Dubai Road Upgrade to Cut Travel Time from 20 Minutes to Five
By Thasmiya
Motorists travelling through Oud Maitha and Al Asayel Streets could see journey times fall from around **20 minutes to just five minutes** once Dubai’s major road development project is completed.
The Roads and Transport Authority’s upgrade targets traffic bottlenecks across four important intersections and forms part of the wider Sheikh Rashid Corridor Development Project. RTA says the changes will improve traffic flow by approximately 75% while increasing road capacity across the busy corridor.
## **Which Dubai roads are being upgraded?**
The project focuses on Oud Maitha Road and Al Asayel Street, improving connections with several major routes, including:
- Sheikh Rashid Road - Al Khail Road - Dubai–Al Ain Road - Al Wasl Club Street
The development is designed to separate conflicting traffic movements and create more direct links between residential areas, major highways and central Dubai.
## **Travel time to fall by 75%**
RTA expects travel time along the upgraded route to drop from approximately 20 minutes to five minutes.
This represents a 75% improvement and could significantly reduce daily delays for motorists travelling between Oud Maitha, Al Jaddaf, Zabeel and surrounding areas.
The faster route will become possible through new bridges, tunnels, widened roads and dedicated turning connections that allow vehicles to avoid congested surface-level junctions.
## **Road capacity will increase by 50%**
The project will also increase the capacity of Oud Maitha Road from around **10,400 vehicles per hour to 15,600 vehicles per hour in both directions**.
This 50% increase is expected to improve traffic movement during morning and evening peak periods, when queues can build around key intersections.
## **Four major intersections are included**
The project involves the development of four major intersections.
One of the upgrades covers the junction between Oud Maitha Road and Sheikh Rashid Road. It includes a dedicated left-turn slip ramp for motorists travelling from Oud Maitha Road towards Sheikh Rashid Road in the direction of Al Garhoud Bridge.
The new connection is designed to accommodate approximately **1,800 vehicles per hour**.
Other improvements strengthen connections between Al Asayel Street, Al Khail Road and Al Wasl Club Street.
## **New bridges improve access to Al Khail Road**
RTA opened two bridges under the project in March 2026.
One bridge carries motorists from Al Asayel Street towards Al Wasl Club Street, while another provides a smoother connection from Al Asayel Street towards Al Khail Road and Business Bay Crossing.
The bridges help move through traffic above busy intersections, reducing the number of vehicles waiting at signals or changing lanes near junctions.
## **Project includes 4.3 kilometres of bridges**
The full development includes approximately **4.3 kilometres of bridges** and improvements to around **14 kilometres of roads**.
Rather than simply widening one section, the project redesigns several connected junctions to improve traffic distribution across the wider area.
The upgrades include new bridges, road widening, service-road improvements, ramps and more efficient entry and exit points.
## **Which Dubai communities will benefit?**
The improved road network will serve several important residential, healthcare and development areas, including:
- Oud Maitha - Al Jaddaf - Zabeel - Umm Hurair - Latifa Hospital - Al Wasl Club
RTA expects the project to serve a population of more than **420,000 people by 2030**.
The development should also improve access to Bur Dubai, Business Bay Crossing, Al Khail Road and Dubai–Al Ain Road.
## **How the project tackles traffic bottlenecks**
Traffic congestion often develops where vehicles travelling in different directions must merge, cross or turn within the same limited road space.
The new bridges and dedicated ramps separate some of these movements before vehicles reach the main intersections.
Motorists travelling towards Al Khail Road, Sheikh Rashid Road, Al Garhoud Bridge or Business Bay Crossing will therefore have more direct routes, reducing the pressure on traffic signals and surface-level junctions.
## **Part of the Sheikh Rashid Corridor development**
The Oud Maitha and Al Asayel upgrade forms part of the wider Sheikh Rashid Corridor Development Project.
The broader programme is intended to support Dubai’s continued urban expansion, improve connections between established communities and increase the road network’s ability to handle population growth.
RTA has continued implementing large road and bridge projects across the city to address congestion around residential districts, business centres, hospitals and major highways.
## **Why this matters**
Reducing a 20-minute journey to five minutes could make a noticeable difference for residents, workers and visitors travelling through central Dubai.
The corridor serves residential communities, healthcare facilities and key highway connections, meaning traffic delays in the area can affect thousands of daily journeys.
The higher road capacity and more direct connections should also reduce unnecessary lane changes and queues, helping make travel more predictable during peak hours.
As Dubai’s population grows, targeted infrastructure upgrades such as bridges, tunnels and dedicated ramps will be increasingly important for keeping major transport corridors moving efficiently.
## **FAQs**
### **Which Dubai route will take five minutes?**
Travel time along the upgraded Oud Maitha Road and Al Asayel Street corridor is expected to fall from approximately 20 minutes to five minutes.
### **How much will travel time improve?**
RTA expects a 75% reduction in journey time once the development is completed.
### **How much will the road capacity increase?**
Oud Maitha Road’s capacity will rise from around 10,400 to 15,600 vehicles per hour in both directions, an increase of 50%.
### **How many intersections are being upgraded?**
The project covers four major intersections along Oud Maitha Road and Al Asayel Street.
### **How large is the project?**
It includes approximately 4.3 kilometres of bridges and improvements to around 14 kilometres of roads.
### **Which areas will benefit?**
The project will serve Oud Maitha, Al Jaddaf, Zabeel, Umm Hurair, Latifa Hospital and Al Wasl Club, while improving connections to major highways.
### **How many people will the development serve?**
RTA expects the upgraded corridor to serve more than 420,000 people by 2030.
## **Source Credits**
Information source and resource owners: Dubai Roads and Transport Authority, Government of Dubai Media Office and Emirates News Agency.
## **Image Credits**
Image sources are combined from AI-generated visuals and other platforms. If any owner wants to be mentioned or any content needs to be changed, please email us at **concerns@whatmatters.ae**.