Dubai's Roads and Transport Authority has hit a significant construction milestone, completing 80% of the Al Khaleej Street Tunnel — a 1,650-metre underground link running from the Infinity Bridge ramp in Deira to the intersection of Al Khaleej and Al Wuheida Streets.
The tunnel, featuring three lanes in each direction and a combined capacity of 12,000 vehicles per hour, forms a key component of the broader Al Shindagha Corridor Improvement Project — a 13-kilometre upgrade spanning Sheikh Rashid Street, Al Mina Street, Al Khaleej Street and Cairo Street, covering 15 intersections.
RTA Director General Mattar Al Tayer said the corridor is designed to serve one million people and slash journey times from 104 minutes to just 16 minutes by 2030. Communities and destinations along the route include Dubai Islands, Dubai Maritime City, Waterfront Market, Port Rashid, Abu Hail and Al Mamzar.
On-site, 14 teams are working around the clock on excavation support works, while four dedicated teams are pushing through tunnel excavation at 5,000 to 6,000 cubic metres per day — a rate set to climb to 8,500 cubic metres in the next phase. Structural works for the first 890 metres of the tunnel are already complete, with the remaining 760 metres underway. Tunnel wall cladding, road paving, lighting installation and utility works are all progressing in parallel.
The project has logged nearly 8 million work hours with zero lost-time injuries, supported by 1,591 engineers, technicians and workers and 221 pieces of machinery.
Beyond infrastructure, the tunnel will double as a public artwork. Emirati artist Maryam Hathboor has designed a mosaic mural inspired by banknote illustrations, depicting Dubai's skyline in fine-line detail — including Infinity Bridge — creating an immersive visual experience as users move through the tunnel.
The full corridor project is on track for completion in the fourth quarter of this year.
News Source: Dubai Media Office
