Latest news with #SheikhZayedRoad
UAE Moments
16 hours ago
- Business
- UAE Moments
Dubai Targets Traffic Relief with 2026 Air Taxi Launch
Dubai commuters may soon get to skip traffic altogether... By flying over it. Joby Aviation just completed the first test flight of its fully-electric air taxi in the emirate, marking a major milestone in the city's ambitious plans to launch air taxis by 2026. Join our FREE WhatsApp channel to dive into a world of real-time engagement! The California-based company is working closely with Dubai authorities to integrate airborne transport into the city's existing mobility systems. If all goes to plan, travelers could be soaring over Sheikh Zayed Road as early as next year. From DXB to Palm Jumeirah in 12 Minutes Imagine getting from Dubai International Airport (DXB) to Palm Jumeirah in just 12 minutes. That's the kind of time-saving Joby promises with its electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft. The same trip currently takes around 45 minutes by car, especially during peak hours. 'We want to change the way people commute,' said Anthony Khoury, Joby's General Manager for the UAE. 'Our goal is to ease traffic congestion and give people a faster, more convenient option.' While Joby aims to eventually make its air taxis accessible to everyone, Khoury admits the early pricing will be premium, much like any new technology at launch. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Gulf Moments (@ A Successful First Test in the Desert On June 30, Joby Aviation held a demonstration flight at a remote desert site southeast of downtown Dubai. The event was attended by senior government officials, transport executives, and media. The test flight simulated a typical air taxi journey, vertical takeoff, several miles of flight, and a smooth vertical landing. The performance impressed attendees and showed just how close the UAE is to launching this futuristic form of transportation. Quiet, Clean, and Fast Joby's eVTOL aircraft can fly up to 160 kilometers (100 miles) at speeds of 320 km/h (200 mph). And it's fully electric, meaning zero emissions and minimal noise, a critical factor for a city where residential areas and skyscrapers are tightly packed. 'It will be flying in the city, next to residential areas, and hopefully people will barely notice it,' Khoury said. What's Next for Dubai's Air Taxi Plans? The test flight is just one step in a broader vision. Joby and Dubai's transport authorities still need to overcome a few challenges, mainly regulatory approval and building enough vertiports (think helipads for air taxis) around the city. But with Dubai's track record for adopting cutting-edge innovation, the city seems well on track to make air taxis a reality by 2026. So don't be surprised if your next trip to the airport is just a short hop through the sky.
Gulf Business
18 hours ago
- Automotive
- Gulf Business
Sheikh Zayed to Al Khail just got faster: Dubai's RTA completes new road project
Image credit: WAM/Website Dubai's Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has completed a series of rapid traffic improvement works aimed at enhancing connectivity between Sheikh Zayed Road and Al Khail Road via Al Meydan Street. Read- As part of the project, the The authority also upgraded the connecting ramps between the surface road and the First Al Khail Road bridge from one lane to two, improving traffic flow for vehicles heading toward Al Khail Road and Al Meydan Street. These enhancements are part of RTA's strategic vision to accommodate the emirate's rapid urban development and rising population. The authority said it is focused on proactively upgrading infrastructure to meet growing mobility needs and support Dubai's long-term expansion. Major lane expansions slash congestion A key element of the project involved widening Exit No. D69 from one lane to two for vehicles moving from Sheikh Zayed Road toward Al Khail Road and Al Meydan Street. The expansion doubled the exit's capacity from 1,500 to 3,000 vehicles per hour. According to the RTA, this resulted in a 40 per cent reduction in travel time during morning and evening rush hours, and a 50 per cent drop in vehicle queues. Additionally, the upgrade to the bridge over First Al Khail Street increased its capacity by 33 per cent, from 4,500 to 6,000 vehicles per hour. Peak-hour crossing times fell from seven minutes to four—a 40 per cent improvement. 2025 road enhancement strategy The widened connecting ramps have also contributed significantly to easing congestion, particularly during midday and evening peak periods. Waiting times on these ramps have been cut by more than 50 per cent, the RTA noted. These latest roadworks are part of a broader push by the RTA to improve traffic flow, reduce congestion, and bolster the efficiency of Dubai's road network. The authority is planning over 75 similar traffic improvement projects across key areas of the city in 2025, as part of a sustainable development strategy designed to enhance mobility and overall quality of life.
