Dubai Approves AED 18 Billion Development Package, Including 15km Elevated Road Parallel to Sheikh Zayed Road

Dubai has approved a sweeping AED 18 billion (approximately $4.9 billion) package of development projects, headlined by a major new road corridor featuring a 15-kilometre elevated carriageway running parallel to Sheikh Zayed Road. The initiatives were approved during a meeting of the Executive Council of Dubai chaired by His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and the UAE's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence.

The approved projects span a broad range of sectors, including culture, trade, infrastructure, Emiratisation, finance, investment, urban planning, and population data — part of what officials described as a set of landmark initiatives aimed at shaping Dubai's future.

Easing Sheikh Zayed Road's Chronic Congestion

The centrepiece of the package is the First Al Khail Street Development Plan, which will introduce a strategic corridor parallel to Sheikh Zayed Road, one of the emirate's busiest arteries. The new corridor features a 15-kilometre elevated carriageway with three lanes in each direction, and is expected to reduce travel time on Sheikh Zayed Road by 51 percent during peak hours.

Once complete, the corridor will serve around 2.6 million people and improve access to key districts including Al Barsha, Al Quoz, Business Bay, and Meydan.

Construction is scheduled to begin in the third quarter of 2027 and conclude by the fourth quarter of 2030, with the project set to deploy advanced construction technologies designed to accelerate delivery while minimising disruption to existing traffic flow.

Beyond Roads: Culture, Investment, and Data

The package extends well beyond transport infrastructure. The Executive Council approved the Dubai Cultural Strategy 2033, which aims to position the emirate as a global hub for talent, creative projects, and cultural heritage preservation. On the business front, a new Dubai Investor Register will allow companies to operate across multiple zones without needing to re-register, reducing costs and unifying procedures for investors.

In urban planning, the "Dubai Population Now" census project uses artificial intelligence to provide a real-time population clock to support planning decisions. Dubai's population reached 4.58 million by the end of 2025, up 332,000, or 7.5 percent, from the previous year — underscoring the pressure on infrastructure that projects like the new road corridor are designed to relieve.

Boosting Emirati Talent

Among the approved initiatives was the Emirati Talents Strategy in Private Education, which aims to boost Emiratisation by targeting the employment of 3,000 Emirati citizens by 2033, in support of the broader Dubai Education Strategy 2033. The measure reflects the emirate's continued push to expand the role of Emirati nationals across key sectors of the economy.

Part of Dubai's Long-Term Vision

The AED 18 billion package aligns with Dubai's broader long-term development agenda, including the Dubai Economic Agenda D33 and the emirate's quality-of-life strategies. Officials framed the investments as a reflection of Dubai's ambition to remain a global leader in infrastructure, liveability, and economic competitiveness, backing what Sheikh Hamdan described as strategies designed to enhance the quality of life for residents across the emirate.