Roads & Transport Authority - News Details

In response to the directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President, Prime Minister of the UAE, Ruler of Dubai to complete the Al Shindagha Corridor Improvement Project which will serve the city’s extensive urban and demographic growth along the corridor and under the follow-up of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Chairman of the Executive Council, the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) signed an agreement with NAKHEEL, the world's leading real estate developer to construct direct entrances and exits to the Dubai Islands project from Bur Dubai. The bridge spans 1,425 metres with four lanes in each direction.

The agreement was formalised by His Excellency Mattar Al Tayer, Director General, Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors, RTA and His Excellency Mohammed Ibrahim Al Shaibani, Chairman of the Board of Directors, of NAKHEEL. Attendees from NAKHEEL included Issam Galadari, Managing Director, Member of the Board of Directors, and Mr. Naaman Atallah, Group CEO of NAKHEEL. Attendees from RTA included Eng. Maitha bin Adai, CEO of Traffic and Roads Agency, Moaza Al Marri, Executive Director, Office of RTA’s Director-General, Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors, Hamad Al Shehi, Director of Roads and several directors from both parties.

The Dubai Islands project will have a direct entry and exit points on the Bur Dubai side through a bridge stretching across the Dubai Creek between the Infinity Bridge and Port Rashid Development Project. The bridge extends 1,425 metres and comprises four lanes in each direction with a total capacity of 16,000 vehicles per hour in both directions. It rises 15.5 metres above the waters of the Dubai Creek and features a 75-metre-wide canal allowing ships of various types to traverse the creek. The project encompasses a dedicated lane for cyclists and pedestrians on one side of the bridge and two elevators will be installed at both ends to ease the mobility of pedestrians and cyclists. The project also sets forth the construction of surface roads extending approximately 2,000 metres to connect with the existing roads from both ends of the Dubai Islands and Bur Dubai. The project is set to complete in 2026.

Mega Strategic Road Projects

His Excellency Mattar Al Tayer expressed delight over signing the agreement with NAKHEEL to undertake the construction of entrances and exits leading to the Dubai Islands project: “This marks the second agreement under the initiative to provide entrances and exits leading to Dubai Islands, a venture that RTA successfully undertook in partnership with NAKHEEL in 2020. The project envisaged constructing three bridges at the junction of Al Khaleej Street and Abu Baker Al Siddique Road, spanning 1.6 km that lead to Dubai Islands.”

“This project forms a key phase of Al Shindagha Corridor Improvement Project. It is one of the largest projects currently being undertaken by RTA with a total estimated cost of AED5.3 billion. It encompasses the construction of 15 intersections spanning 13 km in total. Due to its massive scope, the project had been split into five phases. The Corridor serves Deira and Bur Dubai in addition to several development projects such as Dubai Islands, Dubai Seafront, Dubai Maritime City and Port Rashid. As such, it is expected to serve about one million people. It will slash the travel time from 104 minutes to just 16 minutes by 2030, and the time saved over 20 years will be worth about AED45 billion,” added Al Tayer.

Enhancing Dubai Global Standing 

His Excellency Mohammed Ibrahim Al Shaibani, Director-General of Dubai Ruler’s Court, Managing Director of the Investment Corporation of Dubai, Chairman of the Board of Directors of NAKHEEL said: “Nakheel and the RTA have both been at the forefront of innovation, looking at ways to develop sustainable environments, which further reinforce Dubai’s position as the global hub for innovation in developing infrastructure that shapes the future of smart cities. Being an integral waterfront development situated at the northern coastline of the emirate, Dubai Islands will be easily accessible by land and see through the well-planned road bridges and water transport.  We look forward to working with RTA to enhance the future vision of Dubai and to see Dubai Islands come to life.”

In 2020, RTA finalised the construction of entrances and exits connecting Dubai Islands from Deira, to elevate the road entrances and exits to Dubai Islands at the junction of Al Khaleej Street and Abu Bakar Al Siddique Road. The project entailed constructing 3 bridges spanning 1.6km, namely: a two-lane bridge that provides smooth traffic flow from Dubai Islands to Al Khaleej Street in the North, and another three-lane bridge that ensures smooth traffic flow from Dubai Islands to Al Khaleej Street in the South in addition to a two-lane bridge that provides smooth traffic flow from Al Khaleej Street southward to Dubai Islands.