What traffic conditions have improved on Dubai’s Sheikh Zayed Road?
With less congestion in the area
Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has completed rapid traffic enhancements on Sheikh Zayed Road in Dubai City, marking a significant step in optimising the emirate’s road network.
The enhancements aim to improve traffic efficiency, reduce congestion at critical intersections, and increase overall road capacity in the central business district of the Arabian Gulf city. The development is part of the Authority’s strategy to implement traffic solutions on Dubai’s most important routes, keeping pace with the emirate’s rapid urban growth and expanding infrastructure.
Sheikh Zayed Road connects high-traffic residential areas with Dubai’s economic hubs, including the Dubai International Financial Centre, Burj Khalifa, and Dubai Mall, as well as multinational corporations, hotels, investment firms, and entertainment facilities.
The project’s main objective was to reduce congestion and improve the efficiency of Sheikh Zayed Road, a primary route for both business and commuters. As part of the enhancement work, the Authority has expanded the service road adjacent to the Financial Centre Metro Station in the direction of Abu Dhabi. The number of lanes has been increased from three to four, boosting road capacity by 25%. This upgrade now accommodates 3,200 vehicles per hour, up from the previous capacity of 2,400 cars.
The improvement has significantly reduced congestion in the area, eliminating long vehicle queues and enhancing traffic flow. The journey time through this section has decreased from five minutes to just two minutes, offering motorists a smoother and quicker travel experience.
Furthermore, the Authority has optimised the traffic merging distance between Al Khail Road and Financial Centre Street in the Dubai-bound direction. By extending the merging distance, the traffic flow has been eased, leading to a 25% reduction in journey times along this section of Sheikh Zayed Road.
Previously, the journey time from this section would take around four minutes; however, the new measures have reduced it to just three minutes, further improving overall traffic efficiency.
Image: The service road adjacent to the Financial Centre Metro Station in the direction of Abu Dhabi now has four lanes, up from three. Credit: Dubai’s RTA
