both sides of the road such as the Academic City, Dubai Silicon Oasis, Dubailand Residential Complex, Liwan, and the Dubai Design District. The bridges at the six junctions stretch 6,600 metres in length and their ramps span 4,900 metres in total.

Six junctions

The improvement of Dubai-Al Ain Road junctions included the construction of a ramp at the intersection with the Emirates Road and a 220-metre bridge to link Sheikh Zayed bin Hamdan Al Nahyan Street with it.

The works will ease congestion seen in recent times from inbound traffic from the Dubailand Residential Complex as well as ease commute for those heading into Academic City and Silicon Oasis from nearby areas. Service roads have been constructed on both sides of the road along with turns to serve other traffic movements and development projects.

Other project works included the improvement of the Nad Al Sheba intersection to serve traffic from the Dubai-Al Ain Road to Nad Al Sheba and vice versa along with improvements of the inward and outwards surface roads of the Nad Al Sheba district.

Improvements covered the junction of Al Meydan Road with the Dubai-Al Ain Road, which has been linked with Al Manama Street by a four-lane bridge in each direction to link Al Meydan Road with Al Manama Road. Moreover, the previous bridge connecting Al Meydan Road and the Dubai-Al Ain Road has been improved to serve the residential projects of Meydan.

This stretch of Dubai Al-Ain road connects the Mohamed bin Zayed and Emirates roads. Courtesy WAM

Abhishek Sengupta

Chief Storyteller – Abhishek Sengupta Storytelling has been at the heart of everything I’ve done for nearly two decades, whether it’s captivating audiences with breaking news, crafting compelling video narratives, or writing columns with just the right amount of sarcasm and spice. I’ve been an award-winning investigative journalist, content creator, media strategist, and accidental commentator on everything from falafels to foldable laptops. My career has taken me across 60 countries, four World Cups between two sports, and one unforgettable ‘journalistic’ saga. Along the way, I’ve produced over 1,000 minutes of multimedia content, interviewed corporate top bosses, grilled ministers, while helping UAE’s longest-running English daily Khaleej Times ride the digital wave. All along, I’ve only tried (and occasionally succeeded) in making audiences laugh, think, and occasionally say, “Wait, that was actually interesting” —proving that even in today’s world, storytelling isn’t just alive; it’s thriving, quirky, and kicking up a storm.

News

Dubai traffic update: New lanes on two major roads to cut peak-hour travel times

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9 hours ago

July 29, 2026

Michael Gomes

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Motorists travelling on Ras Al Khor Road and Al Khail Road can expect shorter journeys after Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) completed a series of road upgrades to ease congestion.

The improvements include new lanes, upgraded entry and exit points, and wider road sections, increasing road efficiency by 20 per cent, according to the RTA.

What motorists need to know

Ras Al Khor Rd

A new lane has been added in the direction of Al Khail Road, extending from the Financial Centre Street intersection.

The road has been widened from three lanes to four, boosting capacity by 33 per cent.

RTA has also upgraded:

The exit from Financial Centre Street towards Meydan.
The entrance from Financial Centre Street onto Ras Al Khor Road.

The changes are expected to cut travel time towards Al Khail Road from 15 minutes to 12 minutes during busy periods.

Al Khail Rd

A new 1km lane has also been added on Al Khail Road towards Abu Dhabi, widening the road from three to four lanes.

The additional lane increases capacity by 33 per cent and is expected to reduce peak-hour journey times by up to 20 per cent.

Traffic improvement plans

The upgrades form part of the RTA’s ongoing programme to improve traffic flow at some of Dubai’s busiest roads.

Recent works in the same corridor include:

Opening a new exit from Financial Centre Street to Ras Al Khor Road.
Widening Exit 25 from Ras Al Khor Road to Al Khail Road towards Al Meydan Street.
Traffic improvements at several locations in Business Bay.

The RTA said the projects are designed to keep pace with Dubai’s rapid growth while making daily journeys faster and smoother for residents and visitors.

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Dubai RTA advises commuters to use new access at Burj Khalifa/Dubai Mall Metro Station

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9 hours ago

July 29, 2026

Michael Gomes

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The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has opened a temporary staircase at Exit 1 of the Burj Khalifa/Dubai Mall Metro Station as expansion work continues at one of the busiest stations on the Dubai Metro network.

Key points:

Temporary access: The staircase at Exit 1 is now in use during construction.
Passenger guidance: Commuters should follow the signposted routes/maps to reach the station. RTA staff are available on-site to assist passengers.
Road closure: Earlier this month, the access road used by buses and taxis at the station was temporarily closed and is expected to remain closed until the end of 2026 to support the expansion project.
Traffic management: RTA says an integrated traffic management plan is in place to maintain safe and efficient access to public transport.

Station expansion highlights

The project is designed to significantly improve capacity and passenger flow:

Hourly capacity: Increasing from 7,250 to 12,320 passengers (about a 65% increase).
Daily capacity: Up to 220,000 passengers.
Station size: Expanding from 6,700 sq m to 8,500 sq m.

Planned improvements include:

Enhanced station entrances and pedestrian bridges.
Larger concourse and platform areas.
Additional escalators and elevators.
Separate entry and exit gates to reduce congestion.
More fare gates.
Expanded retail/commercial areas.
Better integration with buses, taxis, and other transport modes.

The expansion is expected to ease congestion during peak periods, including New Year’s Eve and major public holidays, when the station experiences exceptionally high passenger volumes.

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UAE launches world’s first AI-powered judicial platform

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1 day ago

July 28, 2026

Michael Gomes

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The UAE has unveiled what it says is the world’s first fully integrated AI-powered judicial platform, marking a major step in the country’s drive to modernise its justice system through artificial intelligence.

The platform is designed to help judges and legal professionals work more efficiently by analysing case files, searching laws and court precedents, and generating legal insights. Officials stressed that AI will not replace judges, with all final rulings remaining under human oversight.

Innovation will make justice faster

Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the Presidential Court, described the launch as another global achievement for the country.

In a post on X, Sheikh Mansour said the platform reflects the UAE’s belief that innovation can create a faster and more efficient justice system while strengthening the country’s position as a global leader in government and judicial excellence.

What the AI platform can do

The system integrates AI across several stages of judicial proceedings, including:

Analysing case files and legal documents.
Searching legislation and regulations.
Retrieving and comparing court precedents.
Generating legal reports and recommendations.
Assisting with drafting legal documents.
Speeding up case processing.

Officials said the technology is intended to support judicial decision-making, not replace it.

Combining AI-powered functions

While courts in several countries already use AI for tasks such as legal research and case management, the UAE says this is the first platform to combine multiple AI-powered judicial functions into one integrated system.

The initiative is expected to:

Reduce litigation times.
Improve court efficiency.
Cut administrative workloads.
Strengthen investor confidence.
Enhance the UAE’s global competitiveness.

Safeguards remain in place

Officials said protecting judicial independence remains a priority.

The platform has been developed with safeguards around data privacy, cybersecurity, transparency and accountability, with judges retaining full authority over every final decision.

The launch builds on the UAE’s broader digital transformation of the justice sector, which has already introduced remote court hearings, digital litigation services and AI-powered legal assistance.