If you’ve ever watched your arrival time on the map app creep up while you’re sitting in the same spot, this one’s for you. Dubai’s RTA has a long list of projects under way, and a few of them are already cutting journey times from minutes to seconds. Here are eight worth knowing about, from the ones opening this month to the ones still a few years out. Keep reading for all the important details you need to know.
1. World Trade Centre Roundabout: Five New Bridges
This is one of the busiest junctions in the city. It links Sheikh Zayed Road with five streets, and anyone who has been caught in event traffic there knows the pain. The fix is five new bridges with a combined length of 5,000 metres, which will turn the roundabout into a smoother junction. The first two bridges opened in December 2025 and cut the trip from 2nd December Street to Al Majlis Street, Al Mustaqbal Street and Zabeel Palace Street from 10 minutes to two. A third bridge, linking Sheikh Zayed Road with Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Street, has also opened. The last two were due to open this month. Once everything is done, the average wait at the junction should drop from 12 minutes to about 90 seconds. The upgrade to Al Mustaqbal Street, which serves DWTC, DIFC and Downtown, is due to be finished in 2027.
2. Al Qudra Road: Less Waiting, Fewer Bottlenecks
If you live in Arabian Ranches, Motor City, Dubai Studio City, Akoya, Mudon, DAMAC Hills or The Sustainable City, you’ll know this road well. The RTA is widening an 11.6-kilometre stretch and upgrading several junctions along the way. A 700-metre, four-lane bridge has already opened at the Al Qudra Road and Sheikh Zayed bin Hamdan Al Nahyan Street junction. Two side-ramp bridges are due in the last three months of 2026. When that junction is done, its capacity should jump from 7,800 to 19,400 vehicles an hour, and the wait should fall from nearly seven minutes to about one. Across the whole corridor, the RTA expects journeys to drop from 9.4 minutes to 2.8.
3. Oud Metha Road and Al Asayel Street: Easier Trips Around Central Dubai
This project covers four major junctions, 4.3 kilometres of bridges and 14 kilometres of upgraded roads. It also adds a new left-turn road from Oud Metha Road onto Sheikh Rashid Road towards Al Garhoud Bridge. The RTA says Oud Metha Road will be able to carry 50 per cent more traffic. The first two bridges opened earlier this year, and the RTA’s project page lists the whole thing as finishing in the third quarter of 2026, so it should be wrapped up or very close.
4. Dubai Harbour Direct Access Bridge: A Shortcut to the Waterfront
Getting to Dubai Harbour from Sheikh Zayed Road used to mean a roundabout trip of about 12 minutes. This 1,500-metre bridge gives you a direct way in and brings that down to roughly three minutes. It’s opening in phases, and the RTA reported it about 90 per cent complete in mid-2026. If you’re coming from Jebel Ali or Deira, this one should make your trips easier.
5. Umm Suqeim Street: A Big Upgrade Well Under Way
This 4.6-kilometre stretch between Al Khail Road and Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road was about 70 per cent complete when the latest updates came out. It’s well past the halfway mark, so drivers who use it should start feeling the difference as more sections open.
6. Hessa Street: One Phase Done, Another Under Way
Phase 1 of the AED 690 million Hessa Street project is open. It covers 4.5 kilometres between Al Khail Road and Sheikh Zayed Road, with four lanes in each direction and new bridges at key junctions. Phase 2 has now started and includes 8.8 kilometres of bridges and upgrades to three major junctions. The RTA hasn’t shared a finish date for it yet.
7. Latifa bint Hamdan Corridor: A 12-Kilometre Link Across the City
This is one of the bigger projects on the list. In July 2026 the RTA awarded a AED 2 billion contract for a new 12-kilometre corridor linking Sheikh Zayed Road, Al Khail Road, Al Meydan Street, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road, Sheikh Zayed bin Hamdan Al Nahyan Street and Emirates Road. It includes seven bridges, eight tunnels and four lanes in each direction on Latifa bint Hamdan Street. The RTA says the trip between Umm Al Sheif Street and Emirates Road will fall from 33 minutes to 15. It’s due to be finished by the end of 2028 and should serve about 650,000 residents and visitors, including people in Nad Al Sheba, Al Barari, Dubai Hills, Mohammed Bin Rashid Gardens and Majan.
8. First Al Khail Street: A New Road Next to Sheikh Zayed Road
This one is still early, but it’s big. First Al Khail Street would run alongside Sheikh Zayed Road between Hadiqa Street and Hessa Street, with about 15 kilometres of raised road and more than 14.5 kilometres of ramps. It would have three lanes in each direction and link areas like Al Barsha, Al Quoz, Business Bay and Meydan. Dubai’s Executive Council approved the plan on 1 July, and the RTA asked contractors to register their interest in September. Companies sent in their interest on 10 October, so the next step is the RTA choosing who can bid for the job. No official start or finish dates have been shared yet.
