Dubai's New Tunnel Slashes Travel Times

Dubai Transportation: New Tunnel and Road Upgrades Cut Travel Time by Over 60%

Transport development projects are ongoing in the city of Dubai to make life easier for residents and visitors. The massive undertaking, known as the Umm Suqeim Street Improvement Project, is currently more than 70% complete, aiming to significantly reduce travel time between Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Road and Al Khail Road. The total budget for the project exceeds 332 million dirhams and is expected to reduce travel time from 9.7 minutes to 3.8 minutes – a 61% improvement.

A part of the investment includes an 800-meter-long tunnel providing four lanes in each direction along the section of Umm Suqeim Street, in the Al Barsha South area near the Kings’ School. The project extends over a total of 4.6 km, stretching to the intersection of Al Khail Road and Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Road. However, the development doesn’t stop there: it aims to enhance the entire Umm Suqeim-Al Qudra corridor (16 km long), which stretches from Jumeirah Street to Emirates Road.

What can residents expect?

Upon completion, the new road network will facilitate the transportation needs of over one million residents in high-traffic areas like Al Barsha South 1, 2, and 3, Dubai Hills, Arjan, and Dubai Science Park. The capacity expansion allows for up to 16,000 vehicles per hour in both directions, significantly improving traffic flow and reducing congestion.

History and Phases

The first phase of the development was completed in 2013, in which two bridges were built with three lanes each in both directions on the section between Sheikh Zayed Road and Al Khail Road. This was followed in 2020 by the opening of a major bridge near Dubai Hills Mall, which is 500 meters long and has four lanes in each direction, also with a capacity for 16,000 vehicles per hour.

Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA)