The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) of Dubai has increased the coverage area of its e-bike delivery service by adding seven new districts across the emirate. This expansion is based on the results of a pilot phase that started in February in only four zones.
The new districts now served by the service include Al Twar 1, Al Twar 2, Al Qusais 1, Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Boulevard, Dubai Media City, Jumeirah Lakes Towers (JLT), and Dubai Marina. These locations join the initial four pilot zones: Al Karama, Al Hamriya, Umm Hurair, and Al Manhool, bringing the total coverage to 11 zones.
This expansion aligns with the Dubai Ground Commercial and Logistics Transport Strategy until 2030, as well as the First and Last Mile Strategy. Both strategies aim to reduce costs, promote sustainable development, and bring logistics operations in line with global best practices.
RTA stated that the selection of new districts was determined by several factors: the availability of infrastructure and dedicated bike lanes, the specific characteristics of each neighborhood, proximity to retail points and restaurants, growing business demand, and the current number of soft mobility users in these areas.
The implementation of the service is carried out in cooperation with private delivery operators. According to agreements made with these partners, operational mechanisms, requirements, and procedures have been defined to ensure compliance with public safety standards.
During the pilot period, RTA recorded a customer satisfaction level of about 99 percent, and this figure exceeded 90 percent among delivery couriers. The authority stated that regulatory solutions were developed jointly with partners to address operational issues that arose during the trials.
The expansion is also part of a broader set of measures adopted by RTA to manage delivery operations. These measures include updating licensing requirements and changes to the legal framework concerning quality control, operation, monitoring, and adherence to standards across the entire sector. RTA emphasized that the integrated system reflects the rapid growth of the delivery sector in Dubai in recent years, both in demand and in the number of delivery bikes operating on the emirate's roads.
Abu Dhabi has announced a large-scale expansion of the E20 highway in Khalifa City aimed at improving traffic flow, reducing congestion, and enhancing connectivity with Zayed International Airport.
The Abu Dhabi Department of Municipalities and Transport (DMT) reported that the highway will be expanded from three to five lanes, which will significantly increase road capacity for drivers traveling through the area. The project also includes the construction of additional exits and loops spanning 10.5 km, as well as four new bridges designed to optimize traffic movement and reduce bottlenecks.
To strengthen internal connections within adjacent areas, DMT plans to develop internal roads measuring 1.5 km and integrate eight traffic light intersections within Khalifa City and the Zayed International Airport zone. In addition to road infrastructure, the project incorporates extensive landscaping to create a more attractive and environmentally friendly urban environment.
Auxiliary infrastructure will also be modernized, including the creation of a 62 km storm drainage network, a 37 km irrigation network, and the installation of 485 streetlights. This expansion is part of Abu Dhabi's continuous efforts to modernize its transport system, improve mobility, and ensure road safety amid the emirate's growing population.
For many residents and workers in the Business Bay, Barsha Heights, and Al Quoz areas, the most frustrating part of daily commutes is not the distance, but the process of entering Dubai's congested main roads.
Dubai plans to solve this issue with the recently approved Al-Haal Street Development Plan. This plan involves creating a 15-kilometer elevated corridor with three lanes in each direction, running parallel to Sheikh Zayed Road. Construction is scheduled to begin in the third quarter of 2027 and be completed by the fourth quarter of 2030.
According to Dubai authorities, the new corridor will provide access to approximately 2.6 million people, improve connectivity to Al Barsha, Al Quoz, Business Bay, and Meydan, increase road capacity by about 9,000 vehicles per hour, and, most importantly, reduce travel time on Sheikh Zayed Road by 51 percent during peak hours.
An analysis by A Khaleej Times shows that Al-Haal Street serves a different function compared to Dubai's two main north-south highways. While Sheikh Zayed Road is designed for the rapid movement of large volumes of traffic across the city, Al-Haal Road itself acts as a high-speed bypass, passing through numerous residential and commercial zones where daily routes begin and end.
This corridor crosses areas such as Business Bay, Al Quoz, Barsha Heights, Green Zones, and Meydan—places where people live, work, study, receive deliveries, and use taxis daily. Unlike major city highways that primarily serve transit traffic, Al-Haal connects neighboring communities, becoming an important route for shorter daily journeys.
Mohammed Arif, a finance specialist residing in Business Bay and working in DIFC, noted that despite the short distance between home and office, the main difficulty lies in exiting Business Bay during peak hours. He emphasized that sometimes the time spent just reaching Sheikh Zayed Road exceeds the actual travel time, and the new corridor could significantly simplify these short daily trips.
Residents of Barsha Heights have also expressed hope for an additional north-south route. Anjali, who commutes daily from Techom to Business Bay, stated that she usually has to choose between Sheikh Zayed Road and Al Haal Road depending on the traffic. She believes that having another major corridor will distribute cars across more roads, and saving even 10 or 15 minutes a day would be a significant improvement.
Ridwan Ahmed, who works in Al Quoz and lives in JLT, sees the problem not so much in the distance as in bottlenecks. He reported that even when leaving the office on time, he spends a lot of time trying to reach the main roads. He believes that improving connectivity around Al Quoz and adjacent areas will make journeys less stressful.
Taxi drivers who spend most of their day on Dubai's roads believe the project could improve short trips between neighboring areas and allow them to arrive faster at online ride requests. Sajid Rasul, who has been driving a taxi in Dubai for over ten years, noted that many passengers travel only between places like Business Bay, Al Quoz, and Barsha.
He added that they often have to use Sheikh Zayed Road now because it is the faster option. If Al-Haal becomes a smooth corridor, many of these short trips will not require using the main highways, which will also help distribute traffic across the entire road network. Delivery personnel also noted that they sometimes choose longer routes on the highways because stopping at multiple traffic lights can take more time during busy periods. Shahid Hussain, who handles food delivery across central Dubai, said that if Al-Haal becomes a smoother route, it will help deliver orders to customers faster during peak hours.
