AED431 million contract awarded to improve access to Dubai Harbour Cruise Terminal

Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has awarded an AED431 million contract to build a 1.5 kilometre bridge that will provide Dubai Harbour with direct access to Sheikh Zayed Road, the main thoroughfare in the city.

The awarding of the construction contract means that work can now begin on the two-lane bridge, which will be able to serve 6,000 vehicles per hour, and will cut travel time between Dubai Harbour and Sheikh Zayed Road from 12 minutes to just three.

The infrastructure project will give cruise tourists in Dubai significantly easier access to the city’s main arterial road, making journey times between the cruise terminal and the city’s major attractions much faster.

The road infrastructure project was announced in February as part of a wider Dubai strategy to upgrade the emirate’s transport networks to keep pace with urban expansion and population growth.

The bridge will extend from the fifth intersection on Sheikh Zayed Road, near the American University in Dubai, to Dubai Harbour Street.

“The project provides a direct entry/exit for Dubai Harbour to ease the movement of visitors and residents,” said Mattar Al Tayer, director general of the RTA. “When completed, the project will improve the flow of traffic and reduce the travel time from 12 minutes to 3 minutes.”

Abdulla Binhabtoor, chief executive at Shamal Holding, which developed and owns Dubai Harbour, said the building of the bridge would make the harbour area a better place to visit and live.

“Shamal Holding is committed to building extraordinary communities and enhanced experiences, making Dubai Harbour a unique seafront destination and an extraordinary seafront residential community,” he said.

“We have commenced a range of enhancements and investments as part of our plans to offer the best integrated community in terms of quality of life and the well-being of residents and visitors.”

Dubai Harbour is home to the Dubai Harbour Cruise Terminal, Dubai’s second cruise terminal after Port Rashid, which is the exclusive regional hub for Carnival Corporation and its eight cruise line brands.

The wider Dubai Harbour waterfront area is also home to a vast marina and residential developments and leisure facilities. Dubai Harbour is located between Palm Jumeirah and Bluewaters and Shamal Holdings has plans to build a residential complex with 24 towers and about 7,500 apartments.