Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has officially opened two new traffic bridges under the Trade Centre Roundabout Development Project, bringing major relief to one of the city’s busiest intersections and significantly reducing travel times for motorists across central.
The newly inaugurated bridges, which were completed ahead of schedule, serve vehicles traveling from 2nd December Street towards Sheikh Rashid Road and Al Majlis Street, with direct connections to Al Mustaqbal Street. Each bridge has two lanes in both directions, spanning a combined length of approximately 2,000 metres, and is capable of handling around 6,000 vehicles per hour during peak traffic.
Sharper Travel Efficiency
Before the opening, drivers faced journey times of up to 10 minutes between key connecting roads. With the bridges now operational, that journey has been slashed to just two minutes — dramatically improving traffic flow near the Trade Centre area, which is a hub for both business and
Strategic Connectivity and Impact
The Trade Centre Roundabout connects Sheikh Zayed Road with five vital thoroughfares:
Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Street
Sheikh Rashid Road
2nd December Street
Zabeel Palace Street
Al Majlis Street
According to RTA Director General Mattar Al Tayer, the addition of these bridges enhances traffic movement not only through the roundabout but also in key directions such as from 2nd December Street and Al Satwa toward Dubai World Trade Centre, DIFC (Dubai International Financial Centre), and major adjacent districts.
The project, with a total investment exceeding AED 696 million, forms part of a wider effort to modernise infrastructure and support Dubai’s rapid urban growth. Beyond the two bridges now open, several additional connections are scheduled to come online over the next year:
March 2026: Bridge linking Sheikh Zayed Road to Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Street
October 2026: Two more bridges serving traffic from Sheikh Rashid Road and Al Majlis Street toward 2nd December Street
Future Benefits and Broader Impact
Once completed, the entire Trade Centre Roundabout Development Project is expected to:
Reduce average delays at the intersection from around 12 minutes to just 90 seconds
Cut travel times for traffic heading from Sheikh Zayed Road to Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Street from six minutes to one minute
Benefit more than 500,000 residents and visitors across central Dubai daily
Greatly improve access to major commercial and event hubs.
The project is also part of a larger master plan that includes redevelopment and capacity upgrades to Al Mustaqbal Street, which will see new bridges, tunnels, and road widenings that will further raise traffic capacity by around 33% when the full pro
Dubai’s rapid urbanisation and continuous growth as a global business, tourism and residential hub have put pressure on key transport arteries. With major events and exhibitions attracting large crowds year-round, alleviating congestion — especially around central intersections — has been a top priority for authorities. The opening of these bridges represents a substantial milestone toward achieving smoother, faster, and more efficient traffic flow across the city.