RTA Awards Contract for Phase II of Hessa Street Development; Phase I Opens in April

Al Tayer outlines project highlights:

• Serves 650,000 residents across 10 residential and development areas, including JVC and Al Barsha South
• Phase II includes bridges spanning 8,835 metres and a 480-metre tunnel
• Doubles Hessa Street’s capacity
• Reduces journey time from 24 minutes to 5 minutes
• Features 10.4 km cycling and e-scooter track linking Dubai Hills and Dubai Motor City

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Dubai. Roads and Transport Authority. 22^nd February 2026:

In implementation of the directives of the wise leadership to further advance Dubai’s road infrastructure network to keep pace with the sustained urban development and population growth of Dubai, the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has awarded a contract for Phase II of Hessa Street Development.

The project spans the 3 km corridor between Al Khail Road and Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road. It includes upgrading three major intersections by constructing bridges extending 8,835 metres and a 480-metre tunnel, as well as improvements to entry and exit points along several connecting roads.

The project increases Hessa Street’s capacity by 100%, from 4,000 vehicles per hour to 8,000 vehicles per hour. It serves 10 residential and development areas and benefits approximately 650,000 residents, while reducing journey time from 24 minutes to five minutes.

RTA will open Phase I of Hessa Street Development in April, including completed bridges, upgraded intersections, and dedicated cycling tracks.

Phase II

His Excellency Mattar Al Tayer, Director General, Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of the Roads and Transport Authority, said: “Phase II of Hessa Street Development complements Phase I, which will be fully completed in the first quarter of 2026.”

He explained, “Phase II extends along Hessa Street from Al Khail Road to Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road and includes upgrading Al Khail Road–Hessa Street interchange through expanding Hessa Street from two lanes to four lanes in each direction. The scope also includes constructing 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 in the direction of 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. The project further provides for a 525-metre, two-lane braided ramp to eliminate traffic overlap between Al Khail Road and Al Khamila Street. The ramp will accommodate about 2,800 vehicles per hour.”

He further noted: “The project also includes upgrading Al Khamila Street junction with Al Khail Road and Al Asayel Street. Works comprise 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.”

“Works include constructing a 780-metre bridge providing entry to and exit from Al Khamila Street to Jumeirah Village Circle (JVC), with three lanes in each direction, in addition to elevated link ramps extending 1,050 metres to serve traffic movements from Al Khamila Street to Al Khail Road towards Abu Dhabi. The upgraded junction will accommodate approximately 16,800 vehicles per hour.”

“The scope also includes an 885-metre-long direct elevated ramp with a two-lane capacity serving traffic from Hessa Street to Al Barsha South 1. In addition, a 1,050-metre second-level direct directional two-lane ramp facilitates traffic from JVC towards Al Barsha South. The upgraded intersection will accommodate approximately 11,200 vehicles per hour. 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 added.

“Works also include constructing a 480-metre, two-lane tunnel serving traffic from JVC towards Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road, and widening Al Hadaeq Street from its intersection with Hessa Street to its junction at the entrance of Dubai Science Park, extending 2.5 km. The corridor will be upgraded to a dual carriageway with three lanes in each direction. All existing roundabouts will be converted into signalised intersections with an estimated capacity of 4,400 vehicles per hour.”

“The project also covers a 10.4 km cycling and e-scooter track linking Dubai Hills and Dubai Motor City, serving several residential and development areas, including Al Barsha South, Arjan, Dubai Science Park, and Motor City.

Project Benefits

His Excellency Mattar Al Tayer said: “The roads covered under Phase II of Hessa Street Development currently accommodate approximately half a million trips per day. The upgrade works increase road capacity by 100%, 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. 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. The total number of beneficiaries is estimated at approximately 650,000 residents.”

Phase I

Phase I of Hessa Street Development included the upgrade of four major intersections along Hessa Street, namely at Sheikh Zayed Road, First Al Khail Street, Al Asayel Street, and Al Khail Road. Hessa Street expanded from two lanes to four lanes in each direction, doubling the capacity to 8,000 vehicles per hour, in addition to a 13.5 km cycling track.

In December 2024, RTA opened a key two-lane bridge extending 1,000 metres as part of Phase I. The structure serves traffic movements from Hessa Street to Al Khail Road, providing free-flow connectivity towards the city centre and Dubai International Airport, reducing travel time between the two corridors from 15 minutes to three minutes.

Works are currently underway at Hessa Street–First Al Khail Street intersection, including widening the existing Hessa Street bridge from three lanes to four lanes in each direction, alongside traffic enhancements at the signalised at-grade junction.

In parallel, works continue at Hessa Street–Al Asayel Street intersection, where the existing bridge is being expanded from two lanes in each direction to four lanes in each direction along Hessa Street. The scope also includes traffic upgrades to the signal-controlled at-grade junction.

Cycling and E-Scooter Track

Phase I also delivers a 13.5 km dedicated cycling and e-scooter track along Hessa Street, linking Al Sufouh and Dubai Hills. The corridor serves several residential districts, including Al Barsha and Barsha Heights, and enhances first- and last-mile connectivity through integration with Dubai Internet City Metro Station, in addition to surrounding commercial and service destinations.

The track features two architecturally distinctive cycling and pedestrian bridges. The first spans Sheikh Zayed Road, while the second crosses Al Khail Road. Each bridge has a width of five metres, comprising three metres for cycling and e-scooter use and two metres for pedestrian movement.

The project enhances first- and last-mile connectivity through integration with Dubai Internet City Metro Station and nearby commercial and service destinations. The track has an estimated capacity of approximately 5,200 users per hour, supporting seamless multimodal mobility across the area.