Dubai Launches Powerful New Road Transformation Plan To Slash Travel Time From Thirty To Seven Minutes By 2027

Published on May 5, 2025

Sheikh Hamdan received a detailed overview of the strategic plan to introduce autonomous taxi services throughout Dubai.

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, assessed the advancement of several high-impact road corridor initiatives currently underway by Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA). These projects are designed to significantly improve traffic movement and overall transportation efficiency throughout the emirate.

During the session, Sheikh Hamdan also examined the timeline for the execution of large-scale road infrastructure developments targeted for completion by the year twenty twenty-seven. These projects are central to accommodating Dubai’s anticipated population growth to eight million by twenty forty. Additionally, he reviewed strategic plans for launching autonomous taxi services and received updates on the progress of the innovative model neighbourhood project in Al Barsha 2.

At the beginning of his visit, Sheikh Hamdan examined a large-scale mural that illustrated the Roads and Transport Authority’s (RTA) upcoming strategic initiatives planned between 2025 and 2027. The visual display highlighted a total of 57 major projects, including the development of 226 kilometres of new roadways and the construction of 115 bridges and tunnels. It also detailed the design and execution of 11 primary road corridors across Dubai, featuring eight vertical routes and three newly proposed transport pathways.

Key developments among the highlighted projects include comprehensive enhancements to critical roadways such as the Umm Suqeim–Al Qudra Corridor, Hessa Street, Latifa bint Hamdan Street (stretching from Al Khail Road to Emirates Road), Al Meydan Street, Al Mustaqbal Street, the Dubai World Trade Centre roundabout, and Al Fay Road. The Al Fay Road project extends Al Khail Road from its junction with Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road, passing through Sheikh Zayed bin Hamdan Al Nahyan Street, and continuing to Emirates Road. These infrastructure upgrades are strategically planned to accommodate Dubai’s expanding population, which is anticipated to reach eight million by the year 2040.

Sheikh Hamdan received an update from Mattar Al Tayer, Director General and Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors at Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), on the advancement of the Umm Suqeim–Al Qudra Corridor Enhancement Project. This 16-kilometre corridor stretches from its starting point at Jumeirah Street to its endpoint at Emirates Road, traversing a range of key residential and urban development areas. The project is crucial for improving connectivity for communities housing over one million residents across its route.

The Umm Suqeim–Al Qudra Corridor project includes the comprehensive redevelopment of four major intersections, along with the construction of bridges and tunnels extending a total of 7,000 metres. Once fully completed, the corridor’s vehicle handling capacity will rise from 8,400 to 12,600 vehicles per hour, significantly cutting travel times from forty-six minutes to just eleven. To ensure efficient and timely delivery, the massive project has been segmented into three distinct phases. The first phase—focused on upgrading the section of Umm Suqeim Street between Al Khail Road and Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road—has already reached the halfway mark, with 50 percent of the work completed.

Hessa Street Development Progress

Sheikh Hamdan also assessed the ongoing improvements along Hessa Street, where portions of the upgraded roadway have already been opened for public use. The entire project is now approximately 60 percent complete. This initiative involves major enhancements to four traffic intersections and the construction of 9,000 metres of elevated bridges. These upgrades are projected to double the road’s traffic capacity, increasing it from 4,000 to 8,000 vehicles per hour while slashing travel time from thirty minutes to just seven. The improvements are poised to benefit nearly 640,000 residents in the surrounding areas.

As part of the Hessa Street transformation, a 13.5-kilometre dedicated cycling and e-scooter track is also being developed. This new track will connect the vibrant districts of Al Sufouh and Dubai Hills. Notably, the route includes two uniquely designed bridges—one that crosses Sheikh Zayed Road and another spanning Al Khail Road. Each bridge is five metres wide, with designated space for both pedestrians and micro-mobility users: three metres reserved for cyclists and e-scooter riders, and two metres for foot traffic.

Al Fay Street Corridor Development

Sheikh Hamdan examined the ongoing progress of the Al Fay Street Corridor, a key component of Dubai’s strategic transportation framework. Designed to enhance regional connectivity, this vital roadway acts as a continuation of Al Khail Road, extending from its intersection with Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road, traversing Sheikh Zayed bin Hamdan Al Nahyan Street, and reaching Emirates Road.

The development encompasses the construction of 12,900 metres of road infrastructure, along with five major junctions featuring a combined 13,500 metres of bridges. Once operational, the corridor will accommodate an estimated 64,400 vehicles per hour, significantly easing congestion and improving mobility for approximately 600,000 residents in surrounding communities.

In addition, Sheikh Hamdan received an in-depth update on enhancement strategies for Sheikh Zayed Road—currently one of the emirate’s busiest thoroughfares, serving over 2.5 million residents. The briefing included data and performance metrics on fast-track mobility solutions and transport policy advancements implemented between January and April 2025, reflecting Dubai’s ongoing commitment to efficient and sustainable urban transit.

