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.

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.

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.