Following the guidance of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, efforts to develop the Sheikh Rashid Corridor are advancing in sync with the city’s urban expansion and population growth. Under the watchful eye of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defence, and Chairman of the Executive Council of Dubai, the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has awarded a AED600 million ($163.3 million) contract for the Oud Metha and Al Asayel Streets Development Project, which is a key component of the Sheikh Rashid Corridor Development Project. This initiative will link Al Asayel Street to Al Khail Road through Al Nawras Street while providing access to Oud Metha and Al Nawras Streets.
Key features
Mattar Al Tayer, director general and chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of the RTA, emphasized that the Oud Metha and Al Asayel Streets Development Project stands as one of the most significant infrastructure initiatives. The project encompasses the construction of four major intersections, 4,300 meters of bridges, and 14 kilometers of roads. It aims to serve various residential and service areas, including Zabeel, Al Jaddaf, Oud Metha, Umm Hurair, Latifa Hospital, and Al Wasl Club. By 2030, the project is projected to accommodate a population exceeding 420,000. Additionally, it will enhance the capacity of Oud Metha Street from 10,400 vehicles per hour to 15,600 vehicles per hour—a fifty percent increase. Travel time on this route is expected to drop from 20 minutes to just 5 minutes, representing a remarkable seventy-five percent improvement.
First intersection enhancements
The first intersection, situated at the junction of Oud Metha Street and Sheikh Rashid Street, will see the addition of a left-turn lane for traffic from Oud Metha to Sheikh Rashid Street, increasing capacity to 1,800 vehicles per hour. Improvements will also target the service road on Sheikh Rashid Street between the existing bridge and the exit at Al Zahrawi Street, aimed at alleviating traffic congestion and enhancing road safety. Furthermore, the number of right-turn lanes from Sheikh Rashid Street to Dubai-Al Ain Road will rise from two to three, boosting capacity to 4,000 vehicles per hour.
Second intersection developments
At the second intersection, where Oud Metha Street meets Al Asayel and Al Nawras Streets, two bridges will be constructed to connect Al Asayel Street to Al Khail Road via Al Nawras Street. The first bridge, featuring two lanes, will facilitate 2,400 vehicles per hour from Al Asayel to Al Nawras. The second bridge, consisting of three lanes, will handle 3,600 vehicles per hour from Al Khail Road to Al Asayel. Additionally, a separate two-lane bridge will allow left-turn traffic from Al Asayel to Oud Metha Street, accommodating 2,400 vehicles per hour. Improvements will also be made to the road leading to the entrance of Al Wasl Club, as well as to the entrances and exits on Al Nawras Street, to mitigate current traffic overlaps.
Third intersection improvements
The third intersection, where Al Nawras Street meets Al Khail Road, will feature a two-lane bridge for traffic transitioning from Al Asayel Street to Al Khail Road, continuing towards the Business Bay Crossing, with a capacity for 3,000 vehicles per hour. Al Nawras Street will see upgrades, including an increase in exit capacity to two lanes towards Al Khail Road. A service road will be constructed on both sides of Al Nawras Street, complete with parking spaces as part of the enhancements.
Fourth intersection enhancements
At the fourth intersection, where Zabeel Palace Street intersects with Al Khail and Oud Metha Streets, a new lane will be added to the left-turn ramp for traffic from Al Khail Road to Dubai-Al Ain Road, effectively doubling capacity from 900 vehicles per hour to 1,800 vehicles per hour. Moreover, a single-lane tunnel with a capacity of 1,200 vehicles per hour will be built to serve traffic moving from Dubai-Al Ain Road to Al Nawras Street, addressing existing traffic overlaps. The project will also expand the existing bridge that directs traffic from Al Khail Road towards Oud Metha Street, increasing its lanes from two to three and enhancing capacity from 2,200 vehicles per hour to 3,300 vehicles per hour.
Strategic importance of the Sheikh Rashid corridor
The Sheikh Rashid Corridor Development Project, which includes the Al Asayel Street Development, is among the largest strategic road initiatives undertaken by the RTA. Additionally, in previous phases, the RTA expanded Ras Al Khor Road from its intersection with Dubai-Al Ain Road to Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road, covering 8 kilometers. This expansion included the construction of several bridges totaling 2,000 meters and increasing Ras Al Khor Road from three lanes to six lanes in each direction, along with a two-lane service road on both sides.
These enhancements have raised the capacity of Ras Al Khor Road to 10,000 vehicles per hour, cutting travel time from 20 minutes to just 7 minutes and significantly improving traffic flow and safety. The project supports several major development areas, accommodating an estimated population of 650,000, including the Lagoons, Dubai Creek, Meydan Horizon, Ras Al Khor, Al Wasl, and Nad Al Hamar.
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