Zawya
20 hours ago
- Automotive
- Zawya
RTA completes key traffic upgrades on Dubai's Sheikh Zayed Road
Dubai's Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has completed a series of rapid traffic improvement measures to enhance connectivity between Sheikh Zayed Road and Al Khail Road via Al Meydan Street. The works included widening the exit from Sheikh Zayed Road to Al Meydan Street from one lane to two and increasing the capacity of the bridge over First Al Khail Road from three to four lanes to accommodate vehicles travelling between Al Khail Road, Al Meydan Street, Sheikh Zayed Road and Al Hadiqa Street in both directions, said RTA in a statement. Additionally, RTA expanded the connecting ramps between the surface road and the bridge over First Al Khail Road from one lane to two, improving access for vehicles heading towards Al Khail Road and Al Meydan Street. These enhancements reflect RTA's continued efforts to realise the vision of the wise leadership by proactively responding to the emirate's rapid urban and population growth. Through ongoing infrastructure development and road network optimisation, RTA aims to meet evolving mobility needs and support future expansion, said the statement. This achievement is part of RTA's master plan to deliver more than 75 traffic improvement projects across key areas of Dubai in 2025. It aligns with RTA's strategy for sustainable development aimed at improving quality of life, enhancing community well-being, and further cementing Dubai's position as a global leader in integrated infrastructure and seamless, sustainable mobility. According to RTA, the project also included widening the Exit No. (D69) from one lane to two for vehicles travelling from Sheikh Zayed Road towards Al Khail Road and Al Meydan Street. This expansion effectively doubled the exit's capacity from 1,500 to 3,000 vehicles per hour. As a result, travel times during peak morning and evening periods were reduced by up to 40%, while vehicle queue lengths decreased by as much as 50%, it stated. As part of broader efforts to enhance traffic flow and improve the efficiency of Dubai's Road network, RTA also increased the capacity of the bridge over First Al Khail Street from three to four lanes in both directions. The upgrade benefits vehicles travelling between Al Khail Road, Sheikh Zayed Road, and Al Hadiqa Street, it added.- TradeArabia News Service Copyright 2024 Al Hilal Publishing and Marketing Group Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
Arabian Business
a day ago
- Automotive
- Arabian Business
RTA completes major Dubai road upgrades to slash traffic by 40% between Sheikh Zayed Road and Al Khail Road
Dubai's Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has completed a series of rapid traffic improvement works to significantly enhance mobility between Sheikh Zayed Road and Al Khail Road via Al Meydan Street. The enhancements, which include multiple lane expansions and increased bridge capacity, are part of more than 75 planned traffic improvement projects aimed at supporting Dubai's rapid urban and population growth. Key improvements included widening the exit from Sheikh Zayed Road to Al Meydan Street from one lane to two and increasing the bridge capacity over First Al Khail Road from three to four lanes. Dubai road upgrades This upgrade benefits vehicles travelling between Al Khail Road, Al Meydan Street, Sheikh Zayed Road, and Al Hadiqa Street in both directions. The Exit No. (D69) from Sheikh Zayed Road towards Al Khail Road and Al Meydan Street was also expanded from one lane to two, doubling its capacity from 1,500 to 3,000 vehicles per hour. As a result, RTA reports a 40 per cent reduction in travel time during peak hours and a 50 per cent decrease in queue lengths. In addition, the bridge over First Al Khail Road now accommodates 6,000 vehicles per hour, up from 4,500 — a 33 per cent increase. This has reduced peak-hour crossing times from seven minutes to four, improving traffic flow by approximately 40 per cent. RTA also widened the connecting ramps between the surface road and the bridge from one lane to two, easing congestion and cutting waiting times by more than 50 per cent, especially during midday and evening rush hours. These enhancements form part of RTA's broader sustainability and mobility strategy aimed at improving quality of life, supporting economic growth, and positioning Dubai as a global leader in seamless, future-ready infrastructure. Dubai RTA Road Upgrade Summary Improvement Details Project area Sheikh Zayed Road – Al Khail Road via Al Meydan Street Exit expansion Exit No. D69 widened from 1 lane to 2 lanes Exit capacity Increased from 1,500 to 3,000 vehicles/hour Travel time (Exit D69) Reduced by up to 40% during peak times Queue length Decreased by up to 50% Bridge upgrade First Al Khail Road bridge widened from 3 to 4 lanes Bridge capacity Increased from 4,500 to 6,000 vehicles/hour (33% rise) Bridge travel time Reduced from 7 minutes to 4 minutes (≈40% reduction) Ramp expansion Surface road ramps to bridge widened from 1 to 2 lanes Congestion impact Waiting times cut by over 50% during peak hours
Zawya
a day ago
- Automotive
- Zawya
RTA Enhances Traffic Flow Between Sheikh Zayed & Al Khail Roads via Al Meydan St
Dubai's Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has completed a series of rapid traffic improvement measures to enhance connectivity between Sheikh Zayed Road and Al Khail Road via Al Meydan Street. The works included widening the exit from Sheikh Zayed Road to Al Meydan Street from one lane to two and increasing the capacity of the bridge over First Al Khail Road from three to four lanes to accommodate vehicles travelling between Al Khail Road, Al Meydan Street, Sheikh Zayed Road and Al Hadiqa Street in both directions. Additionally, RTA expanded the connecting ramps between the surface road and the bridge over First Al Khail Road from one lane to two, improving access for vehicles heading towards Al Khail Road and Al Meydan Street. These enhancements reflect RTA's continued efforts to realise the vision of the wise leadership by proactively responding to the emirate's rapid urban and population growth. Through ongoing infrastructure development and road network optimisation, RTA aims to meet evolving mobility needs and support future expansion. This achievement is part of RTA's master plan to deliver more than 75 traffic improvement projects across key areas of Dubai in 2025. It aligns with RTA's strategy for sustainable development aimed at improving quality of life, enhancing community well-being, and further cementing Dubai's position as a global leader in integrated infrastructure and seamless, sustainable mobility. The project also included widening the Exit No. (D69) from one lane to two for vehicles travelling from Sheikh Zayed Road towards Al Khail Road and Al Meydan Street. This expansion effectively doubled the exit's capacity from 1,500 to 3,000 vehicles per hour. As a result, travel times during peak morning and evening periods were reduced by up to 40%, while vehicle queue lengths decreased by as much as 50%. As part of broader efforts to enhance traffic flow and improve the efficiency of Dubai's Road network, RTA also increased the capacity of the bridge over First Al Khail Street from three to four lanes in both directions. The upgrade benefits vehicles travelling between Al Khail Road, Sheikh Zayed Road, and Al Hadiqa Street. This enhancement raised the bridge's capacity by over 33%, from 4,500 to 6,000 vehicles per hour, and reduced peak-hour crossing times from seven minutes to four, an improvement of approximately 40%. Furthermore, RTA widened the connecting ramps between the surface road and the bridge over First Al Khail Road from one lane to two, which improved traffic flow by reducing congestion and waiting times by more than 50%, particularly during midday and evening peak hours. The enhancement played a key role in facilitating smoother vehicle movement between Sheikh Zayed Road and Al Khail Road in both directions.
