RTA’s Al Qiyadah Intersection upgrades target peak-hour delays on Al Ittihad
By Catherine Smith GST 2 min read
The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has completed a package of Al Qiyadah Intersection upgrades on Al Ittihad Road, including a new lane, adjusted signals, and parking works, with the authority expecting peak-hour waiting times to fall by up to 15 per cent.
The improvements target traffic travelling from Al Ittihad Road towards Abu Hail and Salah Al Din Streets, two of the main distributor roads serving Deira.
What changed at Al Qiyadah Intersection
The centrepiece of the scheme is a new left-turn lane from Al Ittihad Road onto Abu Hail Street in the direction of Salah Al Din Street. RTA said it created the lane by converting parallel parking spaces and using part of the central median, avoiding any major structural work on the carriageway itself.
Traffic signal timings have been recalibrated to match the new lane layout. The authority also carried out paving and rehabilitation works on road sections and footpaths in the area, and installed concrete barriers linked to the revised traffic arrangement.
Additional parking spaces have been added along Abu Hail Street. Lighting poles were installed at existing parking areas as part of wider efforts to make better use of the available space around the intersection.
The Emirates News Agency (WAM) confirmed that RTA expects the works to increase the intersection’s overall capacity and reduce waiting times by up to 15 per cent during busy periods.
Why Al Qiyadah matters for Dubai-Sharjah commuters
Al Qiyadah Intersection sits on Al Ittihad Road, one of the primary corridors for motorists moving between Dubai and Sharjah. Beyond its role on that inter-emirate route, it distributes traffic to several key Deira roads, including Abu Hail Street, Salah Al Din Street, and Al Quds Street.
Congestion at the intersection tends to concentrate at approach and exit points during morning and evening peaks, when commuter volumes on Al Ittihad Road are highest. RTA said the Al Qiyadah Intersection upgrades are designed to ease those bottlenecks by increasing lane capacity at the point where traffic splits toward the local road network.
The authority said the project forms part of its broader programme to expand and improve Dubai’s road network in line with population growth and rising traffic volumes. RTA described the measures as intended to meet current demand while preparing the network for future pressure.
No reopening date or phased schedule was cited; the works are described by RTA as complete.
