Dubai opens new tunnel linking Dubai-Al Ain Road with Oud Metha as major project nears completion

Dubai opens new tunnel linking Dubai-Al Ain Road with Oud Metha as major project nears completion

Dubai's Roads and Transport Authority has opened a new vehicle tunnel connecting Dubai–Al Ain Road with Oud Metha Service Road, marking another milestone in the AED 600 million Oud Metha and Al Asayel Streets Development Project.

The 260-metre single-lane tunnel has a capacity of up to 1,200 vehicles per hour and is designed to reduce traffic overlap and weaving along the route, enabling smoother movement between the two roads.

The tunnel opening comes as the overall Oud Metha and Al Asayel Streets Development Project reaches 90 percent completion. Two additional tunnels are scheduled to open by the end of August 2026, according to project timelines.

Part of larger infrastructure initiative

The development forms part of the larger Sheikh Rashid Corridor Development Project and includes improvements to four major intersections, bridges spanning 4.3 kilometers, and upgrades to 14 kilometers of roads. The project was awarded in October 2024.

Upon completion, the infrastructure initiative is expected to serve more than 420,000 residents by 2030 across areas including Zabeel, Al Jaddaf, Oud Metha, Umm Hurair, and neighborhoods near Latifa Hospital and Al Wasl Club.

Significant capacity and travel time improvements

The project will increase the capacity of Oud Metha Street from 10,400 vehicles per hour in both directions to 15,600 vehicles per hour, representing a 50 percent increase. Travel time along the route will be reduced from 20 minutes to 5 minutes, a 75 percent improvement.

The tunnel connects to Dubai–Al Ain Road, a 160-kilometer corridor that experiences over 85,000 vehicles daily during peak periods. Weekday morning rush hours from 6:30 AM to 9:00 AM see substantial Dubai-bound traffic on this route.

Oud Metha is a central residential and commercial neighborhood in Bur Dubai, located between Al Karama, Zabeel, and Al Garhoud, with development dating back to the late 1970s.

Broader road network transformation

The RTA emphasized that the tunnel and broader project support ongoing efforts to improve the efficiency of Dubai's road network and provide smoother journeys for motorists. The development works aim to create a more integrated mobility network across Dubai.

The Government of Dubai has invested AED 175 billion over the past two decades in developing the infrastructure of Dubai's road network and transport systems. The number of vehicle bridges and tunnels implemented by the RTA increased from 129 in 2006 to over 1,050 by the end of 2024, reflecting the scale of the emirate's infrastructure transformation.