A new 300-metre single-lane bridge on Sheikh Zayed Road is set to dramatically improve access to Mall of the Emirates for motorists coming from Abu Dhabi and Jebel Ali.
The Dubai Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) announced on Sunday that the bridge, built in collaboration with Majid Al Futtaim Properties, can handle 900 vehicles per hour and will cut travel time from 10 minutes to just 1 minute.
The project also involved upgrading the mall’s entrances, as well as nearby roads, intersections, pedestrian walkways, and cycling tracks, as part of the RTA’s strategy to enhance road networks serving major developments and shopping destinations.
Key upgrades around the Mall of the Emirates
- Widened the southbound ramp at Umm Suqeim junction to feed into the new bridge.
- Upgraded 2.5 km of at-grade roads and developed six signalised intersections.
- Enhanced bus station facilities at the Mall of the Emirates Metro Station.
- Converted the road next to the Kempinski Hotel from one-way to two-way traffic.
- Improved pedestrian and cycling tracks.
Upcoming Umm Suqeim Street Improvement Project
The RTA also announced a major revamp of Umm Suqeim Street, spanning 6 km from Jumeirah Street to Al Khail Road.
The project includes:
- Construction of four bridges and two tunnels totalling 3,450 metres.
- A tunnel at Umm Suqeim Street–Jumeirah Street junction with two lanes in each direction.
- A tunnel at Umm Suqeim–Al Wasl Street junction, easing traffic towards Jumeirah Street.
- Two new bridges at the Umm Suqeim–Sheikh Zayed Road junction to remove traffic overlaps.
- An additional lane on Umm Suqeim Street between First Al Khail Road and Al Asayel Street, expanding capacity to four lanes in each direction.
- Wider bridge crossings linking Al Khail Road to Al Quoz Industrial Area and Umm Suqeim Street to Al Khail Road towards Deira.
Mattar Al Tayer, RTA Director General and Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors, said the upgrades will “enhance road capacity and reduce congestion for residents, commuters, and visitors to key destinations like Mall of the Emirates.”
