Quick answer
- The RTA opened the final bridge of the Trade Centre Roundabout project in Dubai to traffic on Friday, 30 October 2026, which completes the project.
- The final bridge is 1,000 metres long with two lanes and can carry about 3,000 vehicles per hour from Al Majlis Street towards 2nd December Street.
- According to the RTA, the final bridge cuts travel time between Al Majlis Street and 2nd December Street from 6 minutes to 1 minute.
- The at-grade Trade Centre junction that replaced the old roundabout opened on 8 October 2026, and the RTA says it cut the average delay from 12 minutes to 90 seconds.
The RTA opened the Trade Centre Roundabout final bridge to traffic on 30 October 2026, three weeks after the at-grade junction that replaced the old roundabout opened. The changes affect drivers moving between Sheikh Zayed Road, 2nd December Street, Al Mustaqbal Street, Al Majlis Street and Sheikh Rashid Road, including commuters heading to Dubai World Trade Centre and DIFC.
Update, 31 October 2026: Trade Centre Roundabout final bridge now open
The Trade Centre Roundabout final bridge is now open to traffic. The RTA said in a post on 30 October 2026 that it had opened the last bridge of the Trade Centre Roundabout development project that day, so drivers heading from Al Majlis Street towards 2nd December Street can now use the new two lane route.
With this bridge open, the whole project is finished. According to the RTA press release, it includes five bridges with a combined length of 5,000 metres, cost more than AED 696 million, and links Sheikh Zayed Road with Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Street, Sheikh Rashid Street, 2nd December Street, Za’abeel Palace Street and Al Majlis Street. The RTA estimates it will benefit more than 500,000 residents and visitors, and says the related Al Mustaqbal Street development project is scheduled for 2027.
Update, 25 October 2026: opening date confirmed
The final bridge was confirmed to open to traffic on Friday, 30 October 2026. The RTA said in an announcement on 25 October that opening this bridge completes the World Trade Centre Roundabout Development Project.
| Final bridge | Details from the RTA |
|---|---|
| Opened | Friday, 30 October 2026 |
| Length | 1,000 metres |
| Lanes | Two |
| Capacity | About 3,000 vehicles per hour |
| Direction | Al Majlis Street towards 2nd December Street |
| Travel time between the two streets | Down from 6 minutes to 1 minute |
For drivers, the new bridge gives traffic leaving Al Majlis Street for 2nd December Street its own two lane route, which the RTA says will shorten that trip to about a minute. It is the last of the five bridges in the project, which the RTA awarded in October 2024 under a contract worth AED 696.4 million covering 5,000 metres of bridges in total.
Our original report on the at-grade junction, which opened on 8 October, follows below.
The new Trade Centre Roundabout junction is now open to traffic. Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) announced on 8 October 2026 that it had opened the Trade Centre at-grade junction, a key part of the wider Trade Centre Roundabout development project. The old roundabout, where the RTA put the average delay at 12 minutes, has now been converted into a surface junction.
What the RTA announced
In its official announcement, the RTA said the new junction improves the flow of traffic coming from Sheikh Zayed Road towards 2nd December Street, and of traffic coming from Al Mustaqbal Street towards Sheikh Zayed Road in the southbound direction.
The RTA added that the junction also supports free flowing traffic from 2nd December Street to Al Majlis Street, which leads on to Al Mustaqbal Street, and to Sheikh Rashid Road in the direction of Deira. According to the authority, converting the roundabout into an at-grade junction doubles the capacity of the junction and reduces the average delay from 12 minutes to 90 seconds.
| Movement | What changes |
|---|---|
| Sheikh Zayed Road to 2nd December Street | Smoother flow through the new at-grade junction |
| Al Mustaqbal Street to Sheikh Zayed Road (southbound) | Smoother flow through the new at-grade junction |
| 2nd December Street to Al Majlis Street (towards Al Mustaqbal Street) | Free flowing traffic |
| 2nd December Street to Sheikh Rashid Road (towards Deira) | Free flowing traffic |
| Average delay at the junction | Down from 12 minutes to 90 seconds |
| Junction capacity | Doubled, according to the RTA |
Trade Centre Roundabout junction: what it means for drivers
For anyone who drives into Dubai from Sheikh Zayed Road or 2nd December Street, the biggest change is the end of the old roundabout. The RTA has previously described the plan as turning the roundabout into a signalised at-grade intersection, so drivers should expect traffic signals and new lane layouts instead of giving way on a circle.
