UAE to Build 4th National Highway in Dh170-Billion Project to Beat Traffic
- Publish date: Thursday، 06 November 2025 Reading time: 1 min read
A 120km, 12-lane highway could soon join UAE’s main road network as part of a massive transport expansion aimed at easing congestion.
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The UAE is gearing up for another game-changing road project — a fourth federal highway spanning 120 kilometers with 12 lanes and space for up to 360,000 daily trips. This ambitious plan is part of a Dh170 billion investment in national roads and transport, set to roll out by 2030.
The announcement came from Minister of Energy and Infrastructure Suhail Al Mazrouei during the UAE Government Annual Meetings in Abu Dhabi, confirming that the country’s already busy federal network is getting a major boost.
Big Upgrades for the Current Highways
The UAE’s three existing federal highways — E11 (Al Ittihad), E311 (Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road), and E611 (Emirates Road) — are also getting massive upgrades to keep up with the country’s rapid growth.
Here’s what’s happening:
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Etihad Road (E11): Six new lanes (three in each direction), boosting capacity by 60%.
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Emirates Road (E611): Expanding to 10 lanes, cutting travel time by 45%.
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Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road (E311): Also widening to 10 lanes, increasing flow by 45%.
Work on Emirates Road is already in motion, with a Dh750 million budget and completion expected in two years.
Why the Expansion Matters
If you’ve ever been stuck for hours driving between Dubai and the Northern Emirates, you know why this is a big deal. Federal National Council member Dr. Adnan Hamad Al Hammadi pointed out that traffic jams along these routes waste up to 1,000 hours per year for daily commuters — that’s over 40 full days gone in traffic.
Al Mazrouei said the ministry aims to boost road efficiency by 73% in the next five years. The goal? A smarter, smoother, and more sustainable infrastructure that supports the UAE’s growing population and long-term vision under UAE Centennial 2071.