Dubai Fourth Corridor Guide: Route, Phases and Travel-Time Cuts

Dubai’s Fourth Corridor: confirmed facts at a glance

Dubai has approved an 80-kilometre road corridor intended to strengthen links between Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Sharjah. The New Fourth Corridor will run from Al Faya Road in Abu Dhabi to Al Shanouf Road in Sharjah and will be delivered in two phases.

The first phase is a 30-kilometre section between Al Shanouf Road and Dubai–Al Ain Road. Its announced cost is approximately AED 3.5 billion. The second phase will continue for 50 kilometres from Dubai–Al Ain Road to Al Faya Road.

| Project detail | Officially announced position |
| --- | --- |
| Total corridor | Approximately 80 kilometres |
| Overall route | Al Faya Road, Abu Dhabi to Al Shanouf Road, Sharjah |
| Delivery | Two phases |
| Phase 1 | Al Shanouf Road to Dubai–Al Ain Road, about 30 km |
| Phase 1 cost | Approximately AED 3.5 billion |
| Phase 2 | Dubai–Al Ain Road to Al Faya Road, about 50 km |
| Road width | 12 lanes across both directions |
| Total structures | 72 bridges, 17 tunnels and 45 stormwater drainage culverts |
| Published completion date | Not announced in the approval statement |

This is an approved infrastructure project, but it is not an open road. Motorists should continue using current routes and live navigation until official openings are announced.

Where the Fourth Corridor will run

The route is designed as a new inter-emirate connection between Al Shanouf Road in Sharjah, Dubai–Al Ain Road in Dubai and Al Faya Road in Abu Dhabi. It will pass several strategic locations, including Al Maktoum International Airport, Al Marmoom Desert Conservation Reserve, Al Wohoosh Desert Conservation Reserve and the Etihad Rail route.

The corridor is also expected to serve residential and development areas along its alignment. The approval announcement does not provide a final junction-by-junction public map, entrance list or opening schedule. Community-level access claims should therefore be treated cautiously until Roads and Transport Authority plans identify the exact interchanges.

The government describes it as the UAE’s fourth strategic inter-emirate road corridor, following Sheikh Zayed Road and Al Ittihad Road, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road and Emirates Road.

Phase 1: Sharjah to Dubai–Al Ain Road

Phase 1 will cover approximately 30 kilometres from Al Shanouf Road in Sharjah to Dubai–Al Ain Road. The project is planned as a 12-lane corridor across both directions, with capacity for up to 24,000 vehicles per hour in both directions.

Official projections say this section could reduce the relevant journey from 35 minutes to 14 minutes, a reduction of about 60 percent, and serve around 600,000 people. These are forecast benefits for the completed corridor, not current travel times guaranteed for every trip.

The announced civil works include approximately 55 lane-kilometres of roads at ground level, 2.5 kilometres of tunnels and 21 kilometres of bridges and ramps. Phase 1 also includes widening Dubai–Al Ain Road from three to four lanes in each direction between Emirates Road and Lehbab Road, plus upgrades to four major intersections.

The AED 3.5 billion figure applies to Phase 1. It should not be presented as the total cost of the full 80-kilometre corridor unless a later official announcement confirms that position.

Phase 2: Dubai–Al Ain Road to Abu Dhabi

Phase 2 is planned to extend approximately 50 kilometres from Dubai–Al Ain Road to Al Faya Road in Abu Dhabi. Like the first phase, it is designed with 12 lanes across both directions and capacity for about 24,000 vehicles per hour.

The official projection is a journey-time reduction of 52 percent, from 50 minutes to 24 minutes, with the corridor serving around 3.1 million people. The announced scope includes about 190 lane-kilometres of ground-level roads, 3.5 kilometres of tunnels and 157 kilometres of bridges and ramps.

No completion or public-opening date for either phase was stated in the 16 September 2026 approval announcement. Treat any date shown in property marketing, social posts or unofficial maps as unconfirmed unless it is supported by RTA or Dubai Government.

Why the corridor is being built

The Fourth Corridor is intended to add a new high-capacity route between the emirates and connect expanding districts with the federal road network. It is also designed to support logistics and commercial transport, particularly movement associated with Al Maktoum International Airport and Etihad Rail.

RTA says the new route should help divert through traffic, especially trucks, away from urban areas. That could reduce pressure on existing corridors and improve the separation between local trips and long-distance commercial traffic.

The project is not a simple widening of one current road. It combines new road sections, junction upgrades, tunnels, bridges, ramps, drainage infrastructure and widening along part of Dubai–Al Ain Road.

What the travel-time claims mean

The announced reductions—35 to 14 minutes in Phase 1 and 50 to 24 minutes in Phase 2—are planning forecasts for the relevant corridor sections. They should not be added together as a guaranteed door-to-door saving between any two homes or workplaces.

Actual journey time after opening will depend on where a driver joins and leaves the road, traffic conditions, interchange design and delays on connecting roads. The 24,000-vehicle-per-hour figure is a design capacity across both directions, not a promise that congestion will disappear.

For current journeys, continue checking live navigation and official traffic notices. The future corridor should only be used in route planning after RTA confirms an opened section.

UAE-specific considerations for motorists and residents

Motorists using Dubai–Al Ain Road should watch for future lane changes, speed-limit adjustments and diversions when construction packages begin. The approval itself does not change today’s traffic rules or create a usable shortcut.

Residents and buyers near the broad alignment should avoid assuming that a development will have direct access. A corridor can pass near a community while its nearest junction remains several kilometres away. Wait for official interchange maps before calculating travel times or attaching a transport premium to a property.

Commercial operators should distinguish between the project’s long-term logistics purpose and current truck routes or restrictions. Existing permitted routes, timings and weight rules remain applicable until authorities publish changes.

Because the road passes sensitive desert areas, the announced inclusion of tunnels, bridges and 45 stormwater drainage culverts is relevant to design and resilience. It does not give the public permission to access protected reserves or construction zones.

Practical checklist

First confirm whether the information relates to Phase 1, Phase 2 or the complete 80-kilometre corridor. Check that cost figures are labelled correctly: AED 3.5 billion is the announced Phase 1 cost.

Use RTA, Dubai Government or WAM-linked reporting for construction and opening updates. Do not navigate through a road shown only on an unofficial future map.

If the works affect a regular commute, review official diversion notices, allow extra time and check the current speed limit before travelling. Businesses should separately verify truck routes, delivery access and restrictions.

For property decisions, request the official source behind any claimed junction or travel time. Recheck the claim when detailed design maps and opening dates are published.

Bottom line

The New Fourth Corridor is a major approved road project connecting Sharjah, Dubai and Abu Dhabi over approximately 80 kilometres. Phase 1 will link Al Shanouf Road with Dubai–Al Ain Road, while Phase 2 will continue to Al Faya Road.

Its announced scale—12 lanes, 72 bridges, 17 tunnels and major travel-time targets—makes it important for future inter-emirate mobility. The responsible position today is to treat the alignment, phases and projected capacity as confirmed, while recognising that final junction details, construction sequencing and opening dates have not yet been publicly announced.