A major road upgrade could make everyday journeys across central Dubai noticeably shorter.
- Oud Maitha Road capacity rises by 50% after major upgrades.
- Travel times could fall from 20 minutes to just five.
- Four bridges and two tunnels reshape key Dubai connections.
- More than 420,000 residents could benefit by 2030.
Anyone who drives through central Dubai knows the difference a few minutes can make. A short route can stretch around busy junctions, merging lanes and signals, especially during the morning rush. Now, Oud Maitha Road has received a major upgrade that changes how several familiar routes connect across the city.
Morning traffic around Oud Maitha, Al Jaddaf and Za’abeel often means watching the clock between junctions. The completed RTA project tackles that problem with four upgraded intersections, four bridges and two tunnels spanning 4.3 kilometres, alongside 14 kilometres of improved roads. That’s a lot of roadwork.
For someone heading towards Bur Dubai, the difference is especially practical. A new tunnel links the service road on Oud Maitha Road with the Sheikh Rashid Road intersection, helping traffic move towards the area without the same overlap between routes. Less weaving means a calmer drive.
Drivers connecting through Al Asayel Street also get new options. Three bridges serve movements between Al Asayel Street, Al Wasl Club Street and Al Khail Road, including a three-lane bridge capable of handling 3,600 vehicles per hour. That matters during the hours when everyone seems to be heading somewhere at once.
Around Al Wasl Club, the changes continue. Access roads and entry and exit points have been improved, while a separate bridge handles left-turn traffic towards Oud Maitha Road. There are more lanes where drivers need them. Parking spaces have also been added along Al Wasl Club Street.
For regular commuters, however, one number stands out. RTA says Oud Maitha Road’s capacity has increased from 10,400 to 15,600 vehicles per hour in both directions, a 50% rise, while journey time is expected to drop from 20 minutes to five. Five minutes feels very different from twenty.
That improvement also reaches beyond individual commutes. The upgraded network serves Za’abeel, Al Jaddaf, Oud Maitha and Umm Hurair, along with destinations such as Latifa Hospital and Al Wasl Club. RTA expects the population in the areas served by the project to exceed 420,000 by 2030.
For Dubai drivers, infrastructure is often most noticeable when it stops being noticeable. A smoother turn, fewer overlaps and a shorter wait can quietly change an entire weekday. With the Oud Maitha and Al Asayel project now complete, the next commute through these corridors may simply feel easier!
