Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, has launched a comprehensive AED 16 billion roads development plan for 2024–2027, setting the stage for a major transformation of Dubai's transport network. The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) programme encompasses 22 new projects designed to improve mobility for over 6 million residents while supporting Dubai's continued urbanisation.
What the AED 16 Billion Roads Plan Covers
During a visit to the RTA, Sheikh Hamdan reviewed the full scope of the 2024–2027 Main Roads Development Plan alongside senior officials. The initiative targets the most congested and high-growth corridors in the emirate, with each project engineered to handle significantly more vehicles per hour while reducing journey times.
Key projects include:
- Latifa bint Hamdan Street — 12,200 metres of road including 8,100 metres of bridges, adding capacity for 16,000 vehicles per hour and cutting travel time by 15–20%, serving over 1 million residents. - Meydan Road — 10,600 metres of roads with 3,300 metres of bridges and three tunnels totalling 1,500 metres, adding capacity for 22,000 vehicles per hour and reducing travel time to just four minutes. - Al Mustaqbal Street and Trade Centre Roundabout — bridges and tunnels totalling 6,200 metres, increasing road capacity from 9,000 to 12,000 vehicles per hour and slashing travel time from eight minutes to 3 minutes 30 seconds. - Umm Suqeim and Al Qudra Streets — a 16,000-metre stretch reducing travel time from 46 minutes to just 11 minutes while serving over 800,000 residents.
Smart Transport Technology at the Core
The plan goes beyond concrete and asphalt. Dubai's roads development programme will introduce trackless trams at eight locations across the city, each with a capacity of 300 passengers per unit and a range of up to 100 kilometres per charge. AI-managed traffic systems and autonomous buses capable of carrying 10–20 passengers at 40 km/h are also part of the rollout.
The RTA will extend dedicated bus and taxi lanes to a total of 20 kilometres across six routes. This expansion is projected to increase public transport ridership by 10%, improve bus arrival rates by 42%, and reduce bus travel times by 41% — generating an estimated AED 2.3 billion in economic benefits over 10 years.
Cycling and Pedestrian Upgrades
Dubai's cycling infrastructure is set for a significant expansion. The RTA plans to grow the city's cycling network beyond the current 557 km, connecting coastal areas with suburban routes. The emirate already records approximately 44 million cycling trips annually, and the infrastructure upgrade is designed to sustain that growth. Pedestrian facilities will also be enhanced as part of the wider soft mobility push.
A City Built on Infrastructure Growth
Dubai's transport network has expanded dramatically over recent decades. Since 2006, the road network has grown from 8,715 to 18,990 lane-kilometres — a 117% increase. Vehicle bridges and tunnels have risen from 129 to 1,070, a 729% jump, while lanes across Dubai Creek have multiplied from 16 to 61. Daily public transport ridership now stands at 2.2 million.
Workforce Development for the Future
To sustain these ambitions, the RTA is investing in human capital. Forty-four employees and students are sponsored for academic degrees in artificial intelligence, big data, and related fields, while more than 375 specialised training courses have been delivered to over 1,400 trainees across nine advanced technology programmes.
Dubai's AED 16 billion roads development plan reinforces the emirate's reputation as a global benchmark for urban mobility — ensuring the city remains efficient, connected, and ready for the demands of a rapidly growing population.
