Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has announced a temporary traffic diversion on the slow lane of the bridge from Oud Metha Road towards Abu Dhabi and Port Rashid. The diversion starts at 11 pm on Friday, September 11, and continues until 6 am on Sunday, September 13, while development works are carried out in the area. Motorists using the route should expect changes to traffic movement and allow extra time for their journeys.
- Location: Oud Metha Road bridge towards Abu Dhabi and Port Rashid
- Organisation: Dubai Roads and Transport Authority (RTA)
- Diversion: 11 pm, September 11, until 6 am, September 13
- Who is affected: Motorists using the affected bridge and surrounding routes
- Business impact: Possible short-term delays for commuters and commercial traffic
- What’s next: Development works will continue as part of the wider Oud Metha Road and Al Asayel Street project
Dubai motorists using the Oud Metha Road bridge should plan for a temporary traffic diversion this weekend. RTA has announced that the slow lane on the bridge leading from Oud Metha Road towards Abu Dhabi and Port Rashid will be diverted from 11pm on Friday, September 11, until 6am on Sunday, September 13.
The change is linked to development works taking place in the area. Drivers have been advised to plan their journeys, allow additional travel time and follow directional signs while the diversion is in place.
Which part of Oud Metha Road will be affected?
The temporary change will affect the slow lane of the bridge leading from Oud Metha Road towards Abu Dhabi and Port Rashid.
The diversion is scheduled to begin late on Friday night, when traffic volumes may be lower than during weekday peak periods. However, motorists travelling through the area over the weekend should still allow extra time, particularly if their journey depends on the affected connection.
RTA has advised drivers to follow road signs and directions at the site rather than relying solely on their usual route.
Why is RTA carrying out the diversion?
The temporary diversion is required to allow development works to continue in the area.
The works form part of the wider Oud Metha Road and Al Asayel Street Development Project, which is upgrading road connections, bridges and tunnels around several busy parts of Dubai.
The project is designed to improve traffic flow and increase road capacity as demand grows in the surrounding areas.
RTA reported in July that the wider project had reached 90% completion, with several major bridges already opened to traffic.
What is the Oud Metha and Al Asayel road project?
The development covers around 4.3 kilometres of bridges and 14 kilometres of roads, according to RTA.
The project connects key roads and areas around Oud Metha, Al Asayel Street and Al Khail Road. It also serves communities and important destinations around Zabeel, Al Jaddaf, Oud Metha and Umm Hurair, along with locations such as Latifa Hospital and Al Wasl Club.
Once completed, RTA expects the upgraded network to increase Oud Metha Road’s capacity from approximately 10,400 to 15,600 vehicles per hour in both directions.
The authority has also estimated that travel time on the road could fall from around 20 minutes to five minutes after the improvements are completed.
What new road infrastructure has opened in the area?
The latest diversion comes after several infrastructure improvements were delivered as part of the project.
In July, RTA opened a new three-lane bridge with a capacity of around 3,600 vehicles per hour. The bridge provides a connection from Al Khail Road towards Al Asayel Street through Al Wasl Club Street.
A new tunnel connecting Dubai-Al Ain Road with Oud Metha Service Road has also opened. The single-lane tunnel is around 260 metres long and can accommodate up to 1,200 vehicles per hour.
These additions are intended to provide alternative connections and improve traffic movement through the wider road network.
How could the project affect Dubai commuters and businesses?
The short-term impact of the September 11 diversion is likely to be most relevant to motorists using the affected bridge and nearby connections.
For commuters, the main consideration is extra journey time while the works are underway. Businesses that depend on regular vehicle movement through Oud Metha and surrounding areas may also need to account for temporary changes in traffic flow.
The longer-term objective is different. RTA expects the completed infrastructure to provide additional capacity and smoother connections between major roads.
The authority has also highlighted the area’s expected population growth, with the communities served by the project projected to have more than 420,000 residents by 2030. Expanding the road network is therefore aimed at meeting future demand as well as improving current journeys.
The weekend diversion is temporary, but it is part of a much larger upgrade to one of Dubai’s important road networks.
For residents: Planning can help avoid unnecessary delays during the diversion period.
For commuters: Following RTA’s directional signs will be important because normal traffic movements may change around the work area.
For businesses: Better road capacity and new connections should support smoother movement between Oud Metha, Al Asayel Street, Al Khail Road and nearby districts once the wider project is completed.
For now, motorists should focus on the immediate change and allow additional travel time between Friday night and Sunday morning.
FAQs
When will the Oud Metha Road traffic diversion start?
The diversion starts at 11pm on Friday, September 11, 2026.
When will the Oud Metha Road diversion end?
RTA has scheduled the diversion to continue until 6 am on Sunday, September 13, 2026.
Which road is affected by the Dubai traffic diversion?
The slow lane of the bridge from Oud Metha Road towards Abu Dhabi and Port Rashid will be affected.
Why is RTA diverting traffic on Oud Metha Road?
The temporary diversion will allow development works to be carried out as part of ongoing improvements in the area.
Is the diversion part of a larger Dubai road project?
Yes. The works are connected to the wider Oud Metha Road and Al Asayel Street Development Project, which includes new bridges, tunnels and road upgrades aimed at increasing capacity and improving traffic flow.
Dubai motorists using the Oud Metha Road bridge should plan for the temporary diversion from 11 pm on September 11 until 6 am on September 13. While the change is expected to be short-term, it forms part of a major RTA project that is adding new road capacity and improving connections across the Oud Metha and Al Asayel areas.
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