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Dubai’s Roads & Transport Authority (RTA) has awarded a AED798m ($217m) construction contract to local firm Wade Adams for the Al-Qudra street development project.

The project includes the expansion of the existing road by 11.6 kilometres (km), as well as the construction of bridges totalling 2.7km.

According to an official statement, the project stretches from the intersection of Al-Qudra Street with Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Road to Sheikh Zayed Bin Hamdan Al-Nahyan Street and Emirates Road.

The RTA said that the project will decrease travel time from 9.4 minutes to 2.8 minutes. It will also cater to residential and development areas, benefiting about 400,000 residents and visitors.

The project is part of the estimated AED16bn ($4.3bn) 2024-27 Main Roads Development Plan, which includes 22 projects on Dubai’s road network.

The programme, which is expected to benefit over 6 million people, was reviewed by Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al-Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, in October last year.

The development plan includes the construction of new roads and bridges to alleviate traffic congestion in several key locations in Dubai.

Planning for growth

According to GlobalData, Dubai is experiencing significant population growth, with projections indicating an increase from about 3.3 million people in 2020 to about 5.8 million by 2040. This surge is expected to elevate the daytime population from 4.5 million to 7.8 million during the period.

This rapid growth will exert pressure on the public transportation system, necessitating enhancements to accommodate the rising demand. In response, Dubai awarded a AED20.5bn ($5.5bn) main contract for the construction of the extension of the Dubai Metro Blue Line project in December last year.

The extension will transport 320,000 passengers a day and will serve a population of about 1 million people living in areas including Festival City, International City, Rashidiya, Warqa, Mirdif, Silicon Oasis and Academic City.

Infrastructure development projects in Dubai are guided by the 2040 Urban Master Plan, which was launched in March 2021. 

In December 2022, Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al-Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, approved the 20-Minute City Policy as part of the second phase of the Dubai 2040 Urban Master Plan. 

The policy aims for residents to have 80% of their daily requirements met within a 20-minute journey time, on foot or by bicycle. This goal will be achieved by developing integrated service centres with all the necessary facilities and increasing the population density around mass transit stations.

READ THE FEBRUARY MEED BUSINESS REVIEW

Trump unleashes tech opportunities; Doha achieves diplomatic prowess and economic resilience; GCC water developers eye uptick in award activity in 2025.

Published on 1 February 2025 and distributed to senior decision-makers in the region and around the world, the February MEED Business Review includes: