Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority will open the final bridge of the World Trade Centre Roundabout Development Project this Friday, 30 October 2026, completing a project that has been reshaping one of the emirate’s most congested intersections since construction began.
The new crossing is a 1,000-metre, two-lane bridge carrying traffic from Al Majlis Street towards 2nd December Street. It is designed to handle approximately 3,000 vehicles per hour, and will cut the journey between those two streets from six minutes to one minute.
With this bridge in place, the RTA will have finished all five bridges included in the scheme. Combined, they stretch 5,000 metres and cost more than AED 696 million.
The project converted the former roundabout into an at-grade intersection and built elevated crossings in multiple directions, connecting Sheikh Zayed Road with Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Street, Sheikh Rashid Street, 2nd December Street, Za’abeel Palace Street and Al Majlis Street.
“The completion of the World Trade Centre Roundabout Development Project is in line with the directives of the wise leadership to continue upgrading Dubai’s road infrastructure, improve traffic flow on Sheikh Zayed Road and enhance connectivity between the emirate’s leading economic and commercial centres. The project will also increase road network capacity to keep pace with Dubai’s rapid population, urban and economic growth, reinforce its global leadership in business, investment and tourism, and provide an integrated, sustainable mobility system that reinforce the emirate’s competitiveness, facilitates travel for residents and visitors, and enhances quality of life,” Mattar Al Tayer, Director General, Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) said in a statement.
“The World Trade Centre Roundabout Development Project is one of Dubai’s strategic road network projects, given its vital location on Sheikh Zayed Road, the emirate’s main traffic artery, and its role in linking key road corridors with key economic, commercial and residential areas. These include Dubai World Trade Centre, which hosts major international exhibitions, conferences and events, and Dubai International Financial Centre, one of the world’s leading financial centres, alongside surrounding areas that experience heavy traffic throughout the day. The project will deliver a major improvement in traffic flow through free-flowing connections in multiple directions, stronger links between Sheikh Zayed Road and surrounding key streets, and a reduction in average delay at the intersection from 12 minutes to 90 seconds. These improvements will facilitate access to key destinations and benefit more than 500,000 residents and tourists,” Al Tayer added.
The RTA estimates the completed project will benefit more than 500,000 residents and visitors, improving access to the World Trade Centre, DIFC and surrounding areas including Zabeel, Al Satwa, Al Karama, Al Jafiliya and Al Mankhool.
The project connects to a broader upgrade programme for the corridor. The adjacent Al Mustaqbal Street Development Project, which runs from its intersection with Za’abeel Palace Street to Financial Centre Street, is progressing separately and is due for completion in 2027.
That scheme includes three tunnels totalling 1,100 metres and a 400-metre bridge, along with widening 3,500 metres of road from three to four lanes in each direction.
When complete, it will increase Al Mustaqbal Street’s capacity by 33 per cent, from 9,000 to 12,000 vehicles per hour, and reduce journey time from eight minutes to three minutes and 30 seconds.
