Al Safa Street in Dubai, UAE, Launches 1.5-Kilometer Transformation

en.Wedoany.com Reported - On September 13, the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) of Dubai, UAE, launched upgrade construction on Al Safa Street and implemented new traffic diversion measures. The project connects Sheikh Zayed Road and Al Wasl Road, with a total length of approximately 1.5 kilometers. It will build 2 new bridges and 2 tunnels, with a combined bridge and tunnel length of 3,120 meters, while also implementing ground-level road widening, intersection improvements, traffic signal system upgrades, and access point optimization. During construction, two-way traffic on Al Safa Street has been diverted to newly built temporary roads on both sides of the project construction zone to maintain existing traffic flow.

According to the plan announced by the Dubai Roads and Transport Authority, Al Safa Street will be expanded from the existing three signal-controlled lanes in each direction to four lanes in each direction. The first bridge of the project is 1,005 meters long and has 4 lanes, primarily serving traffic traveling from Al Wasl Road toward Sheikh Zayed Road and the Financial Centre Street direction, with a designed capacity of approximately 6,400 vehicles per hour; the second bridge is 360 meters long and has 2 lanes, primarily accommodating vehicles traveling from Al Satwa Street toward Sheikh Zayed Road and the Financial Centre Street direction, with a capacity of approximately 2,800 vehicles per hour.

The two tunnels each handle traffic conversion in different directions. One tunnel is 1,005 meters long and has 2 lanes, serving vehicles traveling from Sheikh Zayed Road and Financial Centre Street toward Al Wasl Road, with a designed capacity of approximately 3,200 vehicles per hour; the other tunnel is located at the intersection of Al Wasl Road and Al Safa Street, is 750 meters long, and has 2 lanes in each direction, with a total capacity of approximately 6,400 vehicles per hour. The project will also adjust the traffic organization at the intersection of Al Satwa Street and Al Multaqa Street, add access lanes, and provide free-flow U-turn lanes.

After the project is completed, the two-way road capacity of Al Safa Street will increase from the current 6,000 vehicles per hour to 12,000 vehicles per hour, and normal travel time is expected to be reduced from 12 minutes to 3 minutes. In addition to the motor vehicle road system, the project also includes the construction of pedestrian walkways, bicycle lanes, landscaping, and public spaces, and will strengthen traffic connections between Al Safa Street, Al Wasl Road, Sheikh Zayed Road, and Financial Centre Street.

The Al Safa Street project is part of the comprehensive upgrade plan for 7 intersections on Umm Suqeim Street, Al Wasl Road, Al Safa Street, and Jumeirah Street in Dubai. The Dubai Roads and Transport Authority awarded the overall project contract in April 2026. The entire plan includes approximately 11 kilometers of bridge and tunnel works as well as ground-level road widening construction. Following the implementation of this traffic diversion, Al Safa Street has officially moved from the earlier contract and construction preparation stage into the on-site construction stage.