Dubai’s RTA revs up Dhs332m upgrade for Umm Suqeim Street

Faster flowing traffic could become a reality for one of Dubai’s key arterial routes, Umm Suqeim Street, amid plans for a Dhs332m upgrade.

Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) said in a statement that a contract has been awarded to upgrade Umm Suqeim Street in a 4.6 km long project, which will extend from Al Khail Road to Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road.

READ MORE: Dubai: Dhs374m road project to enable smooth traffic flow, support population growth

The project will further include an upgrade of the intersection with Al Barsha South Street, located near Kings School, by constructing an 800-metre-long tunnel with four lanes in each direction on Umm Suqeim Street. A ‘signalised’ surface intersection will also be constructed as a part of the project, says the RTA.

Mattar Al Tayer, Director-General, and Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of RTA said in a statement that the project is crucial to enhance connectivity between east-west transverse streets and north-south vertical streets.

“This project aims to improve the connectivity of four major traffic corridors in Dubai: Sheikh Zayed Road, Al Khail Road, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road, and Emirates Road. It will enhance the capacity of the streets to accommodate up to 16,000 vehicles per hour in both directions, ensure a smoother flow of traffic, and significantly reduce the travel time between Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road and Al Khail Road from 9.7 to 3.8 minutes,” Al Tayer said.

“This project will serve various residential and developments areas, including Al Barsha South 1, 2, and 3, and Dubai Hills. These areas have an estimated population of about two million people,” Al Tayer explained.

The upgrades are also in line with directives from His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, to improve the infrastructure of the road network to match Dubai’s sustained growth, accommodate urban and population needs, and ensure smooth traffic flow.

Latest RTA upgrades

The upgrades will also mark the latest in a series of improvements on this stretch of road.

In 2013, the RTA completed the widening of Umm Suqeim Street from the intersection of Sheikh Zayed Road to the intersection of Al Khail Road. This project included the construction of two bridges, with three lanes in each direction, and three pedestrian bridges. As part of the bridges and roads leading to the Dubai Hills Mall project, a bridge was constructed on Umm Suqeim Street at its intersection with Dubai Hills and Al Barsha entrances.

In 2020, the RTA opened a central 500-metre bridge as part of the bridges and roads leading to Dubai Hills Mall project. The bridge is located at the intersection of Umm Suqeim Street and the entrances of Dubai Hills and the Al Barsha areas. It consists of four lanes in each direction and is capable of handling up to 16,000 vehicles per hour.