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Major Dubai road upgrades announced to cut traffic and improve daily commutes

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Dubai is embarking on a major transformation of its road network to address traffic congestion, enhance capacity, and support the emirate’s rapid growth. 

As part of the Roads and Transport Authority’s (RTA) 2025–2027 Strategic Plan, the ambitious infrastructure programme includes 57 key projects covering 226 km of roads and 115 bridges and tunnels. These upgrades are designed to accommodate Dubai’s expected population growth, which is projected to reach 8 million by 2040.

Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Crown Prince of Dubai, recently visited the RTA to review the progress of these critical road projects. During his visit, he was briefed on the comprehensive plans that aim to ease traffic congestion and improve the overall transportation experience across the city.

Three Major Corridors in the Spotlight

Umm Suqeim–Al Qudra Corridor

  • Scope: 16 km corridor from Jumeirah Street to Emirates Road
  • Current Status: Phase 1 is 50% complete
  • Infrastructure: 7 km of bridges and tunnels across four major junctions
  • Capacity: Expanding from 8,400 to 12,600 vehicles per hour
  • Travel Time: Will drop from 46 minutes to just 11
  • Who It Serves: Over 1 million residents

Hessa Street

  • Scope: Upgrades to four key intersections
  • Progress: 60% complete, some parts already open
  • Infrastructure: 9 km of bridges
  • Capacity: Doubling from 4,000 to 8,000 vehicles per hour
  • Travel Time: Down from 30 minutes to 7
  • Residents Benefited: Around 640,000
  • Extra Feature: A new 13.5 km cycling and e-scooter track, with two eye-catching bridges crossing Sheikh Zayed Road and Al Khail Road

Al Fay Road Corridor

  • Route: Extending Al Khail Road from Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road to Emirates Road
  • Infrastructure: 12.9 km of road and 13.5 km of bridges over five intersections
  • Capacity: To support an extra 64,400 vehicles per hour
  • Residents Benefited: 600,000 once complete

Quick Wins on Sheikh Zayed Road

Sheikh Zayed Road, one of the city’s busiest arteries, sees 2.5 million users daily. A series of “quick-win” traffic solutions rolled out between January and April this year have already made an impact:

  • 5–10% drop in congestion
  • 9% cut in traffic volumes after dynamic tolling
  • 4% increase in public transport ridership
  • 2.3% drop in vehicle use and 1% rise in public transport usage thanks to dynamic parking tariffs

Other Corridors Being Upgraded

  • Latifa bint Hamdan Street (Al Khail Road to Emirates Road)
  • Al Meydan Street
  • Al Mustaqbal Street
  • Dubai World Trade Centre roundabout

These projects reflect Dubai’s long-term vision to stay ahead of population growth and maintain smooth traffic flow across key residential and commercial zones.

With over 35 years of experience in journalism, copywriting, and PR, Michael Gomes is a seasoned media professional deeply rooted in the UAE’s print and digital landscape.

Crime

UAE Central Bank fines local bank Dh3 million over anti-money laundering failures

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The Central Bank of the UAE (CBUAE) has imposed a financial penalty of Dh3 million on a local bank for failing to comply with anti-money laundering (AML) regulations.

The fine was issued under Article 14 of Federal Decree Law No. (20) of 2018 on Anti-Money Laundering and Combatting the Financing of Terrorism and Illegal Organisations, as well as Article 137 of the Decretal Federal Law No. (14) of 2018 concerning the Central Bank and regulation of financial institutions.

The CBUAE said the penalty followed an investigation which found that the bank had not met regulatory requirements outlined in UAE legislation to combat financial crime.

In a statement, the Central Bank reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining the transparency and integrity of the country’s financial system. “We continue to supervise and regulate all licensed financial institutions to ensure full compliance with UAE laws, regulations, and standards,” the authority said.

The name of the bank was not disclosed.

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Dubai’s RTA steps up inspections of buses to ensure safety

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Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has urged transport operators to strictly follow regulations covering all modes of passenger transport, including chartered buses, tourist services, and international bus trips.

This comes after RTA completed over 15,500 inspections targeting operators in these sectors, as part of ongoing efforts to raise service standards and ensure safety.

“The inspections weren’t just about issuing violations,” said Saeed Al Balooshi, Director of Passenger Transport Activities Monitoring at RTA. “They’re designed to improve service quality and ensure operators meet the rules that keep Dubai’s transport sector running smoothly.”

Checks included verifying safety measures onboard and ensuring all required licences were in place. The RTA also teamed up with other authorities, including Dubai Police and the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs at Hatta Border Post, to tackle misuse and irregularities in cross-border transport services.

Al Balooshi added that the authority is using new technologies to make inspections more effective by analysing violations and measuring the impact of enforcement campaigns. “Our goal is to ensure a reliable and high-quality experience for residents, visitors, and tourists, and to protect the reputation of Dubai’s public transport sector,” he said.

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New paid parking zones announced in Abu Dhabi

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Residents and motorists in Abu Dhabi should take note: new Mawaqif paid parking zones have been activated in several areas across the city, Q Mobility announced on Thursday, July 10.

The newly introduced paid zones include:

  • Eastern Mangroves
  • Dolphin Park
  • Al Khaleej Al Arabi Street sectors – specifically at Al Khaleej Al Arabi Park 1, 2, 4, and 5
  • Al Qurm Plaza

The rollout of the Mawaqif system in these areas is now officially in effect, aligning with Abu Dhabi’s parking regulations.

  • Standard Parking – black and blue curbs:
    • Dh2 an hour
    • Dh15 for 24-hour parking
  • Premium Parking Abu Dhabi – white and blue curbs: AED 3 an hour

According to Q Mobility, this move is part of ongoing efforts to better regulate vehicle movement, ease congestion, and improve the overall efficiency of public parking across the emirate. The changes follow the completion of infrastructure upgrades such as curb painting, installation of directional and awareness signage, and public notifications.

The company has also encouraged drivers to make use of the Darb app for digital payment and to carefully follow posted instructions to avoid fines.

The expansion of Mawaqif is part of a broader strategy aimed at improving traffic flow and providing smarter, more streamlined parking solutions within Abu Dhabi Island and beyond.

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