UAE plans 120km, 12-lane federal road to handle 360,000 trips a day

The UAE Government Annual Meetings 2025 revealed plans to alleviate traffic congestion, in line with directives from the wise leadership emphasising the importance of developing smart, flexible and sustainable infrastructure to facilitate smoother traffic flow, support comprehensive development and enhance quality of life.

Work is underway to expand the three main highways connecting the emirates and establish a new national highway to link them all.

The UAE already has some of the best, most advanced and most sustainable infrastructure in the world, as well as a world-class federal road network that can meet the growing demand for land transport and ensure sustainable development.

Suhail Al Mazrouei, the Minister of Energy and Infrastructure, announced a package of national transportation and road projects worth Dhs170 billion by 2030. The aim is to alleviate traffic congestion and improve movement between the emirates.

These projects form part of a comprehensive strategy to develop transport infrastructure, including:

- Expanding the three highways connecting the emirates

- A new national highway to link all the emirates

- Expanding federal roads

- Enhancing public transport

- Implementing high-speed and light rail projects

- The Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure is working to increase the efficiency of federal roads by 73% over the next five years

- An integrated development plan that includes increasing the number of traffic lanes from 19 to 33 in each direction. The plan also includes widening key infrastructure axes

- Increasing the capacity of Al Ittihad Road by 60% by adding six lanes (three in each direction), bringing the total to 12 lanes.

- The capacity of Emirates Road will be increased by 65%, and travel time will be reduced by 45%, by expanding it to 10 lanes along its entire length.

- The capacity of Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Road will be increased by 45% through expansion to 10 lanes.

A study is being conducted into the establishment of a fourth federal road, which would be 120 kilometres long and 12 lanes wide, with the capacity to accommodate 360,000 trips per day. This would enhance the efficiency of the federal road network and support economic growth and movement between the country's emirates.

Al Mazrouei explained that the most prominent causes of traffic congestion are the significant annual growth in the number of vehicles (exceeding 8% compared to a global average of 2%), reliance on private vehicles, overlapping working and school hours, and increasing population growth.

He confirmed that the Ministry has developed a series of plans and mechanisms to address the challenges of traffic density, in collaboration with local authorities.

These include updating current policies and legislation related to traffic congestion and vehicle growth, encouraging the shift to public and smart transportation, enhancing existing road networks connecting the emirates through local and federal national projects, and studying the development of new road networks connecting the emirates to the highest possible standards and capacities.

Other plans include studying ways to enhance and integrate public transportation projects between the emirates, as well as developing public transportation models that encourage their use and reduce reliance on private vehicles.

He added, "The Ministry takes an integrated, strategic approach to addressing traffic congestion and implements innovative solutions and smart technologies to improve traffic flow efficiency. There is an integrated traffic monitoring centre that operates around the clock to analyse the causes of congestion and propose appropriate solutions.”

Al Mazrouei said: 'The Ministry is working on implementing a comprehensive national plan to develop the federal road network. The aim is to enhance its efficiency and capacity to accommodate increasing traffic, as well as to achieve greater smoothness in traffic flow. This will have a positive impact on quality of life and promote economic growth."

He noted that the Ministry had begun implementing the Dhs750 million Emirates Road development and upgrade project, which is set to take two years.

This project is part of a series of high-quality initiatives aimed at addressing traffic congestion on vital arteries.

This project represents a significant step towards achieving the UAE's vision of a more advanced, efficient and sustainable federal road network that can meet the demands of rapid population and economic growth. It also demonstrates the UAE's dedication to embracing innovative solutions to enhance transportation, reduce emissions, and improve the quality of life for its citizens.

Al Mazrouei emphasised that the UAE's government places the utmost importance on the transportation sector, particularly railways.

He pointed out that the launch of the National Rail Programme in 2021, backed by Dhs50 billion in investments, embodies the country's vision of building an integrated transport system that will strengthen connectivity between cities, reduce carbon emissions and enhance road safety.

He added, "Etihad Rail is moving confidently towards launching passenger services by 2026. This aligns with the UAE’s ambitions to provide an integrated, safe and efficient rail network that enhances connectivity between cities and communities, reduces traffic congestion, and meets passenger needs according to the highest international standards."