Dubai:Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has officially opened a key 800-metre-long tunnel featuring four lanes in each direction on Umm Suqeim Street, as part of the broader Umm Suqeim Street Development Project. The move is part of RTA’s strategy to enhance road infrastructure in line with Dubai’s growing urban development and rising population.
Key Benefits:
• Improves connectivity between four strategic roads: Sheikh Zayed Road, Al Khail Road, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road, and Emirates Road.
• Cuts travel time between Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road and Al Khail Road by 61%—from 9.7 minutes to just 3.8 minutes.
• Boosts Umm Suqeim Street’s capacity to 16,000 vehicles per hour in both directions.
• Supports traffic needs of over one million residents in nearby communities including Al Barsha South 1, 2, and 3, Dubai Hills, Arjan, and Dubai Science Park.
According to His Excellency Mattar Al Tayer, Director General and Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of RTA, the tunnel stretches from the intersection with Al Khail Road to the intersection with Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road, covering a total project length of 4.6 km. In addition to the new underpass, the project includes upgrades at the Umm Suqeim Street–Al Barsha South Street junction, featuring a surface-level signalised intersection.
“The Umm Suqeim–Al Qudra corridor is a vital part of RTA’s east-west development strategy,” said Al Tayer. “Spanning 16 km from Jumeirah Street to Emirates Road, it improves access between Dubai’s major north-south corridors, easing congestion and boosting urban mobility.”The RTA also integrated advanced smart technology throughout the project. Drones and AI were used to analyse construction data, enhancing site monitoring and accelerating decision-making. This led to a 40% increase in monitoring efficiency, a 60% reduction in field survey duration, and a doubling of on-site operational presence.
The newly opened tunnel forms part of several upgrades RTA has made to Umm Suqeim Street:
• Phase I (2013): Included construction of two major bridges (three lanes in each direction) between Sheikh Zayed Road and Al Khail Road, along with signalised intersections and pedestrian bridges.
• Dubai Hills Upgrade (2020): Introduced a 500-metre, four-lane bridge at the intersection with Dubai Hills and Al Barsha South, also with a capacity of 16,000 vehicles per hour.With this latest addition, RTA continues its mission to create a safer, smarter, and more efficient transport network for Dubai’s residents and visitors.
