RTA Awards AED 633 Million Contract to Redesign Al Mustaqbal Street

Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority has awarded a AED 633 million (USD 172 million) contract to upgrade Al Mustaqbal Street, a vital corridor linking Zabeel Palace Street and Financial Centre Street, as part of its wider Trade Centre Roundabout masterplan.

The project includes three new tunnels designed to handle up to 9,000 vehicles per hour, a 450 m two-lane bridge connecting the World Trade Centre area, and the widening of Al Mustaqbal Street from three to four lanes each way over 3.5 km.

Once completed, the renovations will increase traffic capacity from 6,600 to 8,800 vehicles per hour and reduce average travel times from about 13 minutes to six minutes. It also introduces pedestrian-friendly improvements, such as upgraded walkways, dedicated cycling lanes, enhanced lighting, and expanded public spaces.

The scheme is part of the broader effort to improve access around the Dubai World Trade Centre, Downtown Dubai, Zabeel, and Business Bay - regions that host hundreds of thousands of commuters and visitors. Around 500,000 people are expected to benefit directly from smoother, faster routes and safer multimodal transport options.

Dubai continues to invest heavily in transport infrastructure, with nearly half of its AED 86.3 billion 2025 budget earmarked for roads, bridges, and transit systems, part of a broader infrastructure push totalling AED 272 billion from 2025 to 2027. This comes as the emirate's population nears 4 million, with plans to reach 5.8 million by 2040.