A new 68-kilometre highway and rapid bus system will transform travel between Dubai and Sharjah / Photo: File
For many years, the Dubai-Sharjah-Ajman route has been one of the busiest commuter corridors in the UAE, affecting millions of daily commuters commuting between home and work.The matter is not small. Together, the three emirates form the largest urban agglomeration in the United Arab Emirates, with a population of more than 6 million people and witnessing extensive daily movement across borders.
Rush hour traffic on major roads such as Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road (E311) often slows to a crawl, with long delays becoming routine.Now, authorities say a multi-layered transport overhaul is the only way to fix the problem – not just more roads, but smarter mobility options.
The highway project costs 6 billion dirhams
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:
- A 68-kilometre highway linking Dubai, Sharjah and Ajman
- 6 to 8 tracks in each direction to significantly increase capacity
- 10 major intersections to reduce congestion
- 4 flyover bridges to improve traffic flow at major intersections
This new corridor will join existing major highways such as the E11, E311 and E611, which are currently under severe pressure.Officials say the expressway is designed not only to ease congestion but also to support future population growth and economic expansion across the Northern Emirates.
Bus Rapid Transit (BRT)
The plan does not rely solely on expanding roads. The key transformation is the introduction of a high-capacity public transport system designed to move people more efficiently across the three emirates. The authorities have proposed about 10 major transport routes linking Dubai, Sharjah and Ajman, supported by dedicated bus rapid transit (BRT) routes that allow buses to bypass traffic congestion.
These BRT systems will operate on exclusive corridors, ensuring faster and more reliable journeys, just like the metro system but with greater flexibility and lower deployment costs. The network is expected to connect directly to metro stations and major urban centres, making commutes smoother for daily commuters. The broader goal is to reduce reliance on private cars, shorten commuting times, and reduce carbon emissions, especially as vehicle numbers continue to rise across the UAE.
More than just roads and buses
The proposal was reviewed during the first meeting of 2026 of the Emirates Infrastructure and Housing Council chaired by the Minister of Energy and Infrastructure Suhail Mohammed Al Mazrouei. Officials stressed that solving congestion will require more than just building new roads.In addition to expanding infrastructure, authorities are examining ways to manage the growth of vehicle ownership while improving coordination between different modes of transportation, including road networks and public transportation systems. There is also a strong focus on long-term sustainable mobility planning, indicating a broader shift in UAE policy towards an integrated, multi-modal transport system rather than relying solely on road expansion.
What does this mean for daily commuters?
For the millions of passengers who travel daily between Dubai, Sharjah and Ajman, the combined impact of these measures could be transformative. Travel times are expected to improve as congestion across major roads eases, while the availability of faster and more reliable public transport could provide a practical alternative to driving.Over time, this could reduce peak hour pressure on highways, reduce commute stress, and make travel across the Emirates more predictable and more efficient. Ultimately, the plan reflects a larger effort to rethink how people move between cities, with a focus not just on adding capacity but on creating a smarter, more balanced transportation system.