Dubai Announces Major Traffic Diversion on Al Safa Street
The Roads and Transport Authority in Dubai has implemented a new traffic diversion on Al Safa Street as of September 14, 2026. The shift affects both directions of traffic, which have been moved to newly constructed parallel routes to facilitate ongoing work on the Al Safa Street Development Project.
* Traffic moved to new parallel routes on Al Safa Street
* Affected areas include City Walk, Al Safa, Al Satwa, Al Wasl Road, Sheikh Zayed Road, and Financial Centre Street
* Project expands lanes and adds bridges and tunnels to increase capacity
Impacted Areas and Driver Advice
This change impacts commuters traveling through City Walk, Al Safa, Al Satwa, Al Wasl Road, Sheikh Zayed Road, and Financial Centre Street. Motorists are advised to plan routes, follow directional signage, and adhere to speed limits within the diversion zones. The current construction phase involves adjusting intersections around Al Satwa Street and Al Multaqa Street, increasing the number of lanes at entry and exit points, and adding free-flow U-turn lanes on Al Safa Street. Drivers are cautioned that lane alignments may change periodically and should prioritize physical signage and lane markings over relying solely on GPS or previous route familiarity. Commuters traveling between Al Satwa, Sheikh Zayed Road, Financial Centre Street, and Al Wasl Road are advised to allow extra travel time, especially during peak hours, due to potential lane selection challenges.
Project Details and Capacity
This diversion is part of a larger infrastructure project spanning a 1.5-kilometre corridor from Sheikh Zayed Road to Al Wasl Road. The project aims to expand Al Safa Street from three signal-controlled lanes to four lanes per direction. The comprehensive plan includes the construction of two bridges and two tunnels totaling approximately 3,120 metres in length. Once completed, the project is designed to increase traffic capacity from 6,000 vehicles per hour to 12,000 vehicles per hour, potentially reducing travel time on the corridor from 12 minutes to approximately 3 minutes. Specific infrastructure details include a 1,005-metre, four-lane bridge with a capacity of 6,400 vehicles per hour from Al Wasl Road toward Sheikh Zayed Road and Financial Centre Street, and a 360-metre, two-lane bridge from Al Satwa Street with a capacity of 2,800 vehicles per hour. Additionally, two tunnels are planned: a 1,005-metre, two-lane tunnel from Sheikh Zayed Road/Financial Centre Street toward Al Wasl Road, and a 750-metre, four-lane tunnel at the Al Wasl Road-Al Safa Street intersection.
Surrounding Roads and Congestion
Because this project is part of a wider RTA program affecting Umm Suqeim Street, Al Wasl Road, and Jumeirah Street, drivers are warned that congestion may shift to surrounding roads. The RTA urges residents, office commuters, taxi drivers, and delivery workers to account for these changes, maintain extra time for appointments, and coordinate pickup and drop-off points carefully, as construction barriers may alter standard access routes.