The project is expected to ease congestion in the north of the city
If you drive through Deira regularly, especially around Al Khaleej Street, Infinity Bridge, or the busy roads near Al Mamzar, there’s finally some good news in store.
Dubai’s massive new Al Khaleej Street Tunnel is now 80 per cent complete, and officials say it’s on track to open before the end of 2026.
For anyone who spends too much time stuck in traffic crawling through old Dubai, this project could make a real difference to daily life.
The six-lane tunnel stretches for 1.65km, running from the end of the Infinity Bridge ramp in Deira all the way to the junction of Al Khaleej Street and Al Wuheida Street.
Once open, it will handle up to 12,000 vehicles per hour in each direction; a huge capacity boost for one of Dubai’s busiest corridors.
For residents, it’s about reclaiming time. The Roads and Transport Authority says the wider Al Shindagha Corridor Improvement Project is expected to cut some travel times from a painful 104 minutes down to just 16 minutes by 2030.
That’s the difference between sitting in bumper-to-bumper traffic after work and actually getting home in time for dinner.
The project is designed to support the rapid growth happening across the area, including Dubai Islands, Waterfront Market, Port Rashid, and Dubai Maritime City, all districts seeing major residential and tourism development.
With more people moving into these neighbourhoods and more visitors expected in the coming years, Dubai is clearly trying to stay ahead of the congestion problem before it gets worse.
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Around 1,600 workers and engineers are currently working around the clock to finish the tunnel, while crews continue excavation, paving, lighting installation, drainage systems, and road widening works.
The RTA is also upgrading nearby intersections, replacing roundabouts with signalised junctions to improve traffic flow even further.
One surprisingly interesting detail is that the tunnel won’t just be functional; it’s also being designed to look good.
Emirati artist Maryam Hathboor has created artwork for the tunnel interior inspired by the detailed style seen on banknotes, featuring elements of Dubai’s skyline including the iconic Infinity Bridge.
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And the upgrades don’t stop there. A new bridge connecting Dubai Islands and Bur Dubai is also in the works, complete with cycling and pedestrian tracks, lifts, and a navigational channel for boats crossing Dubai Creek.
For commuters, though, the biggest headline is simple: fewer traffic headaches, shorter drives, and hopefully a much smoother journey through one of Dubai’s busiest parts of the city.
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