Dubai’s roads are getting a serious upgrade. If you’ve ever found yourself stuck in bumper-to-bumper traffic, this update is one you do not want to simply skim. From brand-new bridges and tunnels to expanded highways and smarter intersections, the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) is rolling out a series of mega infrastructure projects designed to make getting around the city much faster and smoother. So, keep reading to discover the biggest road projects and how they’ll impact your journeys.
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1. Oud Maitha Road & Al Asayel Street Upgrade
Part of the wider Sheikh Rashid Corridor Development Project, this upgrade focuses on easing congestion across one of Dubai’s busiest central corridors. Once complete, drivers can expect smoother connections between Al Asayel Street and Al Khail Road. The capacity along Oud Maitha Road will also increase by 50%. Traffic movement through key junctions is also expected to improve considerably. The project includes:
- Four upgraded intersections
- A new left-turn slip road connecting Oud Maitha Road to Sheikh Rashid Road towards Al Garhoud Bridge
- 4.3km of bridges
- 14km of improved roads
2. Hessa Street Development Project (Phase 2)
Following the successful completion of the first stretch between Sheikh Zayed Road and Al Khail Road, work is now underway on the second phase of the Hessa Street Development Project. The latest phase covers a three-kilometre stretch linking Al Khail Road with Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road and will include:
- 8.8km of bridges
- A 480-metre tunnel
- Upgrades to three major intersections
- Improved entry and exit points along nearby roads
Once complete, this project is expected to double road capacity while slashing travel times from around 24 minutes to just five. It will also create a direct link between Al Khail Road and Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road, making journeys much quicker for motorists. The project improvements will benefit around 650,000 residents living across 10 communities. This includes residents in Jumeirah Village Circle (JVC) and Al Barsha South.
3. Dubai Harbour Direct Access Bridge
A brand-new bridge connecting Sheikh Zayed Road directly to Dubai Harbour is almost complete! The bridge, which opened to traffic on June 19, features two lanes in each direction and can accommodate approximately 6,000 vehicles every hour.
Motorists travelling from areas such as Jebel Ali and Deira can now access Dubai Harbour directly, avoiding longer alternative routes. The journey into the area has also been cut from around 12 minutes to just three, helping reduce congestion on surrounding roads. Once the 1,500-metre bridge is completed, it is expected to significantly improve traffic flow while making Dubai Harbour far easier to reach.
4. Umm Suqeim Street Improvement Project
Construction is progressing steadily on the Umm Suqeim Street Improvement Project. Currently, around 70% of the work is complete along the 4.6km section between Al Khail Road and Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road. The project forms part of the larger 16km Umm Suqeim-Al Qudra Corridor, stretching from Jumeirah Street to Emirates Road.
As one of Dubai’s most important east-west routes, the upgraded corridor will improve connections with several major north-south highways across the Emirate. In fact, once construction ends, this project will serve residential communities and developments home to more than one million people.
5. Al Qudra Road Development Project
Several sections of the Al Qudra Road upgrade are already open, including a new 600-metre bridge connecting Al Qudra Road with the road linking Arabian Ranches and Dubai Studio City. When the full project is ready, the upgraded intersection will significantly boost traffic capacity, reduce waiting times and bring delays down from 393 seconds to just one minute. Construction continues on:
- A 700-metre bridge at the Al Qudra Road and Sheikh Zayed bin Hamdan Al Nahyan Street intersection
- A 900-metre bridge carrying traffic towards central Dubai and Dubai International Airport
- Three kilometres of new service roads
6. Dubai Islands & Bur Dubai Bridge Connection
One of Dubai’s largest ongoing transport projects continues to make steady progress, with the Al Khaleej Street Tunnel now more than 80 % complete as part of the wider Al Shindagha Corridor Improvement Project. The project will ideally dramatically improve connectivity between Dubai Islands and Bur Dubai while reducing travel times along the Al Shindagha Corridor from 104 minutes to just 16 minutes by 2030! The long-term development includes:
- A new bridge across Dubai Creek connecting the Infinity Bridge and Port Rashid
- Dedicated cycling and pedestrian tracks
- Improved access to Dubai Islands
7. Roundabout Development Project – World Trade Centre
Another major traffic upgrade taking shape is the World Trade Centre Roundabout Development Project. This project will help to improve one of Dubai’s busiest road networks. The project includes:
- Five bridges spanning a total of 5km
- Replacing the existing roundabout with a traffic signal-controlled intersection
- Integration with the Al Mustaqbal Street Development Project
Construction has already passed the 60% mark and is progressing ahead of schedule. Earlier this year, a new one-kilometre bridge linking Sheikh Zayed Road with Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Street opened to motorists. The two-lane bridge can accommodate up to 3,000 vehicles per hour and has reduced journey times from six minutes to just one. And now for the best part! More bridges are expected to open in October 2026. After its completion, delays through the area are expected to fall from 12 minutes to around 90 seconds. Access to Al Karama, Deira and surrounding districts will also become much quicker.
Dubai’s road network is evolving at a rapid pace. Each new bridge, tunnel and upgraded junction brings the city one step closer to faster, smoother journeys. Soon, whether you’re commuting to work or heading out for the weekend, these projects are set to make life behind the wheel a whole lot easier. Keep following Gulf Buzz for all the latest Dubai updates!
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