Dubai opens 700-metre bridge to boost traffic flow along Al Qudra Road
New ramps due to open later this year will connect key routes
DUBAI – Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has opened a new 700-metre, four-lane bridge at the intersection of Al Qudra Road and Sheikh Zayed bin Hamdan Al Nahyan Street.
The bridge, which opened on Sunday, has a capacity of 6,000 vehicles per hour and serves traffic travelling along Al Qudra Road towards Al Qudra City. The opening is part of a wider project to upgrade the strategic corridor, improve connectivity and accommodate rising traffic demand across surrounding residential and development areas.
The new bridge completes the traffic configuration at the intersection after RTA opened the opposite bridge in February. That bridge serves vehicles travelling from Al Qudra City towards Umm Suqeim, while the newly opened structure handles traffic in the opposite direction towards Al Qudra City.
More connections
RTA is scheduled to open additional side ramp bridges at the intersection in the fourth quarter of 2026. The ramps will allow vehicles to move smoothly in all directions without disrupting traffic on the main carriageways.
One of the planned bridges will extend 500 metres and serve traffic travelling from Al Qudra Road towards Sheikh Zayed bin Hamdan Al Nahyan Street in the direction of Jebel Ali. Another 900-metre bridge will serve traffic travelling towards Downtown Dubai and Dubai International Airport.
The works also include three kilometres of service roads on both sides of Sheikh Zayed bin Hamdan Al Nahyan Street. These roads will connect the main corridor with surrounding development projects and improve access to communities in the area.
Once the intersection upgrade is completed, its overall capacity will increase from 7,800 to 19,400 vehicles per hour. Waiting time at the intersection is expected to fall by 85 percent, from nearly seven minutes to about one minute.
Mattar Al Tayer, Director General and Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of RTA, said the Al Qudra Road Development Project is being implemented as part of Dubai’s wider efforts to advance its road infrastructure and keep pace with rapid urban and population growth.
He said the project forms part of RTA’s integrated plan to develop key corridors, strengthen connectivity across the road network and accommodate growing traffic demand in existing and future residential and development areas.
Wider project
The Al Qudra Road Development Project includes the upgrading of several intersections and construction of bridges with a combined length of 4,000 metres. It also involves the expansion and development of an 11.6-kilometre section of Al Qudra Road.
According to Al Tayer, the works will increase road capacity and cut journey time along the project section by 70 percent, from 9.4 minutes to 2.8 minutes. The project serves residential and development areas with more than 400,000 residents and visitors.
Al Qudra Road is a major east-west corridor in Dubai, connecting several residential and development areas while linking with key routes across the emirate. The project stretches from the intersection of Al Qudra Road and Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road to Emirates Road.
The corridor serves major communities and developments including Arabian Ranches 1 and 2, Dubai Motor City, Dubai Studio City, Akoya, Mudon, DAMAC Hills and The Sustainable City.
RTA said the improvements are designed to increase traffic efficiency at strategic intersections, facilitate smoother movement between Emirates Road and Al Qudra City, reduce congestion and enhance road safety. The upgrades are also intended to support urban and economic development and improve connectivity for communities along the corridor.
Recent upgrades
The latest bridge is one of several major structures delivered under the Al Qudra Road Development Project.
Earlier this year, RTA opened a 1,200-metre bridge with four lanes in each direction at the intersection of Al Qudra Road and the link road connecting Arabian Ranches with Dubai Studio City. The structure forms part of the main intersections development project along Al Qudra Road, extending from Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road through Sheikh Zayed bin Hamdan Al Nahyan Street and Emirates Road.
The bridge increased capacity at the intersection from 6,600 to 19,200 vehicles per hour and reduced waiting time by 55 percent, from 113 seconds to 52 seconds. It also improved traffic movement along Al Qudra Road and the road linking Arabian Ranches with Dubai Studio City.
In May, RTA opened further improvements at the intersection of Emirates Road and Al Qudra Road. These works included a new service road along Emirates Road towards Jebel Ali and a free-flow loop ramp for vehicles travelling from the city centre via Emirates Road towards Al Qudra City.
Further improvements on the opposite side of the intersection are scheduled to open this month. They include an additional free-flow ramp for traffic travelling from Jebel Ali via Emirates Road towards Umm Suqeim through Al Qudra Road.
Development links
The wider project also covers several major communities, including Town Square, Mira and DAMAC Hills 2, serving more than 400,000 residents and visitors across the areas connected by the corridor.
As part of the works, RTA is increasing the number of lanes in both directions along a 3.4-kilometre section of Al Qudra Road passing through the development zone.
A new 4.8-kilometre road is also being constructed through the southern part of the development zone and will connect with Emirates Road, improving access to and from surrounding communities.
The project further includes increasing the number of lanes on both sides of Emirates Road over a combined length of 4.8 kilometres. The additional capacity is intended to strengthen links with development projects across the area as further infrastructure works progress.