Quick answer
- Abu Dhabi Mobility is closing the two left lanes of Shakhbout Bin Sultan Street in Al Ain from 11:45pm on Friday 16 October to 6:00am on Monday 19 October 2026.
- Stage two of the Etisalat Underpass closure on Khalid Bin Sultan Street in Al Ain is listed until Sunday 18 October 2026, with closure hours of 11:30pm to 5:00am.
- In Abu Dhabi city, one right lane on Sheikh Zayed Bridge in the direction of Abu Dhabi is closed from 12:00am on Saturday 17 October to 6:00am on Monday 19 October 2026.
- An earlier closure of the two right lanes on Shakhbout Bin Sultan Street in Al Ain ran from 9 to 12 October 2026 and has ended.
Abu Dhabi Mobility has closed two lanes of Shakhbout Bin Sultan Street in Al Ain again this weekend, from 16 to 19 October 2026, while the staged Etisalat Underpass closure on Khalid Bin Sultan Street runs until 18 October. Drivers in Al Ain, and those crossing Sheikh Zayed Bridge into Abu Dhabi city, should expect delays and follow the diversion signs.
Update, 17 October 2026
Abu Dhabi Mobility has announced a fresh weekend closure on Shakhbout Bin Sultan Street in Al Ain, less than a week after the first one ended. In a notice published on 16 October, it said the two left lanes will close from 11:45pm on Friday 16 October until 6:00am on Monday 19 October 2026. The earlier closure took out the two right lanes, so this time drivers need to keep to the right through the work zone.
The second stage of the Etisalat Underpass closure on Khalid Bin Sultan Street is still listed until Sunday 18 October 2026, with closure hours of 11:30pm to 5:00am. That means both Al Ain closures overlap on Friday and Saturday night.
Elsewhere in the emirate, Abu Dhabi Mobility has also announced the closure of one right lane on Sheikh Zayed Bridge in the direction of Abu Dhabi, from 12:00am on Saturday 17 October to 6:00am on Monday 19 October 2026. The Al Ain notice tags Abu Dhabi Police and Al Ain City Municipality, and the bridge notice tags Abu Dhabi Police and Abu Dhabi City Municipality.
| Road | What is closed | From | Until |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shakhbout Bin Sultan Street, Al Ain | Two left lanes | Friday 16 October 2026, 11:45pm | Monday 19 October 2026, 6:00am |
| Khalid Bin Sultan Street (Etisalat Underpass), Al Ain | Underpass, stage two (11:30pm to 5:00am) | Wednesday 14 October 2026 | Sunday 18 October 2026 |
| Sheikh Zayed Bridge, towards Abu Dhabi | One right lane | Saturday 17 October 2026, 12:00am | Monday 19 October 2026, 6:00am |
The first two Al Ain road closures in this story were announced on 9 October 2026. Abu Dhabi Mobility, the Integrated Transport Centre, published both traffic notices, working with Abu Dhabi Police and Al Ain City Municipality. One affects the Etisalat Underpass on Khalid Bin Sultan Street, and the other affected Shakhbout Bin Sultan Street, which is now closed again under the 16 October notice above.
What Abu Dhabi Mobility announced
In its first notice, Abu Dhabi Mobility said the Etisalat Underpass on Khalid Bin Sultan Street in Al Ain will close in stages. The map it shared marks stage one and stage two in different colours along Khalid Bin Sultan Street, so the section affected changes between the two stages.
In a second notice, it announced a partial closure on Shakhbout Bin Sultan Street in Al Ain, where the two right lanes are closed for the weekend. The remaining lanes stay open, so traffic can still use the road, but with less space.
