Once complete, the UAE highway expansion plan 2030 will cut congestion, improve safety, and reduce travel times across all seven emirates.
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Once complete, the UAE highway expansion plan 2030 will cut congestion, improve safety, and reduce travel times across all seven emirates.
The United Arab Emirates has announced a landmark Dh170 billion national infrastructure plan designed to reduce traffic congestion and improve road connectivity by 2030. The ambitious UAE highway expansion plan 2030 was revealed by Suhail Al Mazrouei, Minister of Energy and Infrastructure, during the UAE Government Annual Meetings in Abu Dhabi.
Under the new initiative, major federal highways will undergo massive upgrades to handle the rapid growth in vehicle numbers and ensure smoother inter-emirate travel. The Etihad Road will be expanded to 12 lanes, increasing its capacity by 60 per cent. The Emirates Road is being widened to 10 lanes, with a 65 per cent boost in capacity and an expected 45 per cent reduction in travel time. Similarly, the Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road will be upgraded to 10 lanes, improving its efficiency by nearly 45 per cent.
In addition to these enhancements, the Ministry is studying a new 120-kilometre federal highway that will feature 12 lanes and accommodate up to 360,000 trips per day. The overall goal is to expand the total number of lanes across the UAE’s federal network from 19 to 33 in each direction, resulting in a 73 per cent improvement in traffic efficiency within the next five years.
Minister Al Mazrouei explained that the UAE’s vehicle growth rate of more than eight per cent annually—far above the global average of two per cent—has made road expansion a national priority. The sharp increase in population, reliance on private vehicles, and synchronized work and school timings have placed growing pressure on existing road systems.
The UAE highway expansion plan 2030 supports the country’s broader vision for sustainable and smart infrastructure development, aligning with the UAE Centennial 2071 objectives. It also reflects the government’s ongoing commitment to enhancing the quality of life for citizens and residents through improved mobility and safety.
The immediate upgrade of Emirates Road, estimated at Dh750 million, is expected to be completed within two years. Authorities will coordinate efforts at both federal and local levels to ensure integrated transport policies and improved connectivity between cities.
Once completed, the UAE highway expansion plan 2030 will significantly cut congestion, shorten travel times, and improve the overall driving experience across all seven emirates. The initiative marks another major step toward achieving the UAE’s vision of a world-class, future-ready transport network.
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