New Dubai road project to cut key journeys by 20 minutes
RTA awards Dh1.161bn contracts for major Al Meydan Street development
DUBAI – The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has awarded two contracts for the Al Meydan Street Development Project at a total cost of Dh1.161 billion, marking another major step in the expansion of Dubai’s strategic road network.
The project is designed to improve traffic flow, strengthen connections between key corridors and support the emirate’s continued urban and economic growth. It will include 3,700 metres of bridges, 17 kilometres of roads and cycling tracks connecting with the existing network.
The development is expected to serve several residential and development areas with a combined population of more than 500,000 people and is scheduled for completion by the end of 2028. Once completed, Al Meydan Street will provide a strategic supporting corridor running parallel to Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road and Al Khail Road, while improving movement between several important areas across Dubai.
RTA said the works have been divided into two contracts because of the scale and complexity of the project. The approach is intended to accelerate implementation and allow traffic and development benefits to be realised sooner, while maintaining integration between the different components of the scheme.
Major corridor
The Al Meydan Street Development Project will involve the development of several key intersections and road sections. The works include 3,700 metres of bridges and 17 kilometres of roads, together with cycling tracks designed to strengthen links with Dubai’s existing cycling network.
The project will increase the capacity of north-south traffic corridors by 18%, providing additional options for motorists and improving traffic distribution across the wider road network. It will also significantly reduce journey times on an important route, with travel between Al Manama Street and Dubai-Al Ain Road and Umm Suqeim Street expected to fall from 30 minutes to 10 minutes, representing a 66% reduction.
The project forms part of RTA’s broader efforts to develop an integrated and highly efficient road network capable of keeping pace with Dubai’s urban, population and economic growth. It also supports the objectives of the Dubai 2040 Urban Master Plan and Dubai Economic Agenda D33.
Mattar Al Tayer, Director General and Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of RTA, said the authority continues to deliver strategic projects to develop Dubai’s road network in line with the leadership’s vision of infrastructure as a fundamental pillar of comprehensive development.
He said investment in infrastructure was contributing to Dubai’s competitiveness and reinforcing its position as a global city in which to live, work and invest.
Al Tayer said RTA follows a proactive approach to planning and delivery, focusing on an integrated road network that can accommodate urban and economic growth while maintaining high levels of traffic flow and mobility flexibility.
He added that Al Meydan Street is one of Dubai’s key strategic corridors, running parallel to and supporting Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road and Al Khail Road.
The project will strengthen connectivity across the main road network, provide alternative routes to improve traffic distribution and enhance movement between key areas. It will also increase mobility efficiency between the north and south of the emirate.
According to RTA, the development will support the emirate’s rapid urban growth while providing infrastructure capable of accommodating current and future development projects.
The authority said the project is part of a wider vision to develop Dubai’s strategic road corridors, improve traffic flow, increase network capacity and deliver sustainable traffic solutions in line with the emirate’s comprehensive development plans.
Dual contracts
The first contract covers the development of Al Meydan Street from its intersection with Latifa bint Hamdan Street to Umm Suqeim Street. It also includes the development of Al Marabea’ Street from Dubai Hills to Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road.
Together, these works extend over approximately 14 kilometres.
One of the main components of the first contract is the upgrading of the Al Marabea’ Street and Al Meydan Street intersection into a grade-separated interchange. The interchange will have four lanes in each direction and bridges extending 1,600 metres in total.
The interchange will have a combined capacity of 14,400 vehicles per hour in both directions. It will allow free-flow movement in all directions and establish a direct connection between Umm Suqeim Street and Latifa bint Hamdan Street.
The first contract will also create a direct connection between Al Marabea’ Street and Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road. The connection will have three lanes in each direction and a combined capacity of 7,800 vehicles per hour.
Another major element is a 700-metre elevated link on Dubai-Al Ain Road towards Nad Al Hamar Street. The link will serve residential areas in Nad Al Sheba, improve accessibility and strengthen connections with Dubai’s wider main road network.