Al Ain road closures: key dates and times
| Road | What is closed | From | Until | Hours listed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shakhbout Bin Sultan Street | Two left lanes (partial closure) | Friday 16 October 2026, 11:45pm | Monday 19 October 2026, 6:00am | Continuous |
| Khalid Bin Sultan Street (Etisalat Underpass) | Underpass, stage one (ended) | Saturday 10 October 2026 | Wednesday 14 October 2026 | 12:00am to 11:30pm |
| Khalid Bin Sultan Street (Etisalat Underpass) | Underpass, stage two | Wednesday 14 October 2026 | Sunday 18 October 2026 | 11:30pm to 5:00am |
| Shakhbout Bin Sultan Street | Two right lanes (partial closure, ended) | Friday 9 October 2026, 11:45pm | Monday 12 October 2026, 6:00am | Continuous |
The times above are exactly as Abu Dhabi Mobility listed them. If you are unsure whether the underpass is open at a particular hour, follow the signs at the approach and allow for a detour.
What it means for drivers
The Etisalat Underpass closure is the longer of the two and runs for nine days in total, from 10 to 18 October. Drivers who normally use the underpass to pass under the junction on Khalid Bin Sultan Street should expect to be diverted to the surface roads while the work is under way, and to meet slower traffic around the closure.
Stage two is listed with overnight hours, from 11:30pm to 5:00am, which suggests the busiest daytime traffic will be less affected in the second half of the works. Even so, late evening and early morning commuters, delivery drivers and shift workers should plan for it.
On Shakhbout Bin Sultan Street, the first closure took away the two right lanes from 9 to 12 October. The second closure takes away the two left lanes from 16 to 19 October, so drivers face merging and a narrower road through the work zone again this weekend. It ends at 6:00am on Monday 19 October, before the start of the working week.
Practical tips for driving in Al Ain this week
- Check the timings before you leave. Use the table above and Abu Dhabi Mobility’s notices to see which stage of the underpass closure is in force.
- Follow the diversion signs and instructions from police on site, even if your navigation app suggests another route.
- Merge early on Shakhbout Bin Sultan Street. This weekend the left lanes are closed, so move to the right well before the work zone instead of cutting in at the last moment.
- Slow down near the works. Road crews and equipment may be close to live lanes, especially at night.
- Leave extra time for school runs and the commute, particularly during stage one of the underpass closure.
Drivers in Abu Dhabi should also take care when reversing in traffic. Read our story on the Abu Dhabi reversing fine, which carries Dh500 and 4 black points. For closures across the country, see our UAE road closures tracker, which lists current official closures in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah.
FAQs
Which roads are closed in Al Ain this weekend?
The two left lanes of Shakhbout Bin Sultan Street are closed from 16 to 19 October 2026, and stage two of the Etisalat Underpass closure on Khalid Bin Sultan Street is listed until 18 October. Both closures were announced by Abu Dhabi Mobility.
When will the Etisalat Underpass in Al Ain reopen?
Abu Dhabi Mobility listed the second stage of the closure as running from Wednesday 14 October to Sunday 18 October 2026, 11:30pm to 5:00am. Drivers should follow the signs on site and check Abu Dhabi Mobility for any change to these dates.
Is Shakhbout Bin Sultan Street fully closed?
No. Abu Dhabi Mobility has closed only the two left lanes, from 11:45pm on Friday 16 October to 6:00am on Monday 19 October 2026. An earlier partial closure of the two right lanes ran from 9 to 12 October 2026.
Is Sheikh Zayed Bridge closed this weekend?
One right lane on Sheikh Zayed Bridge in the direction of Abu Dhabi is closed from 12:00am on Saturday 17 October to 6:00am on Monday 19 October 2026, according to Abu Dhabi Mobility. It is a single lane closure, not a full closure of the bridge.
Who announced the Al Ain road closures?
The closures were announced by Abu Dhabi Mobility, the Integrated Transport Centre, which tagged Abu Dhabi Police and Al Ain City Municipality in its Al Ain notices.
Where can I check other UAE road closures?
Our UAE road closures tracker lists current official closures and diversions in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah. Abu Dhabi Mobility also posts traffic notices on its official social media accounts.
More for drivers: UAE Driving Guide
