The new highway will connect Sharjah, Dubai and Abu Dhabi, reducing a 35-minute trip to just 14 minutes and cutting another journey from 50 minutes to 24.
Motorists travelling along Dubai’s proposed Fourth Corridor could benefit from significantly shorter journey times, with some sections expected to reduce travel by more than half. One stretch, for example, is projected to cut a 35-minute drive to about 14 minutes.
The 80km transport corridor is planned to be developed in two phases. Once completed, the first phase is expected to serve approximately 600,000 people, while the second phase could benefit around 3.1 million residents.
The project has been named the Fourth Corridor as it will form the UAE’s fourth major strategic road connection between the emirates. It will complement the three existing routes: Sheikh Zayed Road/Al Ittihad Road, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road and Emirates Road.
Journey times reduced by up to 60%
- Sharjah to Dubai-Al Ain Road: Covering roughly 30km, the first phase will connect Al Shnouf Road in Sharjah with Dubai-Al Ain Road. Travel time along this stretch is projected to decrease by about 60%, from 35 minutes to just 14 minutes.
- Dubai-Al Ain Road to Abu Dhabi: The second phase will extend approximately 50km from Dubai-Al Ain Road to Al Fayah Road in Abu Dhabi. The journey is expected to become around 52% quicker, with travel time falling from 50 minutes to 24 minutes.
- Road capacity: Both phases will feature a total of 12 lanes across the two directions and are designed to accommodate up to 24,000 vehicles every hour.
How will the new corridor link Sharjah, Dubai and Abu Dhabi?
The first phase will connect Al Shnouf Road in Sharjah with Dubai-Al Ain Road, while the second phase will extend from Dubai-Al Ain Road to Al Fayah Road in Abu Dhabi.
The new corridor will provide an additional strategic road link between Sharjah, Dubai and Abu Dhabi, while improving Dubai’s connectivity with the UAE’s wider federal road network.
The route will pass key locations including Al Maktoum International Airport, Al Marmoom Nature Reserve, the Desert Wildlife Reserve and the Etihad Rail network. It will also provide access to several residential and development areas, such as Madinat Latifa, Madinat Hind, Al Yalayis, Al Awir and Dubailand.
According to authorities, the corridor is designed to accommodate future urban growth, improve integration between Dubai’s road network and major transport infrastructure, and strengthen the movement of logistics and commercial traffic.
Dubai-Al Ain Road to be expanded
As part of the project, Dubai-Al Ain Road will be widened from three to four lanes in each direction along the section between Emirates Road and Lehbab Road.
As part of the first phase, four major intersections will also undergo upgrades to improve connectivity and traffic movement along the new corridor.
Trucks to be redirected away from urban areas
One of the project’s main objectives is to shift through traffic, particularly heavy vehicles and trucks, away from densely populated urban areas.
The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) said the measure is expected to ease congestion on existing road corridors while improving overall traffic flow and road safety.
The new route is also designed to facilitate commercial transport and enhance the efficiency of Dubai’s growing logistics sector.
72 bridges and 17 tunnels planned
The scale of the Fourth Corridor will require extensive new infrastructure across both phases of development.
Plans include the construction of 72 bridges, 17 tunnels and 45 stormwater drainage culverts, supporting smoother traffic movement and improving the corridor’s resilience during changing weather conditions.
The first phase of the Fourth Corridor will feature approximately 55 lane-kilometres of surface roads, along with 2.5km of tunnels and about 21km of bridges and ramps.
The second phase will be considerably larger, comprising around 190 lane-kilometres of surface roads, 3.5km of tunnels and approximately 157km of bridges and ramps.
First phase estimated at Dh3.5 billion
Given the size and complexity of the development, authorities plan to implement the Fourth Corridor in two separate phases.
The first phase, extending from Al Shnouf Road in Sharjah to Dubai-Al Ain Road, is expected to require an investment of approximately Dh3.5 billion.
