Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) opened Al Khaleej Street Tunnel on Sunday, adding a major new link to the Deira road network as part of the ongoing Al Shindagha Corridor Development Project.
The tunnel runs 1,650 metres from the end of the Infinity Bridge ramp in Deira to the intersection of Al Khaleej Street and Al Wuheida Street.
Its three lanes in each direction give it a combined capacity of 12,000 vehicles per hour, providing uninterrupted flow for motorists travelling between Infinity Bridge and Al Mamzar.
“The opening of Al Khaleej Street Tunnel marks further progress on Al Shindagha Corridor Development Project, one of Dubai’s major strategic road infrastructure projects. It reflects RTA’s commitment to completing the development of key road corridors, strengthening integration across the road network, and delivering sustainable traffic solutions that accommodate continued growth in vehicle volumes, keep pace with the emirate’s urban and economic development, and support Dubai’s objectives of providing a safe, seamless and sustainable mobility system. The tunnel represents a significant addition to Deira’s road network, an area experiencing rapid urban and commercial expansion, particularly with the development of new residential and tourism destinations, including Abu Hail, Al Wuheida and Al Mamzar, as well as major developments such as Dubai Islands, Waterfront Market and Al Hamriya Port,” Mattar Al Tayer, Director General and Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of the Roads and Transport Authority said in a statement.
“The project will enhance traffic flow along Al Khaleej Street, provide free-flowing traffic for motorists travelling from Infinity Bridge towards Deira and Al Mamzar and vice versa, and strengthen connectivity between residential areas, commercial centres and tourist destinations. It will also facilitate access for residents and visitors, enhance the area’s appeal, support economic and commercial activity, and improve quality of life.”
The tunnel is one element of a 13-kilometre corridor stretching along Sheikh Rashid Road, Al Mina Street, Al Khaleej Street and Cairo Street.
The broader project covers 15 intersections and is estimated to serve approximately one million people. Additional works as part of this phase include converting roundabouts on Cairo Street and Al Wuheida Street into signal-controlled intersections and connecting the Dubai Islands bridge ramp to the new tunnel. When the full corridor is complete, RTA says journey times along the route will fall from 1 hour 44 minutes to 16 minutes by 2030.
The project has logged nearly 11 million work hours since construction began, with no injuries reported. Some 2,200 engineers, technicians and workers contributed to the build, supported by 350 pieces of heavy and light equipment.
Around 77 per cent of the approximately 522,000 cubic metres of material excavated during tunnel construction has been reused across RTA and other entity projects.
The tunnel will also serve as an art installation under the Dubai Tunnels initiative. Emirati artist Maryam Al Hathboor designed a mural that runs along the tunnel walls, depicting Dubai’s skyline in a style drawn from banknote illustration traditions, executed using 35 million mosaic pieces. The work includes images of Infinity Bridge among other new city landmarks, intended to create a visual reveal as motorists drive through.
Separately, RTA is constructing a bridge spanning Dubai Creek between Infinity Bridge and the Port Rashid redevelopment area, connecting Dubai Islands to Bur Dubai.
The bridge will extend approximately 1,425 metres, rise 18.5 metres above the Creek, carry four lanes in each direction with capacity for around 16,000 vehicles per hour, and include a dedicated pedestrian and cycling track.
