Asan Tata— November 8, 2026Dubai drivers have a new way to cross between Infinity Bridge and Deira. The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) opened the Al Khaleej Street Tunnel on Sunday, 8 November 2026. The six-lane tunnel gives motorists a free-flowing route in both directions, with no traffic lights inside it.
The tunnel is one of the biggest road openings in Dubai this year. It sits at the heart of the Al Shindagha Corridor Improvement Project, a 13-kilometre programme that is rebuilding some of the busiest roads in the city. This guide explains where the tunnel runs, how much traffic it can carry, which areas benefit, and what else is still being built along the corridor.
Quick Answer
The Al Khaleej Street Tunnel opened on 8 November 2026. It is 1,650 metres long, with three lanes in each direction and a combined capacity of 12,000 vehicles per hour. The tunnel runs from the end of the Infinity Bridge ramp in Deira to the intersection of Al Khaleej Street and Al Wuheida Street. It links Infinity Bridge, Deira and Al Mamzar with free-flowing traffic in both directions. The tunnel is part of the wider Al Shindagha Corridor project, which the RTA says will cut journey times along the corridor from 1 hour 44 minutes to 16 minutes by 2030, once the full project is complete.
What Opened Today
The RTA opened the tunnel on the morning of Sunday, 8 November 2026. It is a 1,650-metre tunnel under Al Khaleej Street in Deira. Motorists can now drive from the end of the Infinity Bridge ramp straight through to the Al Khaleej Street and Al Wuheida Street intersection, without stopping at a signal.
The tunnel has six lanes in total. Three lanes carry traffic in each direction. The RTA says the tunnel can handle up to 12,000 vehicles per hour in both directions combined. That capacity is meant to take pressure off the surface roads that used to carry this traffic through Deira.
The opening was announced by the RTA on the same day. Mattar Al Tayer, Director-General and Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of the RTA, said the tunnel would improve links between homes, shops and tourist places in Deira.
Where the Tunnel Runs
The tunnel starts at the end of the Infinity Bridge ramp on the Deira side of Dubai Creek. It then runs under Al Khaleej Street and ends at the intersection with Al Wuheida Street. The route is fully free-flowing, which means drivers do not meet a traffic light inside the tunnel itself.
The tunnel connects three areas that matter to daily drivers. First, it links Infinity Bridge, the crossing that opened over Dubai Creek and carries traffic between Bur Dubai and Deira. Second, it serves Deira itself, including its older neighbourhoods and busy commercial streets. Third, it gives a smoother route towards Al Mamzar, the coastal area at the northern edge of Dubai, close to the Sharjah border.
Drivers heading from Bur Dubai can now cross Infinity Bridge and continue through the tunnel towards Deira and Al Mamzar. Drivers coming the other way can use the tunnel to reach the bridge ramp and cross the creek towards Bur Dubai. The RTA built the tunnel to remove one of the slow points on this cross-creek journey.
Which Areas Benefit Most
The RTA says the tunnel will improve access to several neighbourhoods and developments. In Deira, the areas named are Al Mamzar, Abu Hail and Al Wuheida. These are busy residential districts with schools, shops and offices. Drivers in these areas should see less traffic on the surface streets above the tunnel.
The tunnel also improves access to larger developments. Dubai Islands, the man-made island project off the Deira coast, is one of them. Waterfront Market, the fish and fresh food market near Al Hamriya Port, is another. Al Hamriya Port itself, a working port in Deira, will also be easier to reach.
As part of the same works, the RTA replaced the roundabouts on Cairo Street and Al Wuheida Street with signal-controlled intersections. This change should improve traffic flow along Cairo Street. The works also connect the bridge ramp from Dubai Islands to the new tunnel, in the direction of Al Mamzar.
The Al Shindagha Corridor Project
The tunnel is not a stand-alone project. It is one part of the Al Shindagha Corridor Improvement Project, a 13-kilometre programme that runs along Sheikh Rashid Road, Al Mina Street, Al Khaleej Street and Cairo Street. The corridor is one of Dubai’s main routes, running from Bur Dubai through Deira.
The corridor project includes the development of 15 intersections. The RTA says the finished corridor will serve around one million people. It covers homes, workplaces and major developments, including Dubai Islands, Dubai Waterfront, Dubai Maritime City and Port Rashid.
Work on the corridor is already well advanced. The RTA completed the development works on the Bur Dubai side of the corridor in 2025. The authority is now working on a direct entrance and exit for Dubai Islands from the Bur Dubai side.
The New Bridge Across Dubai Creek
More work is still under way along the corridor. The RTA is building a 1,425-metre bridge across Dubai Creek, between Infinity Bridge and the Port Rashid redevelopment area. This bridge is part of the same corridor improvements.
The new bridge will have four lanes in each direction. Its combined capacity is about 16,000 vehicles per hour. The bridge will stand 18.5 metres above the creek, with a 75-metre-wide channel beneath it. That channel will let boats and vessels pass under the bridge.
The bridge plans also include a dedicated track for pedestrians and cyclists. Two lifts will give access to that route. About 2 kilometres of connecting roads will link the bridge on the Dubai Islands side and the Bur Dubai side.
The bridge will add another crossing over the creek, alongside Infinity Bridge. Together, the tunnel and the new bridge are meant to give drivers more than one way across the water, so a single busy crossing does not slow the whole area.
