Scope of the Project
Phase II spans a 3-kilometre corridor between Al Khail Road and Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road. It includes upgrading three major intersections into multilevel interchanges through the construction of bridges extending a combined 8,835 metres and a 480-metre, two-lane tunnel, along with improvements to entry and exit points along several connecting roads.
According to RTA, once complete, the project will increase Hessa Street's capacity by 100 percent, from 4,000 to 8,000 vehicles per hour in each direction, while reducing journey time along the corridor from 24 minutes to five minutes. The upgraded Al Khail Road-Hessa Street interchange alone is expected to handle up to 18,200 vehicles per hour, while additional connecting ramps and bridges serving Al Khamila Street, Jumeirah Village Circle (JVC) and Al Barsha South are designed to accommodate between 11,200 and 16,800 vehicles per hour.
Communities Served
RTA said Phase II will serve 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, with an estimated 650,000 residents expected to benefit from the upgrade.
Mattar Al Tayer, Director-General and Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of the RTA, said the project would ensure seamless traffic movement and reduce waiting times at intersections. He added that Phase II would benefit an estimated 650,000 residents by cutting journey times and doubling road capacity along the corridor.
Building on Phase I
Phase II follows the completion of Phase I of the Hessa Street Development, which upgraded four major intersections at Sheikh Zayed Road, First Al Khail Street, Al Asayel Street and Al Khail Road, expanding Hessa Street from two to four lanes in each direction and adding a 13.5-kilometre cycling track. A key two-lane, 1,000-metre bridge connecting Hessa Street to Al Khail Road opened as part of Phase I in December 2024, cutting travel time between the two corridors from 15 minutes to three minutes.
What This Means for UAE Motorists and Businesses
For residents and commuters in the communities served by Hessa Street, the completed project promises a substantial reduction in daily journey times along one of Dubai's busiest corridors, currently handling nearly half a million trips per day. For logistics and delivery businesses operating in these residential and commercial clusters, faster, more predictable travel times along Hessa Street could translate into more efficient route planning once construction is complete.
Key Facts
● RTA awarded the Phase II Hessa Street Development contract on February 22, 2026.
● The project covers a 3km corridor between Al Khail Road and Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road.
● It includes 8,835 metres of new bridges and a 480-metre tunnel.
● Road capacity will double from 4,000 to 8,000 vehicles per hour in each direction.
● Journey time along the corridor is expected to fall from 24 minutes to five minutes.
● Approximately 650,000 residents across 10 communities are expected to benefit.
Sources
- Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), Dubai (official) — RTA Awards Contract for Phase II of Hessa Street Development (February 22, 2026)
- Dubai Media Office — RTA Awards Contract for Phase II of Hessa Street Development (February 22, 2026)
- Gulf News — RTA's new mega project eases Dubai traffic, cuts travel time to five minutes (February 2026)
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