The Government of Dubai has approved the 80km New Fourth Corridor linking Sharjah and Abu Dhabi, with the first 30km phase budgeted at Dh3.5bn (about $953m). Phase one will feature 12 lanes each way (24 lanes total), cutting travel time from 35 to 14 minutes and including bridges, tunnels and major junction upgrades. Phase two will extend ~50km, serve roughly 3.1 million people and reduce selected journeys from 50 to 24 minutes. The corridor aims to divert heavy trucks from city centres, boost safety and improve logistics.
Dubai Greenlights 80km 'New Fourth Corridor' — Phase One Priced at Dh3.5bn ($953m)
The corridor will run from Al Faya Road in Abu Dhabi to Al Shanouf Road in Sharjah.
The Government of Dubai has approved the New Fourth Corridor, an 80km strategic highway linking Sharjah and Abu Dhabi that aims to strengthen inter-emirate connectivity, improve logistics and reduce congestion across Dubai’s road network.
Project Overview
The corridor runs from Al Faya Road in Abu Dhabi to Al Shanouf Road in Sharjah and passes key locations including Al Maktoum International Airport, the Al Marmoom and Al Wohoosh Desert Conservation Reserves, and runs alongside the Etihad Rail alignment. Planners expect the route to divert heavy traffic away from urban centres, improve road safety and speed up freight and commuter movements.
Phase One — Key Details
Phase one covers approximately 30km from Al Shanouf Road (Sharjah) to Dubai–Al Ain Road, with an estimated cost of Dh3.5 billion (about $953 million). This section will feature 12 lanes in each direction (24 lanes total) with a combined capacity of around 24,000 vehicles per hour. Travel time between the two endpoints is expected to fall from about 35 minutes to 14 minutes — a reduction of roughly 60%.
Engineering works for phase one include 55 lane-kilometres of at-grade carriageways, 21km of bridges and ramps, and 2.5km of tunnels. As part of the package, Dubai–Al Ain Road will be widened from three to four lanes between Emirates Road and Lehbab Road, and four major junctions will be upgraded.
Phase Two — Key Details
Phase two will extend the corridor for the remaining ~50km from Dubai–Al Ain Road to Al Faya Road in Abu Dhabi. It will replicate the multi-lane design and similar throughput capacity (24,000 vehicles per hour) and is projected to cut a 50-minute trip to roughly 24 minutes — a reduction of about 52%. This phase is expected to serve approximately 3.1 million people.
Planned works for phase two include 190 lane-kilometres of at-grade roads, 157km of bridges and ramps, and 3.5km of tunnels.
Project-Wide Elements
Across both phases, the corridor will include 72 bridges, 17 tunnels and 45 stormwater drainage culverts. The scheme is specifically designed to: divert heavy truck traffic from residential and central urban areas, improve traffic flow, and enhance overall road safety and logistics efficiency.
UAE Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum said: "We have approved the New Fourth Corridor project, spanning 80km, as a strategic addition to Dubai's road network. The project will strengthen Dubai's connectivity with the federal road network, open new horizons for urban and economic growth, and support future projects in line with the Dubai Social Agenda 33 and the Dubai Economic Agenda D33, reinforcing Dubai's position as the world's best city to live, work and visit."
Attribution: "Dubai approves Fourth Corridor project, with $953m first phase" originally published by World Construction Network, a GlobalData-owned brand.
Help us improve.
