Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has unveiled a transformative project to upgrade Al Wasl Road, aimed at reducing travel time by 50% and increasing capacity across one of the city’s busiest corridors.
The 15 kilometre project will extend from the intersection with Umm Suqeim Street to Second December Street, featuring the addition of a new lane, expanding the road from two to three lanes in each direction, and the construction of five two-lane tunnels totalling around 3.8 kilometres. Once complete, the project will increase Al Wasl Road’s capacity from 8,000 to 12,000 vehicles per hour in both directions, dramatically easing congestion.
Six major intersections will be upgraded, including Al Thanya, Al Manara, Umm Al Sheif, Umm Amara, Al Orouba, and Al Safa Streets. The Al Satwa roundabout will also be replaced with a signalised junction to improve traffic flow.
His Excellency Mattar Al Tayer, Director General and Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors at RTA, said the development would significantly improve access to an area home to more than one million residents, and known for its beaches, luxury hotels, upscale dining and residential communities.
The project also integrates creative and aesthetic enhancements, including pedestrian walkways, cycling tracks, landscaped boulevards, and urban spaces designed to enrich the community environment and support active mobility.
Key Developments:
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A three-lane tunnel will be constructed at Al Manara Street, which will branch out into two separate routes, which will connect Sheikh Zayed Road to Jumeirah Street, and from Sheikh Zayed Road to Umm Suqeim Street.
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A two-lane tunnel at Umm Al Sheif Street will span 750 metres, supporting movement from Sheikh Zayed Road to Jumeirah Street.
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A tunnel at Umm Amara Street will cover 700 metres.
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Al Orouba Street will see a 625 metre unidirectional tunnel toward Jumeirah Street, capable of serving 1,400 vehicles per hour.
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Al Safa Street will get a 750 metre tunnel with two lanes in each direction, accommodating 6,400 vehicles per hour.