Sharjah Dubai Road Links: Phase One Opens at Al Taawun

The Sharjah Dubai road links project has reached its first milestone, with part of Al Taawun Interchange and several new bridges and junctions now open to traffic. The change matters most to commuters on Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Road and to anyone heading to Expo Centre Sharjah, while the tunnel and the remaining bridges follow in a second phase.

What was announced about the Sharjah Dubai road links

His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, opened the first phase of the project on the morning of Wednesday, 4 November 2026, according to the official Sharjah24 report. The project is delivered by the Initiatives Implementation Authority (Mubadara) with the Sharjah Roads and Transport Authority (SRTA), and is part of the AED 750 million programme to build direct road corridors between the two emirates that was first announced in June.

Mubadara chairman Dr Salah bin Butti Al Muhairi said phase one covers three things: a partial opening of Al Taawun Interchange, the operation of several new bridges and junctions, and a one way traffic flow from Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Road towards Expo Centre Sharjah. The timing lines up with the 45th Sharjah International Book Fair, which opened at Expo Centre Sharjah on the same day.

Phase two will bring the full opening of the upper level junction at Al Taawun Roundabout and of Al Taawun Tunnel, finish the bridges and junctions along the three Industrial Streets, and complete the Al Khulafa Al Rashideen Interchange with its new bridge to Jamal Abdul Nasser Street. Once that is done, the whole network will be in full operation. No date for phase two was given in the announcement.

The five parts of the project

The project is split into five sections. The table below sets out what each one adds and the extra capacity officials expect from it.

Section	What is being built	Expected capacity
Al Taawun Tunnel and Roundabout	560 metre tunnel with three lanes each way along Al Taawun Street towards Al Nahda Bridge and Dubai, with a signal controlled junction on top	About 4,200 vehicles in the peak hour
Al Khulafa Al Rashideen Interchange (Al Ittihad Road)	Two box underpasses adding two lanes each way, plus a bridge of about 315 metres to Jamal Abdul Nasser Street	About 2,600 vehicles per hour, both directions
First and Second Industrial Streets	Signal controlled junction with two free flow turning lanes and two new bridges of about 866 metres with two lanes each way, linking Damascus Street in Dubai with Wasit Street in Sharjah	About 2,800 vehicles per hour at peak
Third Industrial Street link	Two new bridges from the Ring Road to Al Khan Street and on to Al Khulafa Al Rashideen Interchange, about 2.7 km of improved turning routes and an underpass from the industrial areas to the Ring Road	About 5,200 vehicles per hour, both directions
Ring Road widening	Turning route from Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Road to the Ring Road widened to three lanes; Ring Road gains two lanes towards the city centre and one towards Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Road	Not stated

Across the project, about 9.18 km of roads have been built with 207,265 square metres of paving, and a stormwater drainage network of about 19 km has been installed with the utility authorities.

What it means for drivers

For now, the biggest change is on the approach from Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Road. Drivers coming from that side can use the new one way route straight towards Expo Centre Sharjah, which should take pressure off the old Al Taawun junction during the book fair crowds. Some of the new bridges and junctions are also now carrying traffic.

The big wins for daily Dubai commuters come later. The tunnel will separate through traffic heading to Al Nahda Bridge and Dubai from local traffic at Al Taawun, and the new junction on the Industrial Streets creates a direct link from Wasit Street in Sharjah to Damascus Street in Dubai. The Third Industrial Street link is the largest single addition in capacity, giving a new direct route towards Sharjah city centre and better connections between Port Khalid and the industrial areas.

Until phase two opens, expect lane layouts around Al Taawun and the Industrial Streets to keep changing as the remaining works are finished. We track live diversions on our Dubai road closures tracker.

Key dates and locations

Milestone	Date	Where
Project announced (AED 750 million)	June 2026	Sharjah to Dubai corridors
Phase one opens	4 November 2026	Al Taawun Interchange (partial), new bridges and junctions, one way route from Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Road to Expo Centre Sharjah
Phase two	Not announced	Al Taawun Tunnel and upper junction, Industrial Streets bridges, Al Khulafa Al Rashideen Interchange

For background on the tunnel itself, see our earlier story on the new Al Taawun Tunnel.

Practical tips

• Heading to the book fair from Dubai? Use Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Road and follow the signs for the new one way route to Expo Centre Sharjah.
• Update your navigation app before you set off, as some new bridges and junctions may not show yet on older maps.
• Follow the signs on site rather than habit; with works continuing, exits and turning lanes around Al Taawun can move.
• Leave extra time at peak hours while phase two is still under construction.
• Check official updates from the Sharjah Roads and Transport Authority before long trips across the border.

FAQs

Is Al Taawun Tunnel open?

Not yet. The tunnel and the upper level junction at Al Taawun Roundabout open fully in phase two. Phase one, opened on 4 November 2026, only partly opens Al Taawun Interchange.

What opened in phase one of the Sharjah Dubai road links?

Phase one includes a partial opening of Al Taawun Interchange and the operation of several new bridges and junctions. It also gives one way traffic flow from Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Road towards Expo Centre Sharjah.

When will phase two open?

No date was given in the official announcement. Phase two covers the tunnel, the bridges and junctions on the three Industrial Streets and the Al Khulafa Al Rashideen Interchange, after which the full project will be in operation.

How much does the project cost?

The programme to build direct road corridors between Sharjah and Dubai is worth AED 750 million. It was ordered by the Ruler of Sharjah and announced in June 2026.

Will the new roads link Sharjah directly with Damascus Street in Dubai?

Yes. The new signal controlled junction on the First and Second Industrial Streets connects Damascus Street in Dubai with Wasit Street in Sharjah. It is designed to handle about 2,800 vehicles per hour at peak times.

More for drivers: UAE Driving Guide

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