Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has announced the completion of a key expansion project on Sheikh Zayed Road, one of the city’s most vital and heavily used highways. The upgrade, aimed at easing congestion and improving commuter journeys, has introduced an additional lane near the Umm Al Sheif Street exit.
The project involved widening a 700-metre stretch of the road, increasing the number of lanes from six to seven. This expansion has boosted the highway’s overall capacity by 16 per cent, allowing it to accommodate up to 14,000 vehicles per hour. Officials expect the improvement to not only reduce bottlenecks but also enhance overall road safety by easing traffic density during peak periods.
Sheikh Zayed Road plays a central role in Dubai’s transport network. Running through the heart of the city, it connects major residential areas with leading commercial, financial, and cultural landmarks. Among the prominent destinations along the highway are the Dubai International Financial Centre, Burj Khalifa, and Dubai Mall. Its importance as an economic and commuter corridor makes efficiency upgrades essential to keeping pace with the emirate’s rapid growth.
The new lane specifically addresses traffic challenges for vehicles entering Dubai from Abu Dhabi. By eliminating overlapping entry points at the Umm Al Sheif junction, a known congestion hotspot, the project is expected to significantly cut travel times during evening rush hours.
RTA emphasised that this expansion is part of a broader strategy to enhance traffic flow across the emirate. Several infrastructure projects are currently underway to ensure Dubai’s road network remains efficient, safe, and capable of meeting the needs of a growing population and economy.
