Dubai achieves 70% progress on road project linking major corridors

Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has announced the completion of 70 per cent of the Umm Suqeim Street Improvement Project, which extends from the intersection with Al Khail Road to the junction with Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Road.

The development is part of a broader master plan for the Umm Suqeim–Al Qudra corridor, a 16 km stretch connecting Jumeirah Street to Emirates Road. This corridor serves several key residential and development zones with a combined population of over one million.

The update was shared by Mattar Al Tayer, Director-General and Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors at the RTA, during a site inspection to review progress and ensure alignment with Dubai’s infrastructure strategy.

The initiative supports Dubai’s urban expansion goals by easing traffic congestion and enhancing road mobility.

The current phase of the project spans 4.6 km, with major works including a revamped Umm Suqeim–Al Barsha South intersection near Kings’ School, construction of an 800-metre tunnel with four lanes in each direction, and a signalised surface-level intersection to improve traffic flow.

When complete, the corridor will connect four major arterial roads - Sheikh Zayed Road, Al Khail Road, Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Road and Emirates Road - and accommodate up to 16,000 vehicles per hour in both directions.

Travel time between Al Khail Road and Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Road is expected to be reduced by 61 per cent, from 9.7 minutes to 3.8 minutes.

Integration with Smart Technology

The RTA is also deploying smart technologies to enhance project delivery. Drones are used to capture and analyse construction progress, while artificial intelligence tracks milestones and performance indicators, and time-lapse imaging systems provide continuous visual monitoring.

These tools have led to a 100 per cent increase in on-site visibility, a 60 per cent reduction in survey time, and a 40 per cent improvement in overall monitoring efficiency.

Completed Milestones

Phase I (2013): Covered the section between Sheikh Zayed Road and Al Khail Road, featuring two major bridges and three pedestrian crossings between Al Quoz and Al Barsha.

2020: A 500-metre bridge was opened at the Dubai Hills–Al Barsha South intersection, offering four lanes in each direction and serving 16,000 vehicles per hour.

The Umm Suqeim–Al Qudra Corridor is one of the RTA’s key east-west traffic arteries, designed to seamlessly integrate with Dubai’s north-south road network and support future growth.