Drivers in Dubai, Sharjah and the northern emirates are about to see a major shift. The UAE government has announced a Dh170 billion investment in roads and transport infrastructure, centred on a brand-new federal highway corridor and sweeping upgrades to the country’s existing main routes.
What’s in the plan for the new highway
At the core of the package: a potential 4th federal highway stretching approximately 120 km, built with 12 lanes and the capacity to handle around 360,000 trips per day. If approved and delivered by 2030, this corridor will join the three well-known federal routes that today carry a massive load of commuter and freight traffic.
Complementing this highway, the existing network is being upgraded to boost capacity, ease bottlenecks and improve travel times across the emirates.
Upgrades to existing major arteries
Alongside building a new corridor, the plan highlights major widening and enhancement work on key routes:
- The highway known as “Etihad Road” will gain six lanes (three in each direction), bringing total lanes to 12 and increasing capacity by about 60 %.
- The “Emirates Road” (E611) will expand to 10 lanes across its length, increasing capacity by approximately 65 % and targeting a travel-time reduction of about 45 %.
- The “Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road” will also be upgraded to 10 lanes, boosting capacity by around 45 %.
The overall aim is to raise the efficiency of the federal road network by some 73 % in the next five years, increasing lane counts significantly.
These improvements mean not just more asphalt—but a more fluid, efficient flow of traffic linking the country’s major hubs.
for everyday life
For residents, this isn’t just infrastructure jargon. It means fewer frustrating jams, smoother rides between cities and more predictable travel times. Especially for commuters travelling between Dubai and the northern emirates, the benefits could be real: less time spent stuck on the road, more time for life, for family, for work.
Beyond convenience, the upgrades also support broader goals: smart mobility, sustainable transport, and linking people and places better. The investment aligns with the UAE’s forward-looking vision of modern infrastructure that supports growth, commerce and quality of life.
What lies ahead and what to keep in mind
While the ambition is high, key factors will determine how smoothly the journey unfolds. Project timelines, funding flows, and coordination across Emirates and agencies—all need to align. During construction phases, there may still be an impact on daily traffic. Also important: how these road upgrades tie into public transport, rail links and future mobility trends like autonomous vehicles.
For those planning their daily routes or real-estate decisions, it’s worth keeping an eye on how these corridors evolve. The new highway could shift how people live, work and move in the UAE in the coming years.
The Dh170 billion roads and transport investment sets the stage for a major rethink of how we travel in the UAE. With a new 120 km, 12-lane national highway and upgrades across existing corridors, the promise of smoother commutes and better connectivity is firmly on the table. Stay tuned as the vision moves toward reality.
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