Quick answer
- Abu Dhabi’s Department of Municipalities and Transport (DMT) announced on 11 October 2026 the Musaffah road upgrades, covering about 13 km along E30 and 8th Street.
- 8th Street in Musaffah will become a free flowing expressway with three lanes in each direction, plus three extra local access lanes on each side, built for about 4,000 vehicles per hour.
- The plan also upgrades four interchanges on E30, modifies nine key junctions, improves the 8th Street link to E20 and adds two new bridges between Musaffah and Mohamed Bin Zayed City plus one pedestrian bridge.
- No start date, completion date, cost or diversion plan was included in the 11 October 2026 announcement.
Abu Dhabi has unveiled major Musaffah road upgrades that will turn 8th Street into a new expressway and rework the E30 corridor between the industrial area, Mohamed Bin Zayed City and Zayed City. The project matters most to daily commuters, delivery and logistics drivers, and anyone who uses Musaffah’s busy junctions to reach the capital’s mainland suburbs.
What was announced
The Department of Municipalities and Transport set out the plan in an official announcement through the Abu Dhabi Media Office on 11 October 2026. The works stretch for roughly 13 km along two of Musaffah’s main roads, E30 and 8th Street, with three stated goals: less congestion, safer journeys and shorter travel times.
The headline element is a new free flowing highway along 8th Street. According to DMT, it will carry three lanes in each direction for through traffic. Alongside it, three additional lanes on each side will give drivers access to the shops and amenities along the street, so local trips no longer have to mix with traffic that is simply passing through. DMT estimates the new road will handle about 4,000 vehicles per hour.
| Project element | What DMT announced |
|---|---|
| Total length | About 13 km along E30 and 8th Street |
| 8th Street expressway | 3 lanes in each direction, free flowing |
| Local access lanes | 3 additional lanes on each side of 8th Street |
| Estimated capacity | About 4,000 vehicles per hour |
| E30 interchanges | 4 interchanges to be upgraded |
| Junctions | 9 key junctions to be modified |
| E20 link | Improved connection between 8th Street and E20 |
| New bridges | 2 between Musaffah and Mohamed Bin Zayed City, plus 1 pedestrian bridge |
| Timeline and cost | Not announced |
Eisa Mubarak Al Mazrouei, Director General of Infrastructure Development at DMT, explained that the network has to serve commuters, businesses moving goods and short local trips at the same time. In his view, separating through traffic from local access and improving links to nearby communities will support economic activity, make everyday journeys easier and safer, and prepare the road network for future connections.
What the Musaffah road upgrades mean for drivers
Anyone who drives through Musaffah knows the problem: heavy vehicles, delivery vans, commuters and customers visiting workshops all compete for the same lanes and junctions. By giving through traffic its own expressway and moving local trips onto dedicated side lanes, the design aims to cut the stop and go driving that builds up at peak hours.
- Commuters heading between Mohamed Bin Zayed City, Zayed City and Musaffah should benefit from the two new bridges and the upgraded E30 interchanges.
- Business and logistics drivers should find it easier to reach shops and amenities on 8th Street using the local access lanes, without slowing the main flow.
- Pedestrians get a dedicated bridge, which matters in an area where many people walk between workplaces, shops and bus stops.
- Drivers using E20 will get a better connection to and from 8th Street.
Key dates and locations
The announcement was made on 11 October 2026. DMT did not publish a construction start date, a completion date, a project cost or any planned traffic diversions. Drivers should watch official Abu Dhabi channels for any closures before works begin.
The roads involved are E30 (Musaffah Road) and 8th Street inside Musaffah, with links towards E20 and across to Mohamed Bin Zayed City. DMT also said the project complements wider plans for the area, including a planned two tunnel undersea link from the eastern tip of Abu Dhabi Island to Musaffah, running beneath Khor Al Maqta and the Al Hudayriyat Island channel. It also follows other major capital road projects such as the Mid-Island Parkway in Abu Dhabi.
We will add any Musaffah closures or diversions to our live UAE road closures tracker as soon as they are officially announced.
Practical tips
- Follow the Abu Dhabi Media Office and the Abu Dhabi Mobility (ITC) channels for the official start date and any lane closures on E30 or 8th Street.
- If you drive through Musaffah at peak times, keep an alternative route in mind once works begin, and allow extra time for your trip.
- Obey temporary speed limits and signs in work zones. They are enforced, and fines still apply. See our UAE traffic fines guide for the main penalties.
- Parking rules in Musaffah are also changing. Read our earlier story on paid parking in Musaffah before you plan regular visits.
FAQs
Which roads are included in the Musaffah road upgrades?
The project covers about 13 km along E30 and 8th Street in Musaffah. It also improves the link between 8th Street and E20 and adds bridges towards Mohamed Bin Zayed City.
How many lanes will the new 8th Street expressway have?
It will have three lanes in each direction for through traffic. Three additional lanes on each side will give access to local shops and amenities, and DMT estimates the road will handle about 4,000 vehicles per hour.
How many new bridges are planned?
Two new bridges are planned between Musaffah and Mohamed Bin Zayed City. A third bridge will be dedicated to pedestrians.
When will work on the Musaffah roads start and finish?
The Department of Municipalities and Transport did not give a start or completion date in its 11 October 2026 announcement. Dates, costs and any diversions are expected to be shared in later official updates.
Is the project linked to the planned undersea tunnel to Musaffah?
DMT said the upgrades complement other connectivity plans, including a planned two tunnel undersea link from the eastern tip of Abu Dhabi Island to Musaffah. That link would pass beneath Khor Al Maqta and the Al Hudayriyat Island channel.
More for drivers: UAE Driving Guide
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