The second contract covers Al Meydan Street from its intersection with First Al Khail Street, through Al Khail Road, to its intersection with Muscat Street.
It also includes approximately 2 kilometres of new surface roads connecting Al Meydan Street with Latifa bint Hamdan Street. These connections are intended to improve integration across the road network, strengthen links between key corridors and support smoother movement between residential and development areas.
The contract includes surface improvements at the intersection of Al Khail Road and the collector road towards Ras Al Khor Street. It will also convert the existing signalised intersection of Al Meydan Street and Muscat Street into a multi-level, grade-separated interchange.
The new interchange will provide free-flow movement in all directions and include bridges extending 1,400 metres in total. It will have four lanes in each direction and a combined capacity of up to 14,400 vehicles per hour in both directions.
Cycling links
Cycling infrastructure is also included in the second contract, with an integrated cycling network and underpasses beneath Al Meydan Street forming part of the works.
The underpasses will ensure continuity of cycling routes and connect the new facilities with Dubai’s existing cycling network. The measures are intended to provide safer and more integrated mobility options while strengthening links between different parts of the road and cycling network.
The Al Meydan Street project extends from its intersection with First Al Khail Street to Umm Suqeim Street, passing through several major roads, including Al Khail Road, Latifa bint Hamdan Street and Al Marabea’ Street.
The development also includes Al Marabea’ Street up to Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road, giving the project a wider role in connecting important road corridors and development areas.
RTA said the project’s engineering components and geographical scale made the division into two contracts necessary to accelerate implementation and delivery while preserving the overall integration of the development.
The authority expects the approach to maximise the traffic and development benefits of Al Meydan Street, particularly given its strategic position as a parallel and supporting corridor to Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road and Al Khail Road.
Strategic links
The Al Meydan Street Development Project forms part of RTA’s integrated strategy for developing Dubai’s strategic road corridors. It also complements the recently awarded Latifa bint Hamdan Street Development Project.
Together, the two projects will form an interconnected traffic network linking several of Dubai’s key arterial roads, including Sheikh Zayed Road, Al Khail Road, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road, Emirates Road and Sheikh Zayed bin Hamdan Al Nahyan Street.
The combined network is expected to improve traffic flow, strengthen connectivity between residential and development areas and provide alternative routes designed to support the sustainability and efficiency of Dubai’s road system.
The Al Meydan Street project will support several major communities and development areas, including Dubai Hills, Nad Al Sheba, Mohammed Bin Rashid Gardens, Dubai District One, Al Barari and communities along Al Meydan Street and Latifa bint Hamdan Street.
The areas served by the project have a combined population of more than 500,000, highlighting the scale of the infrastructure planned along the corridor.
RTA said the integrated road network will help accommodate anticipated traffic growth while supporting current and future developments in the areas connected by the project.
The development also follows a series of other road infrastructure projects being implemented across Dubai to increase capacity and improve traffic movement. RTA has recently completed and launched several traffic enhancements on major corridors, including Al Khail Road and Ras Al Khor Road, where additional lanes and upgraded entry and exit points have improved road efficiency.
Recent works on Al Marabea’ Street have also formed part of the wider effort to improve connectivity around Al Meydan and Al Khail Road. RTA completed upgrades on a 1.1-kilometre section between the Al Khail Road exit and Al Asayel Street, increasing capacity by 30% and reducing journey times by up to 30% during peak hours.
The Al Meydan Street development is also connected strategically to the Dh2 billion Latifa bint Hamdan Corridor project awarded by RTA in July. That 12-kilometre corridor links Sheikh Zayed Road through Al Khail Road, Al Meydan Street, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road and Sheikh Zayed bin Hamdan Al Nahyan Street to Emirates Road.
The Latifa bint Hamdan Corridor includes seven bridges extending 2,300 metres and eight tunnels covering 900 metres. It is designed to add 12% capacity to east-west corridors and serve around 650,000 residents and visitors across several existing and future residential and development areas.
That project will also include the development of parts of Al Meydan Street and a new interchange serving development projects in the surrounding area, further integrating the road network.