Relief is finally on the horizon for Dubai motorists. The first phase of the major upgrade at the World Trade Centre Roundabout is set to open as early as January 2026, officials confirmed.

Two new bridges, serving traffic from 2nd December Street towards Al Majlis Street and Sheikh Rashid Street, are almost ready, with the project now 40% complete.

Once fully finished, the iconic roundabout will transform into a surface-level intersection with five bridges spanning 5km, designed to cut traffic delays dramatically. Travel time will drop from 12 minutes to just 90 seconds, and the road capacity will double.

Additional phases include:

• March 2026: Bridge from Sheikh Zayed Road to Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Street
• October 2026: Two more bridges serving traffic from Sheikh Rashid Street and Al Majlis Street

The upgrade ties into the wider Al Mustaqbal Street improvement plan, expected in 2027, which will expand lanes and reduce travel time from 13 minutes to 6 minutes.

Together, both projects, worth Dh1.3 billion, will benefit more than 1 million residents and commuters across Downtown Dubai, DIFC, Museum of the Future, Emirates Towers, and surrounding areas.

A Tejas fighter aircraft of the Indian Air Force (IAF) crashed during an aerial display at the Dubai Airshow on Thursday afternoon, resulting in the death of the pilot. The incident has been confirmed by both the Dubai Media Office and the Indian Air Force.

The crash occurred at approximately 2:10pm (UAE time) during a scheduled flying demonstration at Al Maktoum International Airport. Eyewitness footages show the aircraft performing a manoeuvre before suddenly losing altitude and rapidly descending, then exploding on impact at a distance from the spectator stands. Emergency response teams were deployed instantly to the crash site.

In a statement posted on X, the UAE Ministry of Defence said: “A Tejas fighter aircraft from India participating in today’s flying display at the Dubai Airshow has crashed, resulting in the tragic death of the pilot. Firefighting and emergency teams responded rapidly to the incident and are currently managing the situation on-site.”

The IAF also confirmed the pilot’s death and announced the formation of a court of inquiry to investigate the cause of the crash. “Indian Air Force deeply regrets the loss of life and stands firmly with the bereaved family in this time of grief,” the statement said.

Eyewitness videos

Video recordings of the crash circulated widely online shortly after the incident, showing the jet descending rapidly before the impact and subsequent explosion. Emergency response teams were deployed instantly, but the pilot could not be saved.

Aerial displays temporarily halted

Following the crash, aerial stunt displays were temporarily halted. The outdoor exhibition zone was cordoned off, and visitors were evacuated from the viewing areas as safety protocols were activated.

Eyewitnesses confirmed that aerobatic displays were paused for nearly 90 minutes following the incident. “The aerobatic displays were halted for about an hour and a half and resumed at 3.40pm (UAE time) with the Russian Knights flying Sukhoi jets,” said a visitor attending the event.

About the Tejas aircraft

The Tejas is a single-seat, 4.5-generation Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) developed by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). Designed for air defence and multi-role combat operations, it is regarded as one of the lightest fighter jets in its class. The aircraft is equipped with a Martin-Baker zero-zero ejection seat, designed to enable safe ejection at low altitudes and low speeds.

Dubai Airshow continues

The Dubai Airshow, one of the world’s largest aviation exhibitions, opened on November 17 and ends on November 21. More than 1,500 exhibitors, including 440 first-time participants and 490 military and civil delegations from 115 countries, participated in the event this year.

Source: TOI, GN, KT

Airports across the UAE have urged passengers to closely monitor their flight schedules, as heavy fog continues to disrupt operations. In an advisory posted on X (formerly Twitter), Sharjah Airport said several flights have been delayed or cancelled due to low visibility, with travellers advised to check updates before heading out.

The impact extended to Dubai International Airport (DXB) as well, where airlines, including flydubai, Emirates and IndiGo, reported significant delays and rescheduling throughout the morning, according to the DXB website.

This isn’t the first time fog has thrown travel plans off track in the UAE. Over the years, dense early-morning fog has repeatedly caused delays at major hubs like Dubai International and Sharjah Airport, especially during the winter months when visibility often drops without warning.

With some of the world’s busiest flight schedules to manage, even short periods of low visibility can trigger a domino effect of rescheduling, leaving airlines scrambling and travellers facing longer waits.

With both arrivals and departures affected, travellers are being advised to check directly with their airline or visit the DXB website before leaving for the airport to avoid last-minute surprises.