Sharjah Unveils New Al Taawun Square Design as Major Traffic Upgrade Nears November Opening
By Thasmiya
Sharjah has revealed more details of the major transformation taking place at **Al Taawun Square**, as work progresses on one of the emirate’s most important road projects connecting Sharjah with Dubai.
The redevelopment includes a new tunnel beneath Al Taawun Square, redesigned roads and intersections, and improved connections towards Al Nahda Bridge, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road and Emirates Road.
The first phase is scheduled to be ready **ahead of the Sharjah International Book Fair, which begins on November 4, 2026**, giving motorists a clearer idea of when traffic improvements in the area will start taking effect.
## **What is changing at Al Taawun Square?**
The existing Al Taawun corridor is undergoing a major redesign to improve one of Sharjah’s busiest traffic areas.
At the centre of the project is a **500-metre tunnel beneath Al Taawun Square**, connecting Al Taawun Street towards Al Nahda Bridge and Dubai.
The tunnel will eventually have **three lanes in each direction**, allowing through-traffic to move beneath the square instead of competing with vehicles using the surface intersection.
A new signalised intersection is also being developed as part of the project.
## **When will Al Taawun open to traffic?**
Sharjah Roads and Transport Authority says the **first phase will be completed ahead of the Sharjah International Book Fair in November 2026**.
The fair itself runs from **November 4 to 15**, meaning the first-phase roads are expected to be ready in time to handle the additional traffic generated by the major event.
Current reports indicate that the wider tunnel project is expected to reach full completion in **February 2027**.
## **What is included in the first phase?**
The first phase is not limited to the tunnel itself.
According to Sharjah RTA, it includes the roads associated with the tunnel as well as **two roads connecting towards Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road and Emirates Road**.
These connections are intended to strengthen links between major traffic corridors and make it easier for motorists to move between Al Taawun, surrounding Sharjah communities and routes towards Dubai.
## **Waiting times could fall by up to 85%**
One of the biggest expected benefits is a significant reduction in congestion.
The project is expected to **cut waiting times by as much as 85%** once the new traffic arrangements become operational.
The tunnel is designed to handle around **4,000 vehicles per hour during peak periods**, while earlier project details put the capacity of the accompanying signalised intersection at around 4,200 vehicles per direction per hour.
For motorists who regularly travel between Sharjah and Dubai, this could make a noticeable difference during morning and evening rush hours.
## **Better connection between Sharjah and Dubai**
Al Taawun is particularly important because it feeds directly towards **Al Nahda Bridge and Dubai**.
Heavy traffic from Al Taawun, Al Khan, Al Majaz, Al Nahda and surrounding communities currently converges around this corridor.
The upgraded road system is designed to separate through-traffic from local traffic and provide faster connections to major roads.
Sharjah RTA says the wider project will improve connectivity between central areas such as Al Buhairah and Al Taawun and newer developments around Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road.
## **Easier access to Expo Centre Sharjah**
The development is also important for visitors heading to **Expo Centre Sharjah**.
Sharjah’s Ruler has said directional signs will guide motorists towards the Expo Centre and that the upgraded network will provide direct, uninterrupted access towards its parking areas.
That is particularly significant ahead of the Sharjah International Book Fair, which attracts large numbers of visitors every year.
## **What happened to the famous Al Taawun monument?**
The familiar Al Taawun Roundabout monument was temporarily removed to allow the tunnel to be constructed underneath the area.
His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, has confirmed that the monument will return.
Engineers are redesigning it so that it can eventually be reinstated at its original location after the infrastructure work is completed.
So while Al Taawun Square is receiving a significantly different road layout, one of its most recognisable landmarks is expected to remain part of the area in the future.
## **Part of a AED 750 million Sharjah-Dubai road programme**
The Al Taawun development forms part of a much larger **AED 750 million road programme** ordered by the Ruler of Sharjah.
The programme includes five major components being developed simultaneously and aims to create stronger connections between Sharjah and Dubai.
Alongside Al Taawun, work includes upgrades around Al Khan Street and connections towards Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road.
Another route, **Noor Road**, will extend from Al Orooba Street towards Dubai via Al Nahda Bridge and is scheduled to open by the end of 2026.
## **What this means for daily Sharjah-Dubai commuters**
For now, motorists still need to deal with temporary diversions around the construction area.
Traffic towards Dubai and Al Nahda Bridge has been redirected through Al Corniche Street, while vehicles travelling from Al Nahda Bridge towards Sharjah have been diverted onto the new Al Taawun Street.
Once the first phase opens, however, motorists should begin seeing the benefits of the redesigned network.
The long-term goal is to reduce stop-and-go traffic around Al Taawun, increase road capacity and provide more direct routes towards Dubai and Sharjah’s major highways.
## **Why this matters**
Al Taawun is not simply another Sharjah intersection. It sits on one of the most important daily commuter routes between Sharjah and Dubai.
The new tunnel, redesigned square and connecting roads could therefore affect thousands of residents who travel between the two emirates every day.
With the first phase targeted for completion ahead of the **November 4 start of the Sharjah International Book Fair**, motorists may soon get their first look at how the new Al Taawun road network changes the daily commute.
## Related Reads - [UAE Gold Rate Today: How Dubai Gold Prices Are Calculated and Why They Change Daily](/post/uae-gold-rate-today-dubai-gold-prices-calculated) - [What Business Would You Start With AED 400K in the UAE? 8 Ideas Worth Exploring](/post/business-would-start-aed-400k-uae-8-ideas) - [4 Dubai Neighbourhoods Where Rents Are Finally Falling in 2026](/post/4-dubai-neighbourhoods-where-rents-finally-falling-2026) - [Best Business Opportunities in the UAE Right Now: 10 Ideas With Strong Growth Potential in 2026](/post/best-business-opportunities-uae-right-now-10-ideas) - [More stories like this](/category/news)