The Dubai RTA and Majid Al Futtaim open a new Sheikh Zayed Road bridge to Mall of the Emirates, cutting travel time from 10 to 1 minute
The Dubai Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), in collaboration with Majid Al Futtaim Properties, has opened a new 300m single-lane bridge on Sheikh Zayed Road.
It is designed to accommodate up to 900 vehicles per hour, providing direct access to Mall of the Emirates car parks for motorists arriving from Abu Dhabi and Jebel Ali.
The bridge is part of a broader infrastructure upgrade around the mall, including expanded entrances, improved intersections, enhanced pedestrian walkways, and new cycling tracks — all aimed at improving traffic flow and accessibility for residents and visitors.
Enhancing the Dubai road network
Mattar Al Tayer, Director General, Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of the RTA, said the project reflects the authority’s commitment to working with real estate development partners to improve the infrastructure serving Dubai’s property and retail destinations.
He explained that the initiative included the construction of the 300m bridge and upgrades to the Umm Suqeim junction, widening the southbound ramp and enhancing access from Umm Suqeim Street to the existing bridge leading to the car parks.
Al Tayer added that 2.5 km of at-grade roads around Mall of the Emirates were upgraded, along with six signalised intersections.
The bus station at the Mall of the Emirates Metro Station was modified, and the road adjacent to the Kempinski Hotel was converted from one-way to two-way traffic.
The works also included improvements to pedestrian and cycling tracks, road paving, lighting, traffic signals, stormwater drainage, and landscaping.
Dubai traffic benefits
According to Al Tayer, the new bridge reduces travel time for motorists coming from Abu Dhabi and Jebel Ali to Mall of the Emirates from 10 minutes to just one minute.
The upgrade also enhances traffic efficiency and improves road safety in the surrounding areas.
RTA will also launch the Umm Suqeim Street Improvement Project this year, extending 6km from its junction with Jumeirah Street to Al Khail Road.
The project will upgrade six major junctions, connecting Umm Suqeim Street with:
- Jumeirah Street
- Al Wasl Street
- Sheikh Zayed Road
- First Al Khail Street
- Al Asayel Street
- Al Khail Road
The scope includes four bridges and two tunnels with a combined length of 3.45km. Workers will build one of the key tunnels at the junction of Umm Suqeim Street and Jumeirah Street, featuring two lanes in each direction and a signalised at-grade junction to improve surface-level traffic flow.
They will construct another tunnel at the junction with Al Wasl Street, providing two lanes for vehicles heading from Sheikh Zayed Road towards Jumeirah Street.
Engineers will add two bridges at the junction of Umm Suqeim Street and Sheikh Zayed Road to eliminate current traffic overlap, along with at-grade improvements at the First Al Khail Road junction.
Increased capacity and connectivity
“The project also adds a lane on Umm Suqeim Street from its junction with First Al Khail Road to Al Asayel Street, increasing capacity to four lanes in each direction,” Al Tayer said.
He noted that the project also includes the construction and widening of two bridge crossings — one linking Al Khail Road to Al Quoz Industrial Area, and another connecting Umm Suqeim Street to Al Khail Road in the direction of Deira.
Mall of the Emirates redevelopment
Mall of the Emirates, which first opened in 2005, welcomes more than 40 million visitors annually. To mark its 20th anniversary, Majid Al Futtaim — the region’s leading developer and operator of shopping malls, retail, and leisure destinations — has announced a AED5bn ($1.36bn) redevelopment of the mall.
The expansion will add 20,000sqm of retail space, introducing up to 100 new luxury, fashion, and lifestyle outlets, as well as a new health club, cultural centre, and dining district.
The redevelopment also features major infrastructure upgrades to enhance accessibility and visitor experience.
Three five-star hotels — Kempinski Hotel, Novotel Suites Mall Avenue Dubai, and Sheraton Mall of the Emirates Hotel — currently operate within Mall of the Emirates, which connects directly to the Mall of the Emirates Metro Station via a pedestrian bridge.
https://www.gulf-insider.com/dubai-opens-bridge-to-mall-of-the-emirates/