Walking across a busy road in Dubai takes more courage than it should. Most major roads have no safe crossing for hundreds of metres. People jaywalk, rush, and hope for the best. So, the Roads and Transport Authority has taken the decision to change that. RTA Dubai approved the construction of 31 pedestrian bridges and tunnels in major areas of Dubai over the next 5 years to be finished by 2030. These are Dubai pedestrian bridges that will be placed where people need them.
Where Will The Bridges Be Built?
The locations were not picked randomly. Reportedly, the new Dubai pedestrian bridges will be built on Sheikh Zayed Road, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud Street, Al Ittihad Road and Omar bin Al Khattab Street. These are four of the most crowded corridors in the emirate. Moreover, population density, connection with land use, location of touristic and economic facilities, and their connection with public transport stations impacted the site selection.
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In simpler terms, the bridges go where people are already, or where they go. Instead, they work near schools, metro stations, residential and tourism areas. Earlier, Dubai Media Office said that Dubai Walk needs 110 pedestrian bridges and tunnels by 2040 over 160 areas in the city. These 31 are the next major step in that bigger plan.
730 Metres Across Dubai-Al Ain Road
Of the 31 planned Dubai pedestrian bridges, one immediately springs to mind. A highlight of the project is the pedestrian and cyclist bridge on Dubai-Al Ain Road, measuring 730 metres. In other words, almost three quarters of a kilometre. Hence, it’s not just a crossing. It is a pedestrian and cyclist-only path that runs between communities on both sides of one of Dubai’s busiest inter-emirate highways.
Furthermore, the planning was done earlier for nine additional bridges to be started by the end of 2028. These include a bridge in the vicinity of Coca Cola Arena, Business Bay, Burj Khalifa area and six crossings along Al Asayel Street. Also, each of these are located in packed, heavy traffic areas that are not currently pedestrian friendly.
Dubai Pedestrian Bridges: The Projects
This plan builds on work already completed. Up till now, two bridges have been completed on Sheikh Zayed Road and Al Khail Road. They provide links for pedestrians, cyclists, and e-scooter users across Al Sufouh and Dubai Hills, running through Dubai Internet City, Barsha Heights, and Al Barsha 3.
A third bridge is also done. It sits on Al Manara Street in Al Quoz Creative Zone. The bridge is 45 metres long and 5.5 metres wide, with a 6-metre clearance above the road surface. Moreover, each side has a ramp extending 210 metres. Its design also matches the visual identity of the surrounding creative zone, so it does not look out of place.
Three more Dubai pedestrian bridges are currently under construction. Two are among Dubai’s largest pedestrian and cycling bridges and are in their final stages. The first connects Muhaisnah 1 with Al Twar on Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road at the Tunis Street and Al Nahda intersection, extending further toward the Al Mamzar Beach area.
What Dubai Pedestrian Bridges Carry Besides People?
The bridges have alarm systems, fire-fighting equipment, electromechanical systems, and remote monitoring. Select bridges also include cycling tracks and bicycle parking. So, these are not bare concrete crossings. They are designed as part of a wider mobility shift.
Mattar Al Tayer, Director General of the RTA, said the expansion reflects the leadership’s direction to make Dubai a pedestrian and cyclist-friendly city and to provide a safe, sustainable environment for all road users.
For the average Dubai resident, a bridge near their metro stop or school means something simple. It means they can cross the road safely. It means children walk without parents holding their breath.
This means cyclists have a route that does not require them to share space with speeding cars. Sometimes the most useful infrastructure is the kind that just gets you safely from one side of the road to the other.
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