For years, the Dubai-Sharjah-Ajman route has been one of the UAE’s most congested passenger corridors, affecting millions of daily commuters commuting between home and work.The matter is not small. The three emirates together form the largest urban agglomeration in the UAE, with more than 6 million inhabitants and daily cross-border traffic. Traffic often slows down during rush hour on major routes such as Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road (E311), with long delays becoming common.Now, officials say a multi-layered transportation overhaul is the only way to fix the problem, with not only more roads, but also better mobility options.
Dh6 billion highway project
At the heart of the plan is a massive Dh6 billion federal highway project, often referred to as the “Fourth Federal Highway”.Key features include:
- 68 km long highway connecting Dubai, Sharjah and Ajman
- 6 to 8 lanes in each direction for significant increase in capacity
- 10 major interchanges to reduce bottlenecks
- 4 flyovers to improve traffic flow at major junctions
This new corridor will connect to existing major highways like the E11, E311 and E611, which are currently under heavy pressure.Officials say the highway is designed not only to reduce congestion but also to support future population growth and economic expansion in the northern emirate.
Bus Rapid Transit (BRT)
This scheme does not depend only on the expansion of roads. A significant change is the introduction of a high-capacity public transport system designed to move people more efficiently across the three emirates. Authorities have proposed about 10 major transit routes connecting Dubai, Sharjah and Ajman, supported by dedicated bus rapid transit (BRT) lanes that allow buses to bypass traffic congestion.These BRT systems will operate on specific corridors, ensuring faster and more reliable journeys, just like a metro system, but with greater flexibility and lower costs of deployment. The network is expected to be directly connected to metro stations and major urban centres, making transfers easier for daily commuters. The overarching objective is to reduce reliance on private cars, reduce commute times and reduce carbon emissions, especially as vehicle numbers continue to increase in the UAE.
More than just roads and buses
The proposal was reviewed during the first 2026 meeting of the UAE Infrastructure and Housing Council, chaired by Suhail Mohammed Al Mazrouei, Minister of Energy and Infrastructure. Officials stressed that tackling congestion will require more than just building new roads.Along with expanding infrastructure, officials are studying ways to manage the growth of vehicle ownership while improving coordination between different modes of transportation, including road networks and public transit systems. There is also a strong focus on long-term sustainable mobility planning, signaling a broader shift in UAE policy towards a fully integrated, multi-modal transport ecosystem rather than relying solely on road expansion.
What does this mean for daily commuters?
For the millions of passengers traveling daily between Dubai, Sharjah and Ajman, the combined impact of these measures could be transformative. Reduced congestion on major routes is expected to improve journey times, while the availability of faster and more reliable public transport may provide a practical alternative to driving.Over time, this could reduce peak-hour pressure on highways, reduce commute stress, and make cross-emirate travel more predictable and efficient. Ultimately, the plan reflects a larger effort to rethink how people move between cities, with a focus not just on adding capacity but creating a smarter and more balanced transportation system.