Between January and April 2025, Dubai implemented seven rapid-impact traffic interventions that led to a noticeable reduction in congestion levels, ranging from five to ten percent. A newly introduced dynamic tolling system played a crucial role, decreasing overall traffic volume by nine percent while simultaneously increasing public transport usage by four percent. In parallel, the adoption of a flexible parking fee structure resulted in a 2.3 percent drop in road congestion and encouraged a one percent uptick in the use of public transportation.

Sheikh Hamdan was also updated on the city’s integration of advanced technologies to oversee and manage road infrastructure initiatives. Central to this approach is the deployment of drones to capture detailed aerial imagery and monitor construction progress, along with artificial intelligence tools to analyse project data in real time.

These smart solutions have led to a dramatic enhancement in site management, enabling faster, data-driven decision-making and significantly boosting operational accuracy. The technology has effectively doubled the monitoring capacity on construction sites and reduced the duration of field inspections by sixty percent, streamlining workflows and expediting project delivery.

Dubai is integrating cutting-edge technology to streamline construction monitoring, including the use of continuous time-lapse imaging. This innovation enables around-the-clock surveillance of project sites, improving oversight efficiency by 40 percent. By identifying potential issues at early stages, the system has also helped reduce project delays by 20 percent, ensuring timely and cost-effective execution.

Transforming Dubai into a Bicycle-Friendly City

Sheikh Hamdan also evaluated Dubai’s evolving cycling infrastructure, a key element in the emirate’s drive toward sustainable urban mobility. As of now, Dubai features an extensive network of 557 kilometres of purpose-built cycling tracks. An additional 100 kilometres are currently being developed, with plans in place to expand the network by a further 185 kilometres in the coming years.

The growing popularity of cycling is evident in the 47 million bike trips recorded across the city in 2024 alone. To further enrich the cycling experience, Sheikh Hamdan was introduced to a new initiative aimed at assigning distinctive names to each cycling track. This effort seeks to enhance user navigation, establish a stronger identity for each route, and foster deeper collaboration with private sector partners.

Beyond branding, the initiative is designed to stimulate private investment, expand cyclist-focused amenities, and support a vibrant calendar of sporting and recreational events along the cycling corridors—positioning Dubai as a model for active, sustainable, and community-driven transport development.

Sheikh Hamdan was presented with a comprehensive update on Dubai’s ambitious roadmap for the rollout of autonomous taxi services across the emirate. As part of this forward-thinking initiative, the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has entered into strategic partnerships with three globally renowned companies that specialise in self-driving vehicle technologies.

In the initial phase, more than sixty autonomous vehicles will be deployed across various locations to conduct detailed road mapping, collect data, and scan designated routes. This groundwork will pave the way for the second phase, which involves launching pilot services in up to sixty-five specific zones throughout Dubai. These areas have been selected based on multiple criteria, including infrastructure readiness and the emirate’s internationally recognised road safety benchmarks. The full-scale launch of autonomous taxi services is expected in the first quarter of 2026.

This initiative forms a cornerstone of Dubai’s Self-Driving Transport Strategy, which sets a transformative goal: converting twenty-five percent of all trips in the city to autonomous travel modes by 2030. The strategy not only promises to enhance commuter convenience but also aligns with broader goals of sustainability, innovation, and reduced congestion.

In addition, Sheikh Hamdan reviewed the latest developments of the Model District Project in Al Barsha 2. Designed to elevate urban living standards, this project focuses on expanding green landscapes and public open spaces, enhancing pedestrian pathways, and fostering eco-friendly transportation solutions. It seeks to create a neighbourhood where residents can move safely and comfortably without depending on personal vehicles—an initiative closely aligned with the Dubai 2040 Urban Master Plan’s vision for a more connected, sustainable, and livable city.

The initiative aligns with Dubai’s visionary ‘20-minute city’ model, which seeks to ensure residents can conveniently access essential services—such as schools, clinics, shopping outlets, recreational facilities, mosques, and childcare centers—within a 20-minute walk or bike ride. This concept champions sustainable and human-centric mobility, aiming to elevate the overall quality of life across the emirate.

As part of this vision, the Model District in Al Barsha 2 will be equipped with 17 kilometres of seamlessly integrated pedestrian and cycling tracks. These pathways will connect the neighbourhood to major hubs including Mall of the Emirates, the Al Quoz Creative Zone, the Hessa Street cycling route, and the extensive walking and cycling network in Dubai Hills. The routes will further extend to popular residential and tourist zones such as Al Sufouh and Jumeirah Beach, creating a well-connected, active mobility ecosystem.

The project also includes the development of three community-centric rest areas designed specifically for walkers and cyclists. It will enhance public green spaces by planting over 590 new trees, creating shaded, cooler environments. Additional upgrades include smart seating equipped with shading structures, and the installation of two rental stations for bicycles and e-scooters, making sustainable transport options more accessible and convenient for residents and visitors alike.