Big relief is on the way for motorists in Dubai. The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has awarded the contract for a major infrastructure project that will transform the intersections of Sheikh Zayed bin Hamdan Al Nahyan Street with Al Awir Road and Al Manama Street, slashing travel time along the corridor from 20 minutes to just five.
Announced yesterday (Sunday), the project includes the construction of 2.3km of bridges, major lane expansions, upgraded service roads, and new access points to surrounding residential and development areas.
Once completed, the street’s capacity will jump from 5,200 vehicles per hour to 14,400 vehicles per hour in both directions, a massive 176 per cent increase.
According to RTA Director General Mattar Al Tayer, the project will serve residential and development areas with a combined population of more than 600,000 residents and visitors.
Completion is expected by the third quarter of 2028.
What’s changing at the Al Awir Road intersection?
The existing roundabout will be replaced with a grade-separated interchange to improve traffic flow.
Plans include:
- Main bridges on Sheikh Zayed bin Hamdan Street with four lanes in each direction
- Dedicated ramps for right and left turns (two lanes each)
- A new bridge at the Al Awir Road–Emirates Road intersection, improving traffic flow towards Al Awir and Sharjah
- Parallel service roads along Sheikh Zayed bin Hamdan Street and Al Awir Road in both directions
Upgrades at Al Manama Street
The surface intersection at Sheikh Zayed bin Hamdan Street and Al Manama Street will also be overhauled.
This includes:
- Widening the road from two to four lanes in each direction
- Enhancing the signalised junction to improve efficiency
- Adding safer access points to nearby communities and developments
Part of a bigger plan
The project builds on earlier upgrades to Sheikh Zayed bin Hamdan Al Nahyan Street, including:
- A 25km, four-lane extension connecting the Dubai–Al Ain Road to Al Yalayis Street
- A grade-separated interchange near Global Village
- Improved junctions at Al Qudra Street, Hessa Street and Academic City
- Two major bridges at the Dubai Silicon Oasis intersection, boosting capacity to 14,400 vehicles per hour
These improvements are designed to ease congestion, improve access to key areas like Dubai Silicon Oasis, Zayed University and Academic City.
