Dubai announces 80-kilometre motorway — The National
The UAE has announced plans to build a new 80-kilometre, 12-lane motorway in Dubai, connecting Al Faya Road in Abu Dhabi with Al Shanf Road in Sharjah. The motorway is intended to reduce congestion, shorten travel times and improve connections to the Etihad Rail network and Al Maktoum International Airport, The National reports.
A fourth transport corridor
Joseph Salem, partner and head of the travel, transport and hospitality practice at Arthur D Little Middle East, said Dubai’s inter-emirate traffic has relied on three main roads for nearly two decades: Sheikh Zayed Road, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road and Emirates Road. In his assessment, the new route will become a fourth corridor that will redistribute traffic flows and allow the network’s capacity to be expanded before demand grows.
The new road will serve the areas of Dubailand, Al Awir, Al Yalayis, Madinat Hind and Madinat Latifa. Its capacity will be up to 24,000 vehicles per hour in both directions.
Bridges, tunnels and phases
The project includes 72 bridges, 17 tunnels and 45 drainage culverts. The first phase, costing 3.5 billion dirhams, will run from Al Shanf Road to Dubai-Al Ain Road. The second is to connect the Dubai-Al Ain highway with Al Faya Road in Abu Dhabi.
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Lijo John, associate professor of logistics and supply chain management at Heriot-Watt University Dubai, described the engineering challenges as significant. According to him, builders will need to connect the new sections to existing motorways without stopping traffic, stabilise the sandy foundation and use asphalt resistant to rutting at surface temperatures above 60°C. Coordinating phases across several emirates will also complicate project management.
Risk of congestion returning
Thomas Edelmann, founder of Road-Safety UAE, believes that the additional road could temporarily make traffic smoother, reduce driver stress and possibly lower the number of accidents. At the same time, he warned that new road infrastructure can attract additional traffic. According to Road-Safety UAE’s 2025 study, 92% of UAE residents rely on car transport every day.
Experts also stress the importance of integrating the motorway with rail and public transport, as well as with demand-management measures. Among possible steps, they named flexible work schedules, freight transport during off-peak hours and carpooling.
