Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has announced key improvements to Sheikh Zayed Road, one of the busiest highways in the UAE. These changes aim to reduce congestion, improve traffic flow, and enhance the overall driving experience for daily commuters. The upgrades focus on expanding road capacity, optimizing merging points, and reducing bottlenecks in high-traffic areas.
If you’ve ever been stuck in traffic on this major highway, relief is on the way! Here’s everything you need to know about the latest road improvements.
Key Enhancements to Ease Traffic Flow
Exit 39 Near Mall of the Emirates Expanded
One of the most significant upgrades is at Exit 39, where the road capacity has been doubled from one lane to two lanes. This expansion allows more vehicles to pass through, reducing congestion and reducing waiting times. Travel time from Sheikh Zayed Road to Umm Suqeim has dropped from 12 to just 2 minutes.
In addition, the vehicle queue length has been significantly reduced, making the commute much smoother for those travelling in and out of this busy area.
Merging Distances Extended Between Umm Al Sheif Street and Al Manara Street
To improve traffic flow toward Abu Dhabi, the RTA has extended the merging distances between Umm Al Sheif Street and Al Manara Street. The addition of an extra lane in this area has increased vehicle capacity by 30%, allowing smoother transitions and reducing congestion at entry and exit points.
Better Traffic Management Near Shangri-La Hotel
Another crucial upgrade is near the Shangri-La Hotel and the first interchange. The RTA has added a new lane, boosting the capacity of this stretch by 1,800 vehicles per hour. Additionally, an extra lane has been introduced at the exit leading to Dubai Mall, increasing its capacity to 5,400 vehicles per hour. This improvement will significantly ease congestion at one of Dubai’s busiest interchanges.
Additional Enhancements Across Sheikh Zayed Road
Improved Traffic Flow at Al Thowima Street (Al Barsha, Near Novotel Hotel)
To reduce congestion and improve access to internal areas, the RTA has made enhancements to Al Thowima Street at Al Barsha. This upgrade aims to provide a more seamless driving experience for commuters using the service road.
New Lane Added Near Dusit Hotel (Towards Sharjah)
They introduced a new lane near the Dusit Hotel, increasing the road’s capacity by 1,800 vehicles per hour. This change will help reduce long waiting times at the entry of the service road, making daily commutes smoother for drivers heading towards Sharjah.
Al Manara Exit (Fourth Interchange) Capacity Increased
The RTA has also upgraded the Al Manara exit (Fourth Interchange) for those heading toward Sharjah. The improvements have increased capacity from 10,800 to 12,600 vehicles per hour, further easing congestion and reducing traffic build-up in this area.
How These Upgrades Benefit Commuters
We designed these strategic improvements to make commuting on Sheikh Zayed Road much more efficient. Drivers can expect:
- Shorter travel times across key points of the highway.
- Less congestion at previously problematic merging areas.
- Smoother traffic flow with additional lanes and optimized entry/exit points.
These upgrades will make Sheikh Zayed Road more commuter-friendly, helping Dubai’s residents and visitors enjoy a faster and stress-free drive.
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