New bridges, tunnels and highways: How Dubai plans to beat traffic and cut commute timesLast updated: July 15, 2026 | 09:005 MIN READFrom Hessa Street and Al Qudra Road to Dubai Islands and the World Trade Centre Roundabout, the developments are designed to increase road capacity, improve connectivity and significantly reduce travel times.RTA/SuppliedDubai: Dubai continues to invest heavily in road infrastructure, with the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) rolling out major projects aimed at reducing congestion, cutting travel times and improving connectivity across the emirate. Several projects are already partially open, while others are nearing completion and set to transform daily commutes for hundreds of thousands of residents.Here are the key Dubai road projects to watch and how they will impact motorists in the coming years.Get updated faster and for FREE: Download the Gulf News app now - simply click here.1. Dh2 billion mega road project to ease trafficRTA is building a major new road project worth Dh2 billion to reduce traffic congestion and make travel faster. The 12-kilometre Latifa bint Hamdan Corridor will link major roads including Sheikh Zayed Road, Al Khail Road, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road and Emirates Road.Scheduled for completion by the end of 2028, the corridor is expected to serve more than 650,000 residents and visitors and accommodate over 130,000 vehicle trips daily.How will it improve travel?One of the biggest improvements is for drivers travelling between Umm Al Sheif Street and Emirates Road:Current travel time: 33 minutesExpected travel time after the project: 15 minutesTime saving: 18 minutes (54% faster)The capacity of Dubai's east-west road network will increase by 12%.Traffic flow should improve on major roads such as:Al Khail RoadDubai–Al Ain RoadUmm Suqeim StreetSheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road2. Hessa Street Development Project (Phase 2)The new phase covers a 3km stretch from Al Khail Road to Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road and includes:8.8km of bridgesA 480-metre tunnelUpgrades to three major intersectionsImproved entry and exit points on surrounding roadsKey benefits:Once complete, the project will double road capacity and reduce travel times from 24 minutes to just five minutes. It will also provide a direct connection between Al Khail Road and Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road.The project is expected to benefit around 650,000 residents across 10 communities, including Jumeirah Village Circle (JVC) and Al Barsha South.3. Dubai Harbour Direct Access BridgeRTA has completed around 90 per cent of a major bridge project that will provide direct access from Sheikh Zayed Road to Dubai Harbour. Opened on June 19, the bridge features two lanes in each direction and can accommodate up to 6,000 vehicles per hour.Key benefit - The project will significantly improve access to Dubai Harbour while reducing traffic pressure on surrounding roads.4. Oud Maitha Road and Al Asayel Street upgradeThe project includes:Development of four major intersectionsA new left-turn slip road from Oud Maitha Road to Sheikh Rashid Road towards Al Garhoud Bridge4.3km of bridges14km of upgraded roadsKey benefitsImproved connectivity between Al Asayel Street and Al Khail Road50 per cent increase in Oud Maitha Road capacityEnhanced traffic movement at key intersections5. Umm Suqeim Street Improvement ProjectThe upgrade forms part of the larger 16km Umm Suqeim–Al Qudra Corridor, which stretches from Jumeirah Street to Emirates Road.As one of Dubai’s key east-west traffic corridors, the project is designed to improve integration with major north-south routes across the city.Key benefit - Once completed, the corridor will serve residential and development areas with a combined population exceeding one million residents.6. Al Qudra Road Development ProjectMajor sections of the Al Qudra Road project are already operational, with several new bridges opened to traffic earlier this year. Completed works include a 600-metre bridge linking Al Qudra Road with the road connecting Arabian Ranches and Dubai Studio City.Additional works under construction include:A 700-metre bridge at the intersection of Al Qudra Road and Sheikh Zayed bin Hamdan Al Nahyan StreetA 900-metre bridge carrying traffic towards Dubai city centre and Dubai International Airport3km of new service roadsKey benefits - Upon full completion, the upgraded intersection will increase vehicle capacity, reduce waiting times by 85 per cent and cut delays from 393 seconds to just 60 seconds.7. Dubai Islands and Bur Dubai Bridge ConnectionThe wider development includes:A new bridge over Dubai Creek between the Infinity Bridge and Port Rashid areaDedicated cycling and pedestrian tracksImproved access to Dubai IslandsKey benefits Better connectivity between Dubai Islands and Bur DubaiTravel times along the Al Shindagha Corridor reduced from 104 minutes to 16 minutes by 2030.9. World Trade Centre Roundabout Development ProjectThe project involves:Five bridges spanning 5kmThe existing roundabout will be replaced with a traffic light-controlled intersection, helping improve traffic flow and reduce congestion during peak hours.Integration with the Al Mustaqbal Street Development ProjectIn June 2026, RTA opened a new 1km bridge connecting Sheikh Zayed Road to Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Street. The two-lane structure accommodates up to 3,000 vehicles per hour and reduces journey times from six minutes to just one minute. Two additional bridges are scheduled to open in October 2026.Key BenefitsDelay times reduced from 12 minutes to 90 secondsFaster access to Al Karama and DeiraImproved traffic flow between key routes across central DubaiAlso In This PackageRelated Topics:Get Updates on Topics You ChooseUp Next