Dubai's new road project to reduce travel time from 20 minutes to five

The contract has been awarded for a project that will see the development of Sheikh Zayed bin Hamdan Al Nahyan Street Intersection with Al Awir Road and Al Manama Street to reduce travel time from 20 minutes to five.

Making the announcement on Sunday, Dubai's Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) said the project will see the construction of 2,300 metres of bridges, expansion of lanes, paving of service roads along Sheikh Zayed bin Hamdan Al Nahyan Street and Al Awir Road in both directions, and provision of entrances and exits serving residential and development areas along the corridor.

The project will increase the street’s capacity from 5,200 vehicles per hour in both directions to 14,400 vehicles per hour in both directions—an increase of 176 per cent.

"(It will) serve residential and development areas with a combined population of residents and visitors exceeding 600,000," added Mattar Al Tayer, Director General, Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of RTA.

The completion of the project is expected in the third quarter of 2028.

Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) awards the Contract for Sheikh Zayed bin Hamdan Al Nahyan Street Intersection Development with Al Awir Road and Al Manama Street. The project includes the construction of 2,300 metres of bridges, expansion of lanes, paving of service… pic.twitter.com/00pGgbO73q

— Dubai Media Office (@DXBMediaOffice) December 14, 2025

Intersection of Sheikh Zayed bin Hamdan Street with Al Awir Road

The project will convert the existing roundabout into a grade-separated intersection to improve traffic flow. It will see the construction of main bridges on Sheikh Zayed bin Hamdan Al Nahyan Street with four lanes in each direction, along with ramps for right- and left-turn movements, each comprising two lanes.

It will also see the construction of a bridge at the intersection of Al Awir Road with Emirates Road to serve traffic heading towards Al Awir and Sharjah, as well as developing parallel service roads along Sheikh Zayed bin Hamdan Al Nahyan Street and Al Awir Road in both directions.

Intersection of Sheikh Zayed bin Hamdan Street with Al Manama Street

The surface roads at the intersection of Sheikh Zayed bin Hamdan Al Nahyan Street with Al Manama Street will be upgraded.

Along with the widening Sheikh Zayed bin Hamdan Al Nahyan Street from two to four lanes in each direction to increase capacity and enhancing the signalised surface intersection to improve efficiency.

The project will also provide safe access points to serve the surrounding development areas.

Completed Phases

The improvement of Sheikh Zayed bin Hamdan Al Nahyan Street started with the development of the street’s extension through the construction of a four-lane road in each direction over a 25-km stretch, from its intersection with Dubai–Al Ain Road to the roundabout on Al Yalayis Street. The works included upgrading several intersections along the surrounding road network.

A grade-separated interchange was constructed at the intersection of Sheikh Zayed bin Hamdan Al Nahyan Street with Latifa bint Hamdan Street near the entrance to Global Village for traffic inbound from Emirates Road. A signalised roundabout was also built at the intersection with Al Qudra Street, along with a signalised surface intersection at the junction with Hessa Street. These traffic solutions represent interim improvements that will be further upgraded in future through a package of final traffic enhancements.

The project also included improving Sheikh Zayed bin Hamdan Al Nahyan Street along the section extending from its intersection with Dubai–Al Ain Road to the Academic City roundabout, covering about 3km. The works involved constructing two bridges at the Dubai Silicon Oasis intersection, each 120 metres long and providing four lanes in each direction, with a total capacity of 14,400 vehicles per hour in both directions.

A signalised surface intersection was also constructed beneath the two bridges, comprising 20 lanes in all directions with a capacity of 8,000 vehicles per hour. These improvements were designed to ensure smooth traffic flow towards Dubai Silicon Oasis and Zayed University, as well as to enhance traffic movement at the Academic City roundabout.