Motorists using Al Qudra Road can now expect faster and smoother journeys after Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority opened a new four-lane bridge at the intersection with Sheikh Zayed bin Hamdan Al Nahyan Street.
The 700-metre bridge can accommodate up to 6,000 vehicles per hour and is designed to improve traffic movement towards Al Qudra City. It forms part of a wider road development project aimed at tackling congestion along one of Dubai’s important east-west corridors.
The latest opening completes the main traffic configuration at the intersection, following the opening of the opposite bridge in February. That bridge serves motorists travelling from Al Qudra City towards Umm Suqeim.
Waiting time to fall by 85 per cent
One of the most significant benefits of the intersection upgrade will be the reduction in waiting time for motorists. RTA expects average waiting time at the intersection to fall by 85 per cent, from nearly seven minutes to around one minute.
The overall traffic capacity of the intersection will also rise sharply, increasing from 7,800 vehicles per hour to 19,400 vehicles per hour. The improvement is expected to reduce bottlenecks and create a more continuous flow of traffic during busy periods.
The wider Al Qudra Road upgrade is also expected to cut journey time along the improved corridor by about 70 per cent. Travel time is projected to fall from 9.4 minutes to just 2.8 minutes once the relevant works are completed.
More bridges and ramps coming later this year
The current bridge is only one part of the wider intersection upgrade. RTA plans to open additional ramp bridges during the fourth quarter of 2026, allowing vehicles to travel in different directions without interfering with the main carriageways.
Among the planned structures is a 500-metre bridge that will carry traffic from Al Qudra Road towards Jebel Ali via Sheikh Zayed bin Hamdan Al Nahyan Street. Another 900-metre bridge will serve motorists travelling towards Downtown Dubai and Dubai International Airport.
The project also includes around three kilometres of service roads on both sides of Sheikh Zayed bin Hamdan Al Nahyan Street. These roads will improve connections between the main corridor and surrounding residential and development areas.
Wider Al Qudra Road Bridge project
The new bridge is part of the wider Al Qudra Road Development Project, which is designed to strengthen connections across several important parts of Dubai. The project includes upgrades to intersections, new bridges and improvements to an 11.6-kilometre section of Al Qudra Road.
According to RTA, the project includes bridges with a combined length of around 4,000 metres. The works are intended to improve traffic movement between Al Qudra Road, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road, Emirates Road and Sheikh Zayed bin Hamdan Al Nahyan Street.
Mattar Al Tayer, Director General and Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of RTA, said the project forms part of Dubai’s broader plan to improve key transport corridors and keep the road network ready for rising traffic demand.
Communities set to benefit
Al Qudra Road is an important east-west route serving a large number of residential communities and major developments. The upgraded corridor connects areas including Arabian Ranches 1 and 2, Dubai Motor City, Dubai Studio City, Akoya, Mudon, DAMAC Hills and The Sustainable City.
The wider project is expected to benefit more than 400,000 residents and visitors living in or travelling through the surrounding areas. Better connections are also expected to support continued residential and economic development along the corridor.
Other communities covered by the wider development include Town Square, Mira and DAMAC Hills 2. As these areas continue to expand, improvements to road capacity are intended to provide residents with more reliable access to major roads and destinations across Dubai.
Road widening and new connections
The development includes the widening of a 3.4-kilometre section of Al Qudra Road through the development zone. Additional lanes will be added in both directions to increase capacity and improve the movement of vehicles.
RTA is also constructing a new 4.8-kilometre road through the southern part of the development zone, connecting it with Emirates Road. The new connection is expected to improve access to surrounding residential communities and reduce pressure on existing routes.
Emirates Road is also being upgraded, with both sides being widened across a combined 4.8 kilometres. These works are intended to strengthen connections between Emirates Road and the growing residential and development projects in the area.
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More improvements expected this month
Further improvements around the Al Qudra Road intersection are scheduled to open this month, including another free-flow ramp for motorists travelling from Jebel Ali via Emirates Road towards Umm Suqeim through Al Qudra Road.
With the new four-lane bridge already operational and more ramps planned for later in 2026, RTA expects traffic movement along the corridor to become more direct and predictable.
The upgrades also support the wider objectives of the Dubai 2040 Urban Master Plan by improving connectivity and preparing the road network for continued growth in residential communities, visitor numbers and economic activity.