New Dubai Tunnel Opens Between Al Ain Road & Oud Metha

A new tunnel linking Dubai–Al Ain Road to the Oud Metha Service Road has opened in Dubai as part of the Oud Metha Road and Al Asayel Street Development Project, according to the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA).

The 260-metre, single-lane tunnel has the capacity to accommodate 1,200 vehicles per hour and is designed to improve traffic flow along the corridor.

The wider project was 90% complete as of late July and includes 4.3 kilometres of bridges and 14 kilometres of roads. According to Mattar Al Tayer, Director General of the RTA, the upgrades will increase the capacity of Oud Metha Road by 50%, serving Zabeel, Al Jaddaf, Oud Metha, Umm Hurair, Latifa Hospital and Al Wasl Club. The population benefiting from the project is expected to exceed 420,000 by 2030.

Once complete, capacity along Oud Metha Road is expected to increase from 10,400 to 15,600 vehicles per hour in both directions, while average travel times are projected to fall from 20 minutes to five minutes.

The latest opening follows the inauguration of a three-lane bridge in late July connecting Al Khail Road to Al Asayel Street via Al Wasl Club Street, with a capacity of 3,600 vehicles per hour. Earlier in March, the RTA also opened two additional bridges at the intersections of Oud Metha Street, Al Asayel Street, Al Wasl Club Street and Al Khail Road as part of the same development programme.