Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence of the UAE, and Chairman of The Executive Council of Dubai, has approved the implementation of the New Fourth Corridor project in Dubai.
The corridor will extend about 80km from Al Faya Road in Abu Dhabi to Al Shanouf Road in Sharjah and will be implemented in two phases. Phase 1 will run from Al Shanouf Road to Dubai–Al Ain Road and will cost around AED3.5 billion.
The project will include 72 bridges, 17 tunnels and 45 stormwater drainage culverts. It will support logistics traffic and pass through Al Maktoum International Airport, Al Marmoom Desert Conservation Reserve, Al Wohoosh Desert Conservation Reserve and the Etihad Rail route, as well as residential and development areas.
“Guided by the vision and directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, Dubai continues to build world-class infrastructure as a foundation for growth, a driver of development and a cornerstone of enhanced quality of life. Our vision is for Dubai to remain prepared for upcoming opportunities, to proactively meet future needs, and for every new project to be another step toward reinforcing its standing among the world’s most competitive and attractive cities,” Sheikh Hamdan said in a statement.
“We have approved the New Fourth Corridor project, spanning 80km, as a strategic addition to Dubai’s road network. The project will strengthen Dubai’s connectivity with the federal road network, open new horizons for urban and economic growth, and support future projects in line with the Dubai Social Agenda 33 and the Dubai Economic Agenda D33, reinforcing Dubai’s position as the world’s best city to live, work and visit.
“Development in Dubai never stops, and building continues with a clear vision and unwavering determination. We remain committed to implementing major infrastructure and transport projects with high efficiency, working as one team to ensure that Dubai remains a global model for speed of delivery and leadership in development,” he added.
Fourth corridor to connect UAE road networks
The New Fourth Corridor will become the fourth corridor linking the UAE’s emirates, after Sheikh Zayed/Al Ittihad Road, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road and Emirates Road.
The route is intended to strengthen links between the emirates and facilitate movement between areas. It will also connect the road network with transport projects including Al Maktoum International Airport and Etihad Rail.
The corridor will support logistics and commercial transport and is intended to support Dubai’s position as an economic hub, respond to urban expansion in development areas and provide traffic capacity over the longer term.
His Excellency Mattar Al Tayer, Director General and Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority, said the approval forms part of Dubai’s plans to develop infrastructure to support quality of life, urban and population growth and the emirate’s role as a hub for mobility.
Al Tayer said the corridor would add a link to the UAE road network and support connections between the emirates.
He said it would also divert through traffic, including trucks, away from urban areas, reducing pressure on existing road corridors and supporting traffic flow and road safety.
Phase 1 to extend 30km from Sharjah to Dubai–Al Ain Road
Al Tayer said the scale of the project, including 72 bridges, 17 tunnels and 45 stormwater drainage culverts, meant construction would be divided into two phases to support implementation and completion according to schedule. Phase 1 will extend about 30km from Al Shanouf Road in Sharjah to Dubai–Al Ain Road.
It will include a through corridor with 12 lanes across both directions. Journey time is expected to fall by 60 per cent, from 35 minutes to 14 minutes.
The corridor will have capacity for up to 24,000 vehicles per hour across both directions and will serve about 600,000 people. The phase will cost around AED3.5 billion. Phase 1 will also include about 55 lane-kilometres of at-grade roads, 2.5km of tunnels and 21km of bridges and ramps.
Dubai–Al Ain Road will be widened from three lanes to four lanes in each direction between Emirates Road and Lehbab Road. Four intersections will also be upgraded.
Phase 2 to extend 50km to Abu Dhabi
Phase 2 will extend 50km from Dubai–Al Ain Road to Al Faya Road in Abu Dhabi.
“Phase 2 will extend 50km from Dubai–Al Ain Road to Al Faya Road in Abu Dhabi. It will comprise roads with 12 lanes across both directions and a capacity of 24,000 vehicles per hour. This phase will reduce journey time by 52%, from 50 minutes to 24 minutes, and will serve around 3.1 million people.
The second phase will also include approximately 190 lane-kilometres of at-grade roads, 3.5km of tunnels and 157km of bridges and ramps,” he said.
