Dubai announces new 16.5 km roads plan to ease traffic congestion
Upgrades in Al Awir 1 to benefit 300,000 residents
Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has announced a comprehensive plan to construct 16.5 km of internal roads in Al Awir 1.
This is part of a strategic initiative to enhance connectivity, improve traffic flow, and accommodate urban growth.
The project will kick off in May 2025 and is set to be completed within a year.
Central to this development is a new entrance from Emirates Road, designed to streamline access to the Al Awir 1 area. The plan includes constructing intersections and roundabouts to reduce congestion and facilitate smoother traffic movement. A 4 km lane will also be added to Emirates Road, extending from the Al Awir 1 entrance to Sharjah, expected to boost the road’s capacity by 16 percent.
وقال معالي مطر الطاير المدير العام ورئيس مجلس المديرين في هيئة الطرق والمواصلات: يأتي تنفيذ المشروع، في إطار حرص هيئة الطرق والمواصلات على تطوير البنية التحتية الأساسية لشبكة الطرق والإنارة وتصريف مياه الأمطار في المناطق السكنية لتلبية الزخم المروري المتزايد، وتحسين انسيابية… pic.twitter.com/MA1U0JEmzo
— RTA (@rta_dubai) January 5, 2025
RTA’s Director-General, Mattar Al Tayer, highlighted the project’s significance, saying, “The new roads and access points will double the area’s capacity, increasing it from 1,500 vehicles per hour to 3,000 vehicles per hour. This upgrade will drastically reduce travel time and enhance road safety in Al Awir 1, a key residential hub comprising villas, mosques, and essential service buildings.”
Al Awir 1 project: Key features
The project includes:
5 km of internal roads: These will be built within the Mohammed bin Rashid Housing Establishment residential project.
7.5 km dual-lane road: Connecting Emirates Road to Al Awir 1, this road will feature intersections, U-turns, and roundabouts to ensure seamless connectivity.
Expanded Emirates Road: A new 4 km lane with a speed limit of 110 km/h will handle an additional 2,000 vehicles per hour.
His Excellency Mattar Al Tayer, Director-General, Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of the RTA, stated: “This project aligns with RTA’s commitment to enhancing infrastructure in residential areas, including road networks, lighting, and rainwater drainage systems. The… pic.twitter.com/XUkmRLpCFu
— RTA (@rta_dubai) January 5, 2025
Developments across Dubai
While Al Awir 1 is a key focus, the RTA is simultaneously undertaking road infrastructure improvements in other residential areas.
Al Warqa
In Al Warqa, a direct entrance and exit from Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road is being developed. This project aims to:
- Increase Al Warqa 1 Street’s capacity by 30%.
- Cut travel time by 80%, from 20 minutes to just 3.5 minutes.
- Shorten travel distances from 5.7 km to 1.5 km.
Nadd Hessa
The Nadd Hessa development features a dual-lane road connecting Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road and Sheikh Zayed bin Hamdan Al Nahyan Street.
This will:
- Serve a population of over 300,000 residents.
- Handle up to 6,000 vehicles per hour.
- Reduce travel time by 80%, from 138 seconds to 37 seconds.
- Boosting Connectivity with U-Turns and Roundabouts
Wadi Al Safa 3
A 4 km road network in Wadi Al Safa 3 will:
- Create a direct entrance from Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road.
- Cut travel time from 10 minutes to just 2 minutes.
- Reduce travel distances by approximately 10 km.
Al Barsha South
Recent upgrades in Al Barsha South included adding a third left-turn lane at Hessa Street’s intersection and widening the road by two lanes over a 1.1 km stretch.
These changes have:
- Increased road capacity from 6,000 to 9,000 vehicles per hour.
- Reduced signal wait times from four minutes to one minute.
In line with the leadership direction to enhance infrastructure in residential areas to support Dubai’s urban and demographic growth while promoting residents’ well-being and happiness, #RTA is undertaking a project to construct 16.5 km of internal roads in Al Awir 1.
— RTA (@rta_dubai) January 5, 2025
The project… pic.twitter.com/exy0jrctv4
These projects underscore RTA’s commitment to building world-class infrastructure that supports Dubai’s growth. With enhanced road networks, improved traffic flow, and reduced travel times, residents and commuters alike stand to benefit from these transformative developments.