The contract award follows directives from Dubai’s leadership to advance the road infrastructure network in support of sustained development across residential and commercial corridors. The project is designed to support the emirate’s rapid urban growth and rising population.
His Excellency Mattar Al Tayer, Director General and Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of the Roads and Transport Authority, confirmed that Phase II builds directly on the progress of the first stage.
“Phase II of Hessa Street Development complements Phase I, which will be fully completed in the first quarter of 2026,” Al Tayer said.
The 3-kilometre Phase II project includes upgrading three major intersections through the construction of bridges extending 8,835 metres in total and a 480-metre tunnel. Improvements to entry and exit points along several connecting roads are also part of the scope.
Once complete, Hessa Street’s capacity will increase by 100 per cent, from 4,000 vehicles per hour to 8,000 vehicles per hour. The development will serve 10 residential and key development areas and benefit an estimated 650,000 residents.
Complex Engineering Across Major Junctions
Phase II extends from Al Khail Road to Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road and includes a major upgrade of the Al Khail Road–Hessa Street interchange. The project will expand Hessa Street from two lanes to four lanes in each direction.
The scope includes the construction of grade-separated collector roads to accommodate loop movements, a two-lane second-level direct ramp serving traffic from Hessa Street to Al Khail Road towards Abu Dhabi, and a third-level two-lane flyover facilitating traffic from Al Khail Road to Hessa Street towards Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road.
“The total length of bridges reaches 2,215 metres, with the upgraded interchange expected to accommodate 18,200 vehicles per hour,” Al Tayer said.
The project will also deliver a 525-metre, two-lane braided ramp designed to eliminate traffic overlap between Al Khail Road and Al Khamila Street. The ramp is expected to accommodate approximately 2,800 vehicles per hour.
Further enhancements will target the Al Khamila Street junction with Al Khail Road and Al Asayel Street, comprising a 1,650-metre second-level directional ramp serving traffic from Al Khamila Street to Al Khail Road towards Sharjah, with a two-lane capacity.
The project also includes a 780-metre bridge providing entry and exit between Al Khamila Street and Jumeirah Village Circle (JVC), featuring three lanes in each direction. Elevated link ramps extending 1,050 metres will serve traffic movements from Al Khamila Street to Al Khail Road towards Abu Dhabi.
An 885-metre direct elevated ramp with two lanes will serve traffic from Hessa Street to Al Barsha South 1. A 1,050-metre second-level direct directional ramp will facilitate traffic from JVC towards Al Barsha South.
“The upgraded intersection will accommodate approximately 11,200 vehicles per hour,” Al Tayer added. “A 680-metre directional two-lane ramp from JVC to Hessa Street in the direction of Al Khail Road will generate a capacity of 16,800 vehicles per hour.”
Al Tayer noted that Al Hadaeq Street will be widened from its intersection with Hessa Street to its junction at the entrance of Dubai Science Park, extending 2.5 kilometres. The corridor will be upgraded to a dual carriageway with three lanes in each direction, and all existing roundabouts will be converted into signalised intersections with an estimated capacity of 4,400 vehicles per hour.
Cycling Network to Connect Residential Communities
Beyond road widening, Phase II incorporates sustainable mobility components. The project includes a 10.4-kilometre cycling and e-scooter track linking Dubai Hills and Dubai Motor City. The route will serve several residential and development areas, including Al Barsha South, Arjan, Dubai Science Park, and Motor City.
“The roads covered under Phase II of Hessa Street Development currently accommodate approximately half a million trips per day,” Al Tayer said. “The upgrade works increase road capacity by 100 per cent, from 4,000 vehicles per hour in each direction to 8,000 vehicles per hour in each direction, while reducing journey time from 24 minutes to five minutes.”
He added that the project serves 10 key residential and development areas, including JVC, Arjan, Dubai Science Park, Al Barsha South, Jumeirah Lakes Towers, Jumeirah Islands, Barsha Heights, The Greens, and Emirates Hills.
Phase I Opens in April
RTA confirmed that Phase I of the Hessa Street Development will open in April, featuring completed bridges, upgraded intersections, and dedicated cycling infrastructure.
Phase I focused on upgrading four major intersections at Sheikh Zayed Road, First Al Khail Street, Al Asayel Street, and Al Khail Road. Hessa Street was expanded from two lanes to four lanes in each direction, doubling capacity to 8,000 vehicles per hour. The phase also includes a 13.5-kilometre cycling track.
In December 2024, RTA opened a key two-lane bridge extending 1,000 metres as part of Phase I. The structure facilitates traffic from Hessa Street to Al Khail Road, offering free-flow connectivity towards the city centre and Dubai International Airport and reducing travel time between the two corridors from 15 minutes to three minutes.
Phase I also delivers a 13.5-kilometre dedicated cycling and e-scooter track along Hessa Street, linking Al Sufouh and Dubai Hills. The corridor enhances connectivity for residential districts including Al Barsha and Barsha Heights.
The track integrates with Dubai Internet City Metro Station and nearby commercial and service destinations, strengthening first- and last-mile connectivity. Two architecturally distinctive cycling and pedestrian bridges form part of the corridor, one spanning Sheikh Zayed Road and the other crossing Al Khail Road. Each bridge measures five metres in width, allocating three metres for cycling and e-scooter use and two metres for pedestrians.
The track has an estimated capacity of approximately 5,200 users per hour, reinforcing Dubai’s broader strategy to promote multimodal mobility and reduce reliance on private vehicles.
The Hessa Street Development aligns with Dubai’s ongoing infrastructure expansion, which includes large-scale urban growth initiatives supporting the emirate’s rapidly growing population of over four million residents.
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