Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has opened two new bridges as part of the Oud Maitha and Al Asayel Streets Development Project, a key component of the wider Sheikh Rashid Corridor Development initiative aimed at improving connectivity and easing congestion in central Dubai.
The newly inaugurated bridges link Al Asayel Street with Al Khail Road via Al Wasl Club Street. One bridge carries traffic from Al Asayel Street towards Al Wasl Club Street, while the second connects Al Asayel Street to Al Khail Road in the direction of Business Bay Crossing.
RTA said 72 per cent of the overall project has now been completed, while tunnel construction has reached 70 per cent. The tunnel will serve traffic travelling from Dubai–Al Ain Road towards the Oud Maitha service road. Additional road expansions and bridge structures are currently under construction and are expected to open in the third quarter of this year.
His Excellency Mattar Al Tayer, Director General, Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), said: “The development of Oud Maitha and Al Asayel Streets is being implemented under the directives of the wise leadership to complement Sheikh Rashid Corridor Development and accommodate the emirate’s ongoing urban expansion and population growth. The project is among the key road infrastructure developments, encompassing the upgrade of four major intersections, including the construction of bridges and two tunnels extending 4.3 km, in addition to roads extending 14 km.”
“The project serves several key service facilities, residential communities, and development zones, most notably Za’abeel, Al Jaddaf, Oud Maitha, and Umm Hurair, in addition to major destinations such as Latifa Hospital and Al Wasl Club. The population of the areas served by the project is projected to exceed 420,000 residents by 2030.”
“The project will increase the traffic-carrying capacity of Oud Maitha Street from 10,400 vehicles per hour in both directions to 15,600 vehicles per hour, representing an increase of 50 per cent. It will also reduce average journey time from 20 minutes to 5 minutes, reflecting an improvement of 75 per cent.”
He added: “The first bridge, inaugurated at the intersection of Oud Maitha Street with Al Asayel Street and Al Wasl Club Street, comprises two lanes with a design capacity of approximately 2,400 vehicles per hour. It accommodates traffic movements from Al Asayel Street towards Al Wasl Club Street, improving traffic flow efficiency and reducing travel times across the area.
“The second bridge is located at the intersection of Al Wasl Club Street and Al Khail Road. It carries traffic movements from Al Asayel Street to Al Khail Road towards Business Bay Crossing and comprises two lanes with a capacity of approximately 3,000 vehicles per hour.”
As part of the ongoing development of Sheikh Rashid Corridor to accommodate urban growth and population expansion, #RTA inaugurated today (Friday) two major bridges as part of the Al Asayel and Oud Maitha Streets Development Project. The project links Al Asayel Street with Al… pic.twitter.com/AVAqcVLtbi
— RTA (@rta_dubai) March 6, 2026
The wider project includes upgrades to four major intersections along the corridor.
At the intersection of Oud Maitha Street and Sheikh Rashid Street, a new dedicated left-turn slip lane has been added for traffic heading towards Al Garhoud Bridge, increasing capacity to 1,800 vehicles per hour. Service roads along Sheikh Rashid Street are also being upgraded to improve safety and address traffic overlap.
Additional improvements include expanding right-turn lanes from Sheikh Rashid Street to Oud Maitha Street towards Dubai–Al Ain Road from two lanes to three, raising capacity to 4,000 vehicles per hour. A tunnel will also connect the Oud Maitha service road with Sheikh Rashid Street for traffic heading towards Bur Dubai.
The project also upgrades the intersection of Al Wasl Club Street and Al Khail Road through the construction of a two-lane bridge serving traffic from Al Asayel Street towards Business Bay Crossing, alongside road expansions, service roads and additional parking spaces.
Further enhancements include improvements to the intersection of Zaa’beel Palace Street with Al Khail Road and Oud Maitha Street. Works include adding an extra lane on the left-turn ramp towards Dubai–Al Ain Road, doubling capacity from 900 to 1,800 vehicles per hour, as well as constructing a single-lane vehicular tunnel serving traffic from Dubai–Al Ain Road towards Al Wasl Club Street.
The project also involves widening an existing bridge from two lanes to three for traffic travelling from Al Khail Road towards Oud Maitha Street, increasing its capacity from 2,200 to 3,300 vehicles per hour.
RTA said the upgrades form part of ongoing efforts to strengthen Dubai’s road infrastructure, improve traffic flow and support the emirate’s long-term urban growth.
Read: Dubai’s RTA rolls out 45 traffic upgrades: Here’s how commutes will change