Art, Safety and Construction Facts
The new tunnel also carries a piece of public art. Inside the tunnel, a large mosaic mural shows the Dubai skyline, including Infinity Bridge. The artwork was designed by Emirati artist Maryam Al Hathboor, under the Dubai Tunnels initiative. It uses 36 million mosaic pieces.
The construction figures show the scale of the work. Around 77 per cent of the material dug out during construction was reused. That is about 522,000 cubic metres of material, reused in projects by the RTA and other bodies.
The project used 2,200 engineers, technicians and workers. They were supported by 350 pieces of equipment and machinery. The RTA says the project recorded nearly 11 million work hours, with no injuries reported. That safety record is a point the authority highlighted in its announcement.
Driving Tips for the New Route
If you drive this route, a few simple points will help you use the tunnel well. First, know your exit before you enter. The tunnel runs from the Infinity Bridge ramp to the Al Khaleej Street and Al Wuheida Street intersection. If your destination is Deira, Al Mamzar or Dubai Islands, the tunnel is the direct route.
Second, keep to your lane inside the tunnel. With three lanes in each direction, slower traffic should stay to the right, and overtaking should be done with care. Tunnels need extra attention because the walls are close and there is no hard shoulder in the usual sense.
Third, expect changes at the surface junctions. The roundabouts on Cairo Street and Al Wuheida Street have been replaced with signal-controlled intersections. If you used those roundabouts before, follow the new signals and signs. The layout may feel different on your first few trips.
Fourth, plan for the first weeks. A new tunnel often draws more drivers at first, as people try the route. If you travel at peak hours, allow extra time until you know how the new route behaves.
Fifth, watch for signs about the wider works. The corridor project is still under way, and the new creek bridge is not yet open. Follow the RTA signs on the road, and check the RTA website or app for updates before a long trip.
What This Means for Daily Commutes
For drivers who cross between Bur Dubai and Deira every day, the tunnel removes a slow stretch of road. The old route along Al Khaleej Street could jam at peak hours, with signals and roundabouts slowing traffic. The tunnel lets drivers pass under that stretch without stopping.
For people who live in Al Mamzar, Abu Hail or Al Wuheida, the benefit is twofold. The tunnel gives them a faster way to the bridge and the creek crossing. At the same time, it should take through-traffic off the streets above, which may make local roads quieter.
For visitors, the tunnel makes the trip to Deira’s markets and waterfront simpler. Waterfront Market and the Dubai Islands area are now easier to reach from the bridge.
It is worth keeping the 2030 target in mind. The full 16-minute journey time depends on the whole corridor being finished, including the new creek bridge and the remaining intersections. The tunnel is a big step, but it is one step in a larger programme.
Key Facts at a Glance
| Detail | Figure |
|---|---|
| Opening date | 8 November 2026 |
| Tunnel length | 1,650 metres (1.65 km) |
| Lanes | Three in each direction (six in total) |
| Capacity | Up to 12,000 vehicles per hour |
| Route | Infinity Bridge ramp to Al Khaleej Street and Al Wuheida Street |
| Corridor length | 13 km (Sheikh Rashid Road, Al Mina Street, Al Khaleej Street, Cairo Street) |
| Intersections in corridor | 15 |
| Journey time target | From 1 hour 44 minutes to 16 minutes by 2030 |
| New creek bridge | 1,425 metres, four lanes each way, about 16,000 vehicles per hour |
| Mosaic mural | 36 million pieces, by Maryam Al Hathboor |
| Work hours | Nearly 11 million, no injuries reported |
Frequently Asked Questions
When did the Al Khaleej Street Tunnel open?
The tunnel opened on Sunday, 8 November 2026. The RTA announced the opening on the same day.
Where does the tunnel start and end?
It starts at the end of the Infinity Bridge ramp in Deira and ends at the intersection of Al Khaleej Street and Al Wuheida Street. It runs under Al Khaleej Street for 1,650 metres.
How many vehicles can the tunnel carry?
The tunnel has three lanes in each direction. Its combined capacity is up to 12,000 vehicles per hour in both directions.
Does the tunnel connect to Al Mamzar and Dubai Islands?
Yes. The tunnel gives a free-flowing route towards Al Mamzar, and the works connect the bridge ramp from Dubai Islands to the new tunnel. It also improves access to Waterfront Market and Al Hamriya Port.
What is the Al Shindagha Corridor project?
It is a 13-kilometre road improvement programme along Sheikh Rashid Road, Al Mina Street, Al Khaleej Street and Cairo Street. It includes 15 intersections and is expected to serve around one million people. The RTA aims to cut corridor journey times from 1 hour 44 minutes to 16 minutes by 2030.
Is the new bridge across Dubai Creek open yet?
No. The 1,425-metre bridge between Infinity Bridge and the Port Rashid redevelopment area is still being built. It will have four lanes in each direction and a capacity of about 16,000 vehicles per hour.
Disclaimer
This article is for general information only. Road layouts, signals and traffic rules along the Al Shindagha Corridor may change as the remaining works progress. Always follow the signs on the road and the latest updates from Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority before you travel. Journey time figures are the RTA’s projections for the completed corridor, not a promise about any single trip.
Last Updated: 8 November 2026
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