Dubai unveils major upgrade plan for Umm Suqeim Street
New project adds tunnels, bridges, walkways, boulevards and cycling tracks
DUBAI’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has launched a wide-ranging urban infrastructure project to upgrade Umm Suqeim Street, stretching from its intersection with Jumeirah Street to Al Khail Road.
Designed to support the emirate’s rapid growth and enhance quality of life, the project will increase traffic capacity, reduce congestion, and introduce creative urban enhancements for pedestrians and cyclists. It is part of a broader master plan to develop Jumeirah Street, Al Safa Street, and Al Wasl Street, and ultimately enable seamless traffic movement from Jumeirah to Al Qudra Road, a 20 km corridor.
The project reflects Dubai’s ongoing investment in future-ready infrastructure that integrates aesthetic design with functionality. Pedestrian walkways, dedicated cycling tracks, and boulevards will be introduced, along with vibrant public spaces. New connections to Mall of the Emirates Metro Station will ease access for nearby residents and improve integration with public transport. These works aim to address the demands of expanding residential, commercial, and development zones home to over two million people.
New upgrade plan
Key traffic upgrades include the transformation of six major intersections along Umm Suqeim Street – specifically with Jumeirah Street, Al Wasl Street, Sheikh Zayed Road, First Al Khail Street, Al Asayel Street, and Al Khail Road. The works will include the construction of four bridges and three tunnels totalling 4,100 metres.
A dual-lane tunnel will be built at the intersection with Jumeirah Street, accompanied by a signalised surface junction. At Al Wasl Street, a second tunnel will allow smooth movement from Sheikh Zayed Road to Jumeirah Street while preserving surface traffic. Sheikh Zayed Road will see the development of two bridges to eliminate overlap and improve traffic flow, while First Al Khail Street will get a tunnel to handle traffic from Al Barsha.
Further upgrades include widening the road between First Al Khail and Al Asayel Streets, adding one lane in each direction.
Improved capacity
Once completed, the project will expand Umm Suqeim Street’s capacity to 16,000 vehicles per hour in both directions. Travel time between Jumeirah Street and Al Khail Road will drop from 20 minutes to just six. Vital Dubai districts including Jumeirah, Umm Suqeim, Al Manara, Al Sufouh, Umm Al Sheif, Al Barsha, and Al Quoz will benefit directly.
Meanwhile, construction is already 70% complete on a 4.6-km segment of Umm Suqeim Street from Al Khail Road to Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road. This phase includes an 800-metre tunnel near Kings’ School in Al Barsha South and a surface-level junction, scheduled to open in the third quarter of the year.
Al Qudra expansion
RTA has also begun upgrading Al Qudra Road intersections from Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road to Emirates Road. This includes bridges totalling 2,700 metres in length and the expansion of 11.6 km of existing road. These enhancements are set to cut travel time along this stretch from 9.4 minutes to 2.8 minutes.
A 600-metre bridge on Al Qudra Road will connect Arabian Ranches to Dubai Studio City. Another 700-metre bridge will be constructed at the intersection with Sheikh Zayed bin Hamdan Al Nahyan Street, supported by auxiliary ramps to maintain flow without interruptions. Additional bridges of 500 and 900 metres will handle traffic to Jebel Ali and Dubai International Airport respectively.
To improve development zone accessibility, RTA is also constructing 3 km of service roads along Sheikh Zayed bin Hamdan Al Nahyan Street. Future plans include the development of a new road linking the southern development zone to Emirates Road and increasing lane capacity on both sides to improve access to neighbouring projects.