Dubai’s AED16-billion ($4.36 billion) 2024-2027 Main Roads Development Plan will add 22 projects across the emirate’s expanding road network, benefiting over six million people and supporting Dubai’s comprehensive development plans, it has been revealed.

The emirate last month also gave the go-ahead for the five-year (2025-2029) plan for internal roads development, which encompasses 21 projects spread across 12 residential, commercial, and industrial areas, with a total of 634 km of new roads being built at a cost of AED3.7 billion.

HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defence, and Chairman of The Executive Council of Dubai, last month (November) reviewed the transformative initiatives of Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) aimed at advancing urban mobility and infrastructure, a Wam report said.

Among the key projects are the Latifa bint Hamdan Street development set to commence next year. This project covers 12,200 m from its intersection with Al Khail Road to Emirates Road, encompassing 8,100 m of bridges. Serving over one million residents, the project will accommodate 6,000 vehicles per hour in both directions and reduce travel time by 15–20 per cent.

The plan also includes the Meydan Road development project, which will involve 10,600 m of roads, 3,300 m of bridges, and three tunnels totalling 1,500 m, benefiting around one million residents. It is expected to add capacity for 22,000 vehicles per hour in both directions and reduce travel time from Umm Suqeim Street to the extension of Meydan Street to just four minutes.

RTA has awarded the contract for the Trade Centre Roundabout development project, which includes the construction of five bridges totalling 5,000 m. The roundabout will be converted into signallised intersection, reducing delays from 12 minutes to just 90 seconds. By the end of this year, RTA will also award the contract for the Al Mustaqbal Street development project.

Meanwhile, the five-year internal road development plan, which was approved by HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister of the UAE, Ruler of Dubai, covers 12 areas with urbanisation rates ranging from 30 to 80 per cent Next year, internal roads will be constructed in Nad El Sheba 3 and Al Amardi, serving 482 housing units n Mohammed bin Rashid Housing Establishment project.

Additional internal roads will be developed in Hatta, also serving 100 housing units in Mohammed bin Rashid Housing Establishment project. In 2026, RTA will construct 92 km of roads in Nadd Hessa, and Al Awir 1, and 45 km of roads in Al Athbah, Mushrif, and Hatta, along with 14 km of roads in Warsan 3 (Industrial Area) in 2027.