The bridge in the Oud Metha area of Dubai.

Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has launched a significant infrastructure project that promises to slash travel times through the bustling Oud Metha area from 20 minutes to just 5 minutes by 2030. This ambitious upgrade, part of the Sheikh Rashid Corridor Development Project, will transform Oud Metha and Al Asayel Streets, easing congestion and enhancing road safety. The RTA recently awarded a contract for the Oud Metha and Al Asayel Streets Development Project, which aims to connect Al Asayel Street to Al Khail Road via Al Nawras Street. This new infrastructure will also offer a direct exit to Oud Metha and Al Nawras Streets, benefiting major service and residential areas such as Zabeel, Al Jaddaf, Umm Hurair, and Latifa Hospital. According to Mattar Al Tayer, Director-General and Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of the RTA, “This project is one of the most important infrastructure developments we’ve undertaken. It will improve traffic flow and provide relief to commuters traveling through key areas of Dubai.” The development plan includes constructing four major intersections, 4,300 meters of bridges, and 14 kilometers of roads. These improvements will increase Oud Metha Street’s capacity by 50 percent, expanding from 10,400 vehicles per hour to 15,600. By 2030, the project is expected to cater to a population of over 420,000, cutting travel time by 75 percent. Key upgrades include a left-turn lane at the intersection of Oud Metha Street and Sheikh Rashid Street, boosting capacity to 1,800 vehicles per hour. Additionally, improvements to the service road on Sheikh Rashid Street will alleviate current traffic congestion, while the number of right-turn lanes for traffic heading to Dubai-Al Ain Road will increase, raising capacity to 4,000 vehicles per hour. The second intersection will feature two new bridges connecting Al Asayel Street to Al Khail Road. The first, a two-lane bridge, will accommodate 2,400 vehicles per hour, while the second, a three-lane bridge, will handle 3,600 vehicles per hour. A separate two-lane bridge will facilitate left-turn traffic from Al Asayel to Oud Metha Street, serving 2,400 vehicles per hour. One of the project's most impactful changes will be at the third intersection, located at Al Nawras Street and Al Khail Road. A two-lane bridge with a capacity of 3,000 vehicles per hour will be constructed, easing traffic flow from Al Asayel towards Al Khail Road and onward to Business Bay Crossing. Al Nawras Street itself will be upgraded with expanded exits and a new service road, improving parking availability and overall traffic safety. The final upgrade will take place at the intersection of Zabeel Palace Street, where the addition of a lane on the left-turn ramp will double the capacity from 900 to 1,800 vehicles per hour. A new single-lane tunnel will also serve traffic from Dubai-Al Ain Road to Al Nawras Street, addressing existing traffic overlap. These extensive developments are part of the larger Sheikh Rashid Corridor Development Project, a key strategic initiative for Dubai’s infrastructure. In earlier phases, the RTA has successfully upgraded Ras Al Khor Road, increasing its capacity to 10,000 vehicles per hour, and reducing travel times from 20 minutes to 7 minutes.

Project highlights

• Completion date: 2030 • Affected streets: Oud Metha Street, Al Asayel Street, Al Nawras Street, Sheikh Rashid Street, Al Khail Road, Zabeel Palace Street, Dubai-Al Ain Road • Vehicle capacity increase: Oud Metha Street: From 10,400 vehicles per hour to 15,600 • Forecast travel time reduction: From 20 minutes to 5 minutes • Major structures: Four intersections, 4,300 meters of bridges, 14 kilometers of roads • Population served: Over 420,000 by 2030
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