The headline figure is the delay. The RTA says the average wait at this crossing falls from 12 minutes to 90 seconds now that the junction has replaced the roundabout. That matters most during the morning and evening peaks and on days when large exhibitions and events are running at Dubai World Trade Centre.
Drivers coming from Al Mustaqbal Street also benefit, because the new junction improves the movement back onto Sheikh Zayed Road heading south.
Key dates in the Trade Centre Roundabout project
The final bridge, opened on 30 October, is the last stage of a project that has opened in phases since late 2025, starting with the first two Trade Centre bridges in December. RTA figures for each stage are below, taken from its announcements and the Dubai Media Office.
| Date | What opened | Capacity | RTA time figure |
|---|---|---|---|
| 21 December 2025 | Two bridges, 2,000 metres combined, from 2nd December Street towards Sheikh Rashid Road and Al Majlis Street | About 6,000 vehicles per hour | Not stated |
| 27 February 2026 | 1,000 metre, two lane bridge from Sheikh Zayed Road to Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Street | 3,000 vehicles per hour | 6 minutes down to 1 minute |
| 9 May 2026 | About 500 metre single lane bridge from Al Bada’ towards 2nd December Street | Up to 1,200 vehicles per hour | 8 minutes down to 2 minutes |
| 8 October 2026 | At-grade Trade Centre junction replacing the roundabout | Doubled | Average delay 12 minutes down to 90 seconds |
| 30 October 2026 | Final 1,000 metre, two lane bridge from Al Majlis Street towards 2nd December Street | About 3,000 vehicles per hour | 6 minutes down to 1 minute |
The RTA has said the full project includes bridges with a combined length of 5,000 metres and will serve more than half a million residents and visitors, including people travelling to Dubai World Trade Centre and DIFC. In August 2026 it reported that the roundabout project was more than 85 percent complete, and it says the opening of the final bridge on 30 October completes the project.
Practical tips for using the new junction
- Slow down on approach for the first few days. The layout has changed, and drivers who know the old roundabout may hesitate at the new signals.
- Choose your lane early. Use the overhead signs to pick the lane for Sheikh Zayed Road, 2nd December Street, Al Majlis Street or Sheikh Rashid Road before you reach the junction.
- Use the bridges where they fit your route. Several free flowing bridges built as part of the project already take traffic over the junction, so you may not need to stop at all.
- Drivers going from Al Majlis Street to 2nd December Street can now use the new final bridge, open since 30 October. Watch for new signs and lane markings on the approach in the first few days.
- Allow extra time on DWTC event days. Large exhibitions still bring heavy traffic to the area even with the new layout.
- Check before you set off. Our UAE road closures tracker lists current official closures and diversions in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah.
Heavy vehicles also need to plan around the new truck rules that started on 1 October. See our guide to the Dubai truck restrictions for the roads and hours affected.
FAQs
Is the Trade Centre Roundabout final bridge open?
Yes. The RTA opened the final bridge to traffic on Friday, 30 October 2026. It is 1,000 metres long with two lanes and carries traffic from Al Majlis Street towards 2nd December Street.
When did the Trade Centre junction open?
The RTA announced the opening of the at-grade Trade Centre junction on 8 October 2026. It replaces the old Trade Centre Roundabout as part of the Trade Centre Roundabout development project.
How much time will drivers save at the Trade Centre junction?
The RTA says converting the roundabout into an at-grade junction cuts the average delay from 12 minutes to 90 seconds. It also says the change doubles the capacity of the junction.
Which roads meet at the new Trade Centre junction?
The junction links Sheikh Zayed Road, 2nd December Street, Al Mustaqbal Street, Al Majlis Street and Sheikh Rashid Road. The RTA says it improves movements from Sheikh Zayed Road to 2nd December Street and from Al Mustaqbal Street to Sheikh Zayed Road southbound.
Will there be traffic lights at the Trade Centre junction?
Yes. The RTA has described the project as converting the roundabout into a signalised at-grade intersection. Drivers who used to give way on the roundabout should now follow the signals and lane markings.
Is the Trade Centre Roundabout project finished?
Yes. The RTA says opening the final bridge on 30 October 2026 completes the project, which has five bridges with a combined length of 5,000 metres. It puts the cost at more than AED 696 million.
More for drivers: UAE Driving Guide
