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.