The 800-metre tunnel boosts road capacity and improves connectivity across Dubai
A new 800-metre tunnel has officially opened along Umm Suqeim Street, marking a major milestone in Dubai’s ongoing efforts to improve traffic flow and reduce congestion.
This latest development is a key feature of the Umm Suqeim Street Development Project, which spans from Al Khail Road to Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road.
The tunnel features four lanes in each direction, designed to handle a combined 16,000 vehicles per hour, significantly easing pressure on one of the city’s busiest traffic corridors.
Residents of several major communities, including Al Barsha South 1, 2, and 3, Dubai Hills, Arjan, and Dubai Science Park, stand to benefit from the improved road network.
The tunnel is expected to cut travel times between Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road and Al Khail Road by 61 per cent, reducing the average drive from nearly 10 minutes to under 4.
You might also like: New parking system coming to Dubai mosques this August
Strategically located, the project enhances connectivity across four major arterial routes: Sheikh Zayed Road, Al Khail Road, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road, and Emirates Road, bolstering access between eastern and western Dubai.
The project also saw the implementation of advanced technology, including AI-powered drones for real-time construction data analysis and time-lapse imaging to monitor progress, improving both accuracy and efficiency during development.
This tunnel forms part of a decade-long upgrade of Umm Suqeim Street.
Back in 2013, Phase I of the project improved the stretch between Sheikh Zayed Road and Al Khail Road with new bridges, signalised intersections, and pedestrian crossings—dramatically enhancing connectivity between Al Quoz and Al Barsha.
Further enhancements came in 2020, when a 500-metre bridge was completed at the entrance to Dubai Hills and Al Barsha South.
That bridge was designed to support 16,000 vehicles per hour, the same capacity as the newly opened tunnel, and played a key role in preparing infrastructure for the Dubai Hills Mall development.
The completion of this latest tunnel signals Dubai’s continued investment in smart, future-ready infrastructure to keep pace with its rapid urban growth and increasing population.
Follow Yalla for all the latest news
