Dubai: Speed limit on Al Ittihad Road starts from November 20

The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has reduced the speed limit on Al Ittihad Road, between Sharjah and Al Garhoud Bridge, from 100 km/h to 80 km/h starting November 20, 2023.

RTA said the decision, which has been coordinated with the Dubai Police General Headquarters, is based on a recent study that reviewed the number of entrances/exits, proximity of intersections, recurrence of traffic accidents, and recent improvements and developments in the area.

Traffic signs along Al Ittihad Road, in the sector between Sharjah and Al Garhoud Bridge, have been updated to reflect the new maximum speed of 80km/h instead of the previous 100km/h. To enhance drivers’ awareness, red lines will mark the beginning of the speed reduction zone as per the applicable traffic safety standards.

Dubai’s #RTA and the Dubai Police General Headquarters decided to reduce the speed limit on Al Ittihad Road, between Sharjah and Al Garhoud Bridge, from 100 km/h to 80 km/h, effective November 20, 2023.
To read the full news, visit https://t.co/d59n6xYb3x@DubaiPoliceHQ pic.twitter.com/bwfuRAq3dd

— RTA (@rta_dubai) November 14, 2023

RTA stressed the importance of collaborating with the police in making joint preventive measures, such as the adjustment of radars.

The modification of speed limits is subject to various factors and engineering standards, including road design speed and the actual speed observed by most drivers (85th percentile speed).

Other parameters include urbanisation along the road, pedestrian activity, the presence of vital facilities, the history of traffic accidents, and traffic volume on the road.

Dubai’s traffic safety approach

RTA carries out regular reviews of speed limits on Dubai’s main roads to improve the traffic flow and reduce accidents. In doing so, the transport authority is guided by the Speed Management Manual in Dubai as well as the latest international practices.

“The manual sets criteria to strike an optimal balance between speed limits, traffic flow, and incident rates,” RTA said in a statement on its website.

Earlier this year, RTA reduced the speed limit on Dubai-Hatta Road in the sector extending between Dubai, Ajman and Al Hosn Roundabout from 100 km/h to 80 km/h. The zone covers approximately 6 kilometres.

Meanwhile, the transport regulator awarded a contract for the Hessa Street Improvement Project in October. The scope of the project runs 4.5 km from the intersection with Sheikh Zayed Road to the intersection with Al Khail Road.

The project will double the number of lanes on Hessa Street from two to four in each direction, and boost its capacity by 100 per cent to accommodate 8,000 vehicles per hour.

Read: Hessa Street capacity to double; RTA awards Dhs689m contract for major revamp