News summary: Dubai’s RTA has completed the Oud Maitha Road and Al Asayel Street Development Project. The authority says the new connections increase capacity on Oud Maitha Road by up to 50% and could cut a journey previously taking 20 minutes to five minutes.
Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority announced on 20 September that all works on the Oud Maitha Road and Al Asayel Street Development Project are complete.
The project includes 14 kilometers of roads, improvements at four major intersections, and four bridges and two tunnels extending a combined 4.3 kilometers. It is designed to improve connections between residential areas, major roads and local destinations.
Which areas will benefit?
The upgraded network serves Oud Maitha, Al Jaddaf, Za’abeel and Umm Hurair. It also improves access to destinations including Latifa Hospital and Al Wasl Club.
RTA expects the population of the areas served by the project to exceed 420,000 by 2030. That figure is a future projection, rather than a count of current road users.
What has changed for drivers?
At the Oud Maitha Road and Sheikh Rashid Road junction, an additional lane has been added to the left-turn ramp towards Al Garhoud Bridge. RTA also increased the number of right-turn lanes from Sheikh Rashid Road towards Oud Maitha Road and Dubai–Al Ain Road from two to three.
A new tunnel connects the Oud Maitha Road service road with the Sheikh Rashid Road intersection for traffic heading towards Bur Dubai. These changes are intended to reduce merging conflicts and improve movement through the junction.
Around Al Asayel Street and Al Wasl Club Street, new bridges improve links with Al Khail Road. One carries traffic from Al Asayel Street towards Al Wasl Club Street; another serves vehicles travelling from Al Khail Road towards Al Asayel Street. A separate bridge provides a left turn from Al Asayel Street towards Oud Maitha Road.
The project also improves access to Al Wasl Club and provides a bridge towards Al Khail Road and Business Bay Crossing.
How much time could motorists save?
According to RTA, the works increase Oud Maitha Road’s capacity in both directions from 10,400 to 15,600 vehicles per hour, a rise of up to 50%.
The authority also estimates that a journey previously taking 20 minutes could take five minutes following the improvements. Actual travel times will still depend on the route, time of day, traffic levels and any incidents. Motorists should treat the five-minute figure as RTA’s project estimate, rather than a guaranteed time for every trip.
What should motorists do now?
Drivers who regularly travel between Oud Maitha, Al Asayel Street, Al Khail Road and the surrounding districts may find that their familiar turn or exit has changed. Following the road signs is particularly important when approaching the new bridges, tunnels and upgraded intersections.
The completion announcement does not introduce a new driving rule or parking charge. Its immediate significance is the availability of the improved road connections for everyday journeys across this part of Dubai.
SOURCES
- Dubai RTA — Project completion announcement — completed works, junction changes and capacity estimates.
- Dubai Government Media Office — Oud Maitha and Al Asayel project — official confirmation of completion and areas served.