Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) opened a 500-metre, two-lane bridge on Friday, 14 August 2026, serving traffic from Dubai World Trade Centre and One Central towards the intersection of Al Mustaqbal Street and Za’abeel Palace Street.
The bridge will cut travel time from Dubai World Trade Centre from 10 minutes to two minutes during events. The bridge forms part of the AED 633 million Al Mustaqbal Street Development Project, which runs from the intersection of Al Mustaqbal Street with Za’abeel Palace Street to Financial Centre Street.
The project includes 2,000 metres of bridges and tunnels and the expansion of Al Mustaqbal Street from three lanes to four lanes in each direction.
Once completed, the works will increase road capacity by 33 per cent, from 6,600 vehicles per hour to 8,800 vehicles per hour in both directions. Journey time will fall from 13 minutes to six minutes.
Al Mustaqbal Street project forms part of road network programme
“Al Mustaqbal Street Development Project is being implemented in line with the directives of the wise leadership to continue developing the infrastructure of the road network and public transport systems to accommodate the needs of urban development and population growth, while enhancing quality of life. The project forms part of an integrated scheme that also involves upgrading the World Trade Centre Roundabout, where works are progressing rapidly, and completion has exceeded 85 per cent. With several bridges already opened, RTA is set to open another bridge by the end of August to serve traffic coming from Sheikh Rashid Road towards 2nd December Street. In October, RTA will open the project’s final bridge, which will serve traffic coming from Al Majlis Street towards 2nd December Street,” Mattar Al Tayer, Director General, Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of the Roads and Transport Authority said in a statement.
Al Tayer said the Al Mustaqbal Street project serves an area that includes Dubai World Trade Centre and Dubai International Financial Centre and links Downtown Dubai with Business Bay.
He said the works would improve traffic movement and access to financial, business and events destinations while supporting investment, trade and tourism.
“Beyond improving traffic efficiency, the project will enhance access to key financial, business and events destinations, support investment, trade and tourism flows, and strengthen the area’s readiness to keep pace with economic growth and host major global events. This will enhance Dubai’s competitiveness and appeal as a global business and financial hub, while emphasising the role of roads and transport infrastructure in supporting economy and development,” he said.
Three Al Mustaqbal Street tunnels due to open in February 2027
Al Tayer said work on the Al Mustaqbal Street Development Project had passed 50 per cent completion and was ahead of the approved schedule.
RTA plans to open three tunnels, with a combined length of 1,500 metres, at the intersection of Al Mustaqbal Street and Trade Centre Street in February 2027.
The project also includes pedestrian walkways, a cycling track and decorative lighting, with measures intended to provide routes for pedestrians and cyclists. It will also create urban spaces for community use and connect development areas around the project with metro stations to provide access for residents and visitors.
“The project will also create urban spaces that encourage community interaction and provide vibrant, inclusive environments. It will connect surrounding development areas with metro stations to ensure seamless and integrated access for residents and visitors,” Al Tayer said.
The scheme serves commercial, residential and development areas including Dubai World Trade Centre, which has hosted exhibitions and conferences for more than 40 years.
Events hosted at the venue include GITEX, Arabian Travel Market, WHX Dubai, formerly Arab Health, Gulfood and the Transport Exhibition, among other events. The project also serves Dubai International Financial Centre, or DIFC, as well as Za’abeel, Downtown Dubai and Business Bay.
RTA expects the project to benefit about 500,000 residents and visitors.
Three tunnels to provide capacity for 9,000 vehicles per hour
The Al Mustaqbal Street Development Project includes three tunnels extending for 1,500 metres at the intersection of Al Mustaqbal Street and Trade Centre Street.
The first is a three-lane tunnel on Al Mustaqbal Street towards Deira. It will have capacity for 4,500 vehicles per hour.
The second is a two-lane tunnel providing a left-turn movement from Al Mustaqbal Street towards Trade Centre Street. It will serve traffic travelling in both directions towards Deira and Jebel Ali and will have capacity for 3,000 vehicles per hour in both directions.
The third tunnel has one lane, serves One Central and will have capacity for 1,500 vehicles per hour.
The project also includes the 500-metre, two-lane bridge opened on Friday, which serves traffic from Dubai World Trade Centre towards the intersection of Za’abeel Palace Street and Al Mustaqbal Street.
Works also cover a 3,500-metre section of Al Mustaqbal Street between Financial Centre Street and Za’abeel Palace Street, where the number of lanes is being increased from three to four in each direction.
The scheme will provide free-flow links at the intersections of Al Mustaqbal Street with Exhibition Street and Trade Centre Street. It also includes a pedestrian bridge on Al Sukook Street and upgrades to intersections along Al Mustaqbal Street.
World Trade Centre Roundabout works pass 85 per cent
The Al Mustaqbal Street Development Project is being carried out alongside two other projects in the area.
The first is the World Trade Centre Roundabout Development Project, which covers the intersection linking Sheikh Zayed Road with Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Street, Sheikh Rashid Street, 2nd December Street, Za’abeel Palace Street and Al Mustaqbal Street.
The project includes five bridges with a combined length of 5,000 metres. The existing roundabout will also be converted into an at-grade intersection to improve traffic movement.
Construction on the project has passed 85 per cent, with another bridge due to open by the end of August 2026 for traffic travelling from Sheikh Rashid Road towards 2nd December Street.
The final bridge is scheduled to open in October 2026 and will serve traffic from Al Majlis Street towards 2nd December Street.
Oud Maitha and Al Asayel Streets project to open by end of August
The second project being delivered alongside the Al Mustaqbal Street works is the Oud Maitha and Al Asayel Streets Development Project.
RTA plans to fully open the project by the end of August 2026. It covers four intersections and includes bridges extending for 4,300 metres and 14 kilometres of roads.
The project serves service, residential and development areas expected to have a population of more than 420,000 by 2030. RTA says the works will cut journey time from 20 minutes to 10 minutes, representing a 50 per cent reduction.
