Dubai opens Al Khaleej Street Tunnel for Deira commuters
Dubai has opened the 1,650-metre Al Khaleej Street Tunnel, giving drivers a new free-flow route between Infinity Bridge, Deira and Al Mamzar.
By Vadim Kouznetsov, published
Dubai’s Al Khaleej Street Tunnel opened on Sunday, 8 November, giving motorists a new free-flow route between Infinity Bridge, Deira and Al Mamzar. For workers, residents and delivery drivers using this part of Dubai each day, that should mean smoother journeys on one of Deira’s busiest road links.
The Roads and Transport Authority, RTA, said the new tunnel is 1,650 metres long, has 6 lanes with 3 in each direction, and can handle 12,000 vehicles per hour. It runs from the end of the Infinity Bridge ramp in Deira to the intersection of Al Khaleej Street and Al Wuheida Street.
Al Khaleej Street Tunnel: what has opened now
This is one of the latest completed sections of the wider Al Shindagha Corridor Improvement Project.
According to RTA, the tunnel is expected to ease congestion along a key Deira corridor and improve access to busy residential, commercial and tourist areas. That matters for anyone commuting to shifts, running deliveries, or travelling between neighbourhoods in east Dubai.
Key facts from RTA:
- Length: 1,650 metres
- Lanes: 6 total, 3 in each direction
- Capacity: 12,000 vehicles per hour
- Route: from the end of the Infinity Bridge ramp in Deira to Al Khaleej Street and Al Wuheida Street
RTA also said the tunnel project reached nearly 11 million work hours without any reported injuries. Around 2,200 engineers, technicians and workers took part, using 350 pieces of construction equipment and machinery.
What the Dubai tunnel means for Deira commuters
The new connection is expected to improve traffic flow for people travelling through Abu Hail, Al Wuheida and Al Mamzar. It should also make access easier for motorists heading to Dubai Islands, Waterfront Market and Al Hamriya Port.
For employees and business owners in these areas, better traffic movement can make day-to-day travel more predictable. That is especially relevant for people whose work depends on road access, including drivers, port-related staff and shift workers travelling in and out of Deira.
The tunnel is part of a much bigger road scheme. Once the full Al Shindagha Corridor project is complete, journey times along the corridor are expected to fall from 1 hour and 44 minutes to 16 minutes by 2030, according to RTA.
The corridor itself stretches 13km and includes Sheikh Rashid Road, Al Mina Street, Al Khaleej Street and Cairo Street, with improvements planned at 15 intersections. RTA said the overall project is expected to serve about one million residents and visitors.
If you drive often for work, it is also worth keeping up with wider road changes, including UAE traffic rules 2027: 5 changes drivers and riders should know.
What is next in the Al Shindagha Corridor project
RTA is still working on another major part of the scheme, a direct road link between Dubai Islands and Bur Dubai.
That project includes a 1,425-metre bridge across Dubai Creek, between Infinity Bridge and the Port Rashid redevelopment area. The bridge will have 4 lanes in each direction and a combined capacity of about 16,000 vehicles per hour.
RTA said it will rise 18.5 metres above Dubai Creek and provide a 75-metre-wide navigational channel for marine vessels. A pedestrian and cycling track is also planned, along with 2 lifts for access.
Around 2km of additional roads will connect the bridge to the existing road network on both sides of Dubai Creek. RTA completed the Bur Dubai section of the Al Shindagha Corridor in 2025.
What residents and drivers should do now
If your daily route includes Deira, Abu Hail, Al Wuheida or Al Mamzar, this new tunnel could change the quickest way into or out of the area. It is worth checking your usual route and travel time over the next few days.
You should also keep an eye on connected road works. RTA said roundabouts on Cairo Street and Al Wuheida Street will be converted into signal-controlled intersections, and more traffic improvements are planned on Cairo Street.
For regular commuters, these guides may also help:
- Dubai to Sharjah Emirates Road closures run nightly until Nov 15
- Dubai sudden swerving fine: AED 1,000 and 4 black points
If you work in transport, logistics or driving, you can also browse current openings on JobXDubai Jobs.
Key takeaway
Dubai’s new Al Khaleej Street Tunnel is now open, with RTA aiming to ease traffic between Infinity Bridge, Deira and Al Mamzar straight away. For residents and workers in nearby areas, the bigger point is that this is one more step in a corridor project that RTA says should cut travel times sharply by 2030.
FAQ
Where is the new Al Khaleej Street Tunnel in Dubai?
RTA said the tunnel runs from the end of the Infinity Bridge ramp in Deira to the intersection of Al Khaleej Street and Al Wuheida Street. It provides traffic flow in both directions.
When did the Al Khaleej Street Tunnel open?
The tunnel opened on Sunday, 8 November, according to the source report. Motorists can already use it for travel between Infinity Bridge, Deira and Al Mamzar.
How many lanes does the Al Khaleej Street Tunnel have?
The tunnel has 6 lanes in total, with 3 lanes in each direction. RTA said it has a combined capacity of 12,000 vehicles per hour.
Which areas are expected to benefit from the new tunnel?
RTA said the tunnel should improve movement for motorists travelling through Abu Hail, Al Wuheida and Al Mamzar. It should also improve access to Dubai Islands, Waterfront Market and Al Hamriya Port.
What is the Al Shindagha Corridor project trying to do?
According to RTA, the wider project aims to improve connectivity across some of Dubai’s busiest roads. Once complete, journey times along the corridor are expected to drop from 1 hour and 44 minutes to 16 minutes by 2030.
Further reading
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