News
Hamdan bin Mohammed opens Dubai-Al Ain Road Improvement Project
DUBAI, 29th May, 2022 (WAM) — H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince o
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.
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
Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) is transforming the way residents and visitors pay for public transport.
The familiar nol card is evolving into a smarter, digital payment system that will support QR tickets, digital wallets, bank cards and a new generation of nol cards.
The upgrade is expected to roll out in phases beginning in 2027, making public transport payments faster, more flexible and more convenient.
What is changing?
The current card-based ticketing system will be replaced with account-based ticketing (ABT).
Instead of storing your travel balance only on the physical card, your balance and travel information will be linked to a secure digital account.
This means you can access your travel account across multiple devices and payment methods without relying solely on a single plastic card.
How will you be able to pay?
Once the new system is fully launched, commuters will have several payment options, including:
- QR code tickets
- Upgraded nol cards
- Bank debit and credit cards
- Smartphone digital wallets
- Linked customer accounts
The aim is to give passengers greater flexibility while reducing queues and making travel across Dubai more seamless.
Three phases of the nol upgrade
Phase 1: QR ticketing
The first stage will introduce QR code tickets through digital platforms, allowing passengers to purchase and use tickets electronically.
Phase 2: new-generation nol cards
A redesigned nol card will be introduced with enhanced technology.
The upgraded cards will:
- Link automatically to customer accounts.
- Be compatible with bank card technology.
- Support improved security and easier account management.
Phase 3: Bank cards and digital wallets
Passengers will be able to pay directly using:
- Debit cards
- Credit cards
- Apple Pay
- Google Wallet
- Samsung Wallet and other supported digital payment platforms
This means many commuters may no longer need to carry a separate transport card.
What new features will users get?
The upgraded system will introduce several account management features, including:
- Create a personal nol account.
- Link multiple nol cards to one account.
- Add nol cards to smartphone wallets.
- Buy transport tickets using QR codes.
- View travel history and daily transaction statements.
- Block lost or stolen cards.
- Recover remaining balances.
- Enable automatic top-ups through linked bank accounts.
Families will also be able to link multiple nol cards under one account and manage top-up amounts for each family member.
Will nol cards be used for shopping?
Yes.
One of the biggest changes is that future nol cards are expected to function similarly to bank cards, allowing users to make purchases through digital channels and at participating retail outlets across the UAE.
This expands the card’s use beyond public transport.
Will public transport fares change?
The RTA has confirmed that the upgraded platform will support more flexible fare structures across different modes of transport.
However, no new fare prices or tariff changes have been announced.
When will the new system launch?
According to the RTA, the project is already 72% complete.
The rollout will begin in phases during 2027, with new features becoming available progressively.
Why is Dubai upgrading nol System?
The upgrade is part of Dubai’s broader Cashless Strategy, which aims to make digital payments the standard across government services and daily life.
It also supports the city’s vision of creating a smarter, more connected transport network by integrating multiple transport services into one seamless payment ecosystem.
For commuters, the changes mean greater convenience, fewer physical cards to carry, and a faster, more flexible travel experience across Dubai’s public transport system.
Private sector employees in Dubai can now report workplace concerns directly through the DubaiNow app using a new digital service called Worker’s Voice.
Developed by Dubai Police and integrated into the DubaiNow platform by Digital Dubai, the service enables workers to submit complaints online without visiting a government service centre.
Here’s everything you need to know.
What Is the Worker’s Voice service?
Worker’s Voice is a digital complaint service available on the DubaiNow app. It allows private sector employees to raise concerns about their employer through an official government platform.
Workers can submit complaints individually or as a group, making it easier to report issues while reducing the need for in-person visits.
What complaints can employees raise?
The service covers a range of workplace-related issues, including:
1. Salary and wage issues
Employees can report:
- Unpaid salaries
- Delayed wage payments
- Unauthorised salary deductions
2. Working conditions
Workers can file complaints about:
- Excessive working hours
- Violations of employment contract terms
- Lack of mandatory rest breaks
- Denial of annual leave or other legal entitlements
3. Employee accommodation
Complaints can also be submitted regarding:
- Poor living conditions
- Unsafe or overcrowded accommodation
- Failure to meet approved housing standards
4. Health and safety concerns
Workers can report:
- Unsafe workplaces
- Lack of protective equipment
- Occupational health and safety violations
How to submit a complaint
Filing a complaint is straightforward:
- Open the DubaiNow app and sign in using your UAE Pass.
- Navigate to the Worker’s Voice service under the police, justice or safety services section.
- Enter details about your employer and describe the issue clearly.
- Submit your complaint electronically.
Once submitted, the complaint is forwarded through official channels managed by Dubai Police for review and follow-up.
Do you need to visit a service centre?
No. One of the biggest advantages of the new service is that workers can complete the entire complaint process digitally through the DubaiNow app, eliminating the need to visit a government office for initial reporting.
What is DubaiNow?
DubaiNow is the Dubai Government’s unified smart services platform, offering access to more than 250 services from over 35 government and private sector entities.
Residents can use the app to pay bills, renew government services, access official documents and now report workplace issues through Worker’s Voice.
Is Worker’s Voice the same as MoHRE?
Not exactly.
The Worker’s Voice feature is designed to help employees report workplace concerns through DubaiNow and Dubai Police.
However, employment disputes involving labour law interpretation, contract mediation, end-of-service benefits or cases that may proceed to the Labour Court are generally handled by the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MoHRE).
Workers with complex employment disputes may still need to file or continue their case through MoHRE’s official channels.
The addition of Worker’s Voice makes it easier for private sector employees to report workplace concerns quickly and securely. By moving the process online, Dubai aims to improve access to government services, strengthen worker protection and encourage faster reporting of labour-related issues.
Dubai’s Palm Monorail back in service after 6-month shutdown
Dubai’s nol card is getting a major upgrade: What it means for public transport users
How Dubai’s new Workers Voice service helps employees report workplace issues
-
Entertainment5 months agoDubai launches ‘Dubai+’ family streaming platform to boost digital media and creative economy
-
News6 months agoEtihad Rail reveals UAE passenger network: Faster, easier travel for residents from 2026
-
Announcements6 months agoDubai unveils mega Dubai Food District, set to become one of the world’s largest food trade hubs