Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has opened a new 800-metre tunnel with four lanes in each direction as part of the Umm Suqeim Street Development Project.
The tunnel runs between Al Khail Road and Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road and is designed to significantly improve traffic flow, reducing travel time between key roads by 61%.
This strategic project raises Umm Suqeim Street’s capacity to 16,000 vehicles per hour in both directions and serves over one million residents in nearby communities including Dubai Hills, Arjan, and Al Barsha South. It also improves connectivity between four major corridors: Sheikh Zayed Road, Al Khail Road, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road, and Emirates Road.
His Excellency Mattar Al Tayer, Director General and Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of RTA, highlighted the tunnel’s role in completing a larger 16-km east–west corridor development from Jumeirah Street to Emirates Road, a priority in RTA’s infrastructure strategy.
The project incorporated cutting-edge smart technologies such as AI-powered drone surveillance and time-lapse imaging to improve on-site efficiency by 40% and reduce field survey times by 60%.
RTA previously completed two other major phases of the Umm Suqeim corridor: one in 2013, featuring new bridges and pedestrian crossings; and another in 2020 to support Dubai Hills Mall, including a 500-metre bridge with four lanes in each direction. The new tunnel represents a major milestone in Dubai’s efforts to stay ahead of mobility demands as the city continues to grow.
News Source: Dubai Media Office
