Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has announced that 70% of the Umm Suqeim Street Improvement Project has been completed.
The project stretches 4.6 km from Al Khail Road to Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Road and is part of a wider development plan covering a 16 km corridor from Jumeirah Street to Emirates Road.
Key corridor upgrades
The road upgrade is part of a broader strategy to improve east-west connectivity in Dubai. Once complete, it will link major roads including Sheikh Zayed Road, Al Khail Road, Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Road, and Emirates Road.
The corridor is expected to handle up to 16,000 vehicles per hour in both directions and cut travel time between Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Road and Al Khail Road by 61%, from 9.7 minutes to 3.8 minutes.
During a recent site visit, Mattar Al Tayer, Director General and Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors at RTA, reviewed the progress.
He said, “Umm Suqeim–Al Qudra Corridor Improvement Project is one of RTA’s key strategic transverse (east-west) traffic corridors, designed to enhance integration with vertical (north-south) road corridors.”
Tunnel and intersection works
The ongoing phase includes the construction of a major tunnel near Kings’ School at the Umm Suqeim–Al Barsha South intersection. The 800-metre tunnel will feature four lanes in each direction, supported by a signalised intersection at surface level.
The corridor is designed to serve several key residential and commercial areas, including Al Barsha South 1, 2, and 3, Dubai Hills, Arjan, and Dubai Science Park, which collectively have a population of over one million.
Use of smart technology
RTA is applying smart technologies to monitor the progress of the roadworks. Drones are being used to capture site data, while artificial intelligence tracks construction performance. According to RTA, this approach has improved operational efficiency, doubled on-site presence, and cut site survey times by 60%.
Time-lapse imaging systems are also in use, contributing to a 40% improvement in project monitoring.
Earlier completed phases
The first phase of the project, completed in 2013, covered the section from Sheikh Zayed Road to Al Khail Road. It included two bridges, multiple intersections, and pedestrian overpasses. In 2020, a key bridge was added at the intersection of Umm Suqeim Street and the entrance to Dubai Hills and Al Barsha South, with capacity for 16,000 vehicles per hour.
The improvements are part of RTA’s wider efforts to support urban growth and enhance road infrastructure across the emirate.
