Dubai New Fourth Corridor: route, travel-time cuts and what residents should know

Dubai has approved an 80km New Fourth Corridor linking Al Shanouf Road in Sharjah with Al Faya Road in Abu Dhabi through Dubai. The project will be built in two phases and is designed to create a fourth major inter-emirate road corridor, reduce pressure on existing routes and improve access to areas around Al Maktoum International Airport and the Etihad Rail network.

For residents, the most important point is that these are planned improvements, not current journey-time savings. Dubai’s official announcement on 16 September 2026 confirms the route, capacity and projected time reductions, but it does not give a completion date for either phase.

What is Dubai’s New Fourth Corridor?

The New Fourth Corridor is a planned road link running for about 80km from Al Shanouf Road in Sharjah, across Dubai, to Al Faya Road in Abu Dhabi. It will become the fourth strategic corridor linking the emirates, alongside Sheikh Zayed Road/Al Ittihad Road, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road and Emirates Road.

The route will pass major transport and development areas, including Al Maktoum International Airport, the Etihad Rail route, Al Marmoom Desert Conservation Reserve and Al Wohoosh Desert Conservation Reserve. Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority says the corridor is intended to divert through traffic, particularly trucks, away from urban areas and ease pressure on existing roads.

What will Phase 1 include?

Phase 1 will run for about 30km from Al Shanouf Road in Sharjah to Dubai-Al Ain Road. The estimated cost is AED 3.5 billion.

The phase will include a through corridor with 12 lanes across both directions. Dubai-Al Ain Road will also be widened from three to four lanes in each direction between Emirates Road and Lehbab Road, and four major intersections are due to be upgraded.

What will Phase 2 include?

Phase 2 will continue for about 50km from Dubai-Al Ain Road to Al Faya Road in Abu Dhabi. The official plan again provides for 12 lanes across both directions and capacity of up to 24,000 vehicles per hour.

RTA projects that the relevant journey time could fall from 50 minutes to 24 minutes, a reduction of about 52%. The second phase is expected to serve around 3.1 million people.

The official announcement does not state the cost of Phase 2.

How large is the overall project?

Across both phases, Dubai says the corridor will include:

• 72 bridges
• 17 tunnels
• 45 stormwater drainage culverts
• connections with major residential and development areas
• links supporting Al Maktoum International Airport and Etihad Rail

The project is intended to support both daily passenger movement and commercial traffic. For people who regularly travel between Sharjah, Dubai and Abu Dhabi, the long-term significance is the addition of another high-capacity route rather than simply an upgrade to one existing road.

What does this mean for commuters now?

There is no immediate change to normal commuting routes. The project has been approved for implementation, but the official announcement does not provide an opening date for Phase 1 or Phase 2.

Residents should therefore avoid planning a move, commute or property purchase on the assumption that the projected 14-minute or 24-minute journey times are already available. Those figures are RTA forecasts for the completed corridor.

If you are new to Dubai and rely on public transport as well as driving, Babylon’s Dubai nol card guide explains the current payment and zone system. For a broader overview of settling in the country, see our guide to expat life in the UAE.

What has not been announced yet?

Several practical details remain open. The 16 September announcement does not give:

• a completion date for either phase
• the cost of Phase 2
• the final list of local interchanges or community access points
• construction-stage traffic diversions
• any statement that the route will be tolled

Those details matter to commuters and property seekers, so Babylon will update this guide when RTA publishes them.

Official source

The project details were announced by the Government of Dubai Media Office and Dubai Roads and Transport Authority on 16 September 2026.

Last verified: 21 September 2026.

Frequently asked questions

Is Dubai’s New Fourth Corridor open yet?

No. The project has been approved for implementation. The official announcement does not provide a completion or opening date.

Where will the New Fourth Corridor run?

It is planned to run about 80km from Al Shanouf Road in Sharjah to Al Faya Road in Abu Dhabi, passing through Dubai.

How much will the New Fourth Corridor cost?

Phase 1 is estimated at AED 3.5 billion. The official announcement does not state the cost of Phase 2.

Will it reduce travel times?

RTA projects that Phase 1 could reduce the relevant journey from 35 minutes to 14 minutes, while Phase 2 could reduce a 50-minute journey to 24 minutes. These are forecasts for the completed project, not current journey times.