DUBAI: In a major boost to regional urban mobility, a 1.65-kilometre tunnel on Al Khaleej Street in Dubai was opened on Sunday, aimed at significantly easing vehicular traffic between Infinity Bridge and Deira.
According to the emirate’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), the newly inaugurated subterranean route features three lanes in each direction and boasts a capacity to accommodate up to 12,000 vehicles per hour. The infrastructure allows motorists to commute seamlessly without stopping at traffic signals from the conclusion of the Infinity Bridge ramp in Deira all the way to the intersection of Al Khaleej Street and Al Wuheida Street. This vital transit corridor is expected to improve accessibility to prominent residential and commercial districts, including Abu Hail, Al Wuheida, and Al Mamzar, alongside key destinations such as Dubai Islands, the Waterfront Market, and Al Hamriya Port.
RTA Director General Mattar Al Tayer noted that the opening marks another crucial milestone in optimizing traffic flow across one of Dubai’s core transportation arteries. “The project will enhance traffic flow along Al Khaleej Street, provide free-flowing traffic for motorists travelling from Infinity Bridge towards Deira and Al Mamzar and vice versa, and strengthen connectivity between residential areas, commercial centres and tourist destinations,” Al Tayer stated. The comprehensive infrastructure upgrade also entails converting roundabouts on Cairo Street and Al Wuheida Street into signal-controlled intersections, alongside major road enhancements along Cairo Street. Furthermore, a dedicated access ramp from Dubai Islands has been integrated into the new tunnel towards Al Mamzar.
Reduced Commute Times
The Al Khaleej Street tunnel forms an integral component of the broader Al Shindagha Corridor Improvement Project—a 13-kilometre mega road development spanning Sheikh Rashid Road, Al Mina Street, Al Khaleej Street, and Cairo Street. Encompassing upgrades across 15 major intersections, the multi-phase initiative is designed to serve approximately one million residents across dynamic hubs like Dubai Islands, Dubai Maritime City, and Port Rashid. Upon full completion of the corridor enhancements by 2030, authorities project that average journey times will dramatically plummet from one hour and 44 minutes down to just 16 minutes.
While construction on the Bur Dubai segment of the corridor concluded in 2025, work is actively underway on a landmark new bridge directly connecting Dubai Islands to Bur Dubai. Spanning 1.4 kilometres across Dubai Creek between Infinity Bridge and the Port Rashid redevelopment zone, the upcoming bridge will feature four lanes in each direction, accommodating up to 16,000 vehicles per hour, alongside dedicated pedestrian and cycling pathways equipped with accessibility lifts.
Adding a distinct cultural touch, the new Al Khaleej Street tunnel features an expansive mosaic mural conceptualized by Emirati artist Maryam Al Hathboor. Comprising 36 million individual mosaic tiles, the monumental artwork illustrates Dubai’s iconic skyline and landmarks—including the Infinity Bridge—drawing artistic inspiration from classic banknote design motifs. The RTA underscored that the mural commemorates the city’s rapid commercial evolution, utilizing durable materials designed for long-term preservation.
The massive engineering undertaking was successfully executed through approximately 11 million working hours by a dedicated workforce of 2,200 engineers, technicians, and laborers, maintaining an exemplary safety record with zero injuries. Additionally, the RTA reported that 77 percent of the roughly 522,000 cubic meters of excavated material generated during construction was successfully recycled and repurposed for other regional infrastructure projects.
For more details: Navamalayalam.com