Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) opened two bridges on Sunday as part of the Trade Centre Roundabout Development Project, ahead of the scheduled mid-January date.
The bridges serve traffic from 2nd December Street towards Sheikh Rashid Road and Al Majlis Street, which connects to Al Mustaqbal Street. Each bridge provides two lanes in both directions, with a combined length of 2,000 metres and a capacity of 6,000 vehicles per hour.
The bridges will reduce journey time from 2nd December Street to Al Majlis Street, Al Mustaqbal Street, and Zabeel Palace Street from 10 minutes to 2 minutes.
Journey times reduced from 10 minutes to 2 minutes
“Trade Centre Roundabout is one of the major intersections in Dubai, linking Sheikh Zayed Road with five vital streets: Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Street, Sheikh Rashid Road, 2nd December Street, Zabeel Palace Street, and Al Majlis Street,” Mattar Al Tayer, Director General, Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of the RTA said in a statement.
The project costs more than AED696 million and includes five bridges with a combined length of 5,000 metres, in addition to converting the roundabout into an at-grade intersection.
“The project, with a total cost exceeding AED 696 million, includes the construction of five bridges with a combined length of 5,000 metres, in addition to converting the existing roundabout into an at-grade intersection. The project enhances traffic flow from Sheikh Zayed Road towards 2nd December Street, as well as traffic movement from Al Mustaqbal Street towards Sheikh Zayed Road in the southbound direction.
“It also provides free-flow traffic movement from 2nd December Street in Jumeirah and Al Satwa to Al Majlis Street towards Al Mustaqbal Street, serving Dubai World Trade Centre and Dubai International Financial Centre, as well as from Sheikh Rashid Road towards Deira. In addition, the project ensures free-flow movement via a second-level bridge from Sheikh Zayed Road towards Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Stree,” Al Tayer added.
Project 50% complete with phased opening plan
Al Tayer said work is progressing faster than the schedule, with completion at 50 per cent.
“Work on the project is progressing at a pace faster than the approved schedule, reflecting RTA’s commitment to facilitating residents’ mobility. Overall project completion has reached nearly 50% and will initiate a phased opening. In addition to the two bridges already opened to traffic, March will mark the opening of the bridge linking Sheikh Zayed Road to Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Street. Two further bridges are set to open in October 2026, serving traffic movement from Sheikh Rashid Road and Al Majlis Street towards 2nd December Street,” Al Tayer added.
March will mark the opening of the bridge linking Sheikh Zayed Road to Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Street. Two bridges will open in October 2026, serving traffic from Sheikh Rashid Road and Al Majlis Street towards 2nd December Street.
Five bridges enable free-flow traffic movement
The five bridges will enable free-flow traffic in multiple directions. The project includes a second-level bridge with two lanes from Sheikh Zayed Road to Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Street towards Deira. This bridge is 1,000 metres long with a capacity of 3,000 vehicles per hour.
Two bridges with two lanes in both directions link Sheikh Rashid Road with 2nd December Street. These bridges have a combined length of 2,000 metres and a capacity of 6,000 vehicles per hour.
Two bridges with two lanes in both directions extend from Al Majlis Street to 2nd December Street, providing a link between Al Mustaqbal Street and 2nd December Street. These bridges have a combined length of 2,000 metres and a capacity of 6,000 vehicles per hour.
The project serves Dubai World Trade Centre, which has been the region’s international events and exhibitions venue for more than four decades. It hosts exhibitions and conferences such as GITEX, Arabian Travel Market, Arab Health Exhibition and Congress, and Gulfood.
The project also serves Dubai International Financial Centre, a financial hub in the Middle East, Africa, and South Asia, in addition to communities such as Zabeel, Al Satwa, Al Karama, Al Jafiliya, and Al Mankhool. More than half a million residents and visitors will benefit.
Al Mustaqbal Street Development scheduled for 2027
The Trade Centre Roundabout Development Project forms part of an RTA master plan that includes the development of Al Mustaqbal Street, extending from its intersection with Zabeel Palace Street to Financial Centre Street. Completion is scheduled for 2027.
The plan includes bridges and tunnels with a combined length of 1,500 metres, as well as the widening of Al Mustaqbal Street from three to four lanes in each direction. These works will increase capacity from 9,000 vehicles per hour to 12,000 vehicles per hour, a 33% increase, and reduce journey time from eight minutes to three minutes and 30 seconds.
The scope covers three tunnels with a length of 1,100 metres at the intersection of Al Mustaqbal Street with Trade Centre Street, in addition to a 400-metre bridge with two lanes serving traffic from Dubai World Trade Centre towards the intersection of Zabeel Palace Street and Al Mustaqbal Street.
The RTA plan encompasses the widening of Al Mustaqbal Street from its intersection with Financial Centre Street to its intersection with Zabeel Palace Street over 3,500 metres, increasing lanes from three to four in each direction. The works include free-flow ramps at the intersections of Al Mustaqbal Street with Exhibition Street and Trade Centre Street, a pedestrian bridge on Al Sukook Street, and upgrades to intersections along the corridor.
