The Roads and Transport Authority has awarded two contracts totaling AED 1.161 billion for the Al Meydan Street Development Project, one of its key strategic initiatives to improve Dubai’s main road network. According to the RTA, the project will form a strategic supporting corridor for Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road and Al Khail Road while increasing north-south traffic capacity by 18 percent. It is set to serve residential and development areas home to more than 500,000 people and is scheduled for completion by the end of 2028. The authority noted that the scheme forms part of the Dubai 2040 Urban Master Plan and the Dubai Economic Agenda D33.
The development will reduce travel time from Al Manama Street and Dubai-Al Ain Road to Umm Suqeim Street from 30 minutes to 10 minutes, a 66 percent improvement, RTA data shows. Works include the construction of 3,700 metres of bridges and 17 kilometres of roads in addition to cycling tracks that will connect to the existing network. The authority indicated that the project will provide alternative routes to ease congestion and boost overall mobility in fast-growing districts.
Mattar Al Tayer, director general and chairman of the board of executive directors at the RTA, highlighted the corridor’s strategic value. Al Tayer said that Al Meydan Street runs parallel to major highways and will strengthen connectivity across the emirate’s road system. In a statement, he noted that the RTA follows a proactive approach to planning and delivery focused on developing an integrated and highly efficient road network that keeps pace with urban population and economic growth while delivering high levels of traffic flow and mobility flexibility.
To accelerate implementation, the RTA divided the works into two contracts while preserving the project’s overall integration. The first contract covers about 14 kilometres of Al Meydan Street between Latifa bint Hamdan Street and Umm Suqeim Street together with Al Marabea’ Street from Dubai Hills to Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road. It includes a grade-separated interchange at the Al Marabea’ and Al Meydan junction with 1,600 metres of bridges and four lanes in each direction according to the authority’s specifications.
The second contract addresses Al Meydan Street from First Al Khail Street through Al Khail Road to Muscat Street along with roughly two kilometres of new surface roads linking back to Latifa bint Hamdan Street. This package will convert the Al Meydan Street-Muscat Street intersection into a multi-level interchange enabling free-flow movement in all directions with an additional 1,400 metres of bridges. The RTA reported that these elements will improve traffic distribution and enhance links between residential communities and commercial zones.
The Al Meydan Street Development Project will integrate with the Latifa bint Hamdan Street Development Project to connect several major arterial roads including Sheikh Zayed Road, Emirates Road and Sheikh Zayed bin Hamdan Al Nahyan Street. RTA assessments from comparable infrastructure initiatives show that such coordinated upgrades have previously supported expanded capacity in similar growth areas. The combined network improvements are expected to accommodate rising demand from both residents and economic activity through the end of the decade.
