Drivers traveling between Dubai and Sharjah can expect smoother traffic and reduced waiting times thanks to the opening of the first phase of the Al Taawun tunnel project. This project is anticipated to cut waiting times by up to 85 percent.
The project focuses on an underground tunnel measuring 500 meters long, which will be situated beneath the Al Taawun roundabout. Its objective is to create a more direct route connecting Al Taawun Street, Al Nahda Bridge, and Dubai.
The initial phase, encompassing the tunnel itself and the access roads leading to Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road and Emirates Road, is scheduled to open in November 2026, prior to the next Sharjah International Book Fair. The full completion of the entire project is slated for February 2027.
The subterranean section will provide a direct link between Al Taawun Street, Al Nahda Bridge, and Dubai, allowing drivers to bypass the surface roundabout and maintain continuous movement.
The tunnel is designed to alleviate pressure on existing intersections and the roundabout, where traffic congestion is frequent during peak hours. The project aims to reduce waiting times by 85 percent, promoting more efficient driver movement along one of the key transport corridors between Sharjah and Dubai.
The tunnel will be supplemented by a new traffic light interchange capable of handling approximately 4,200 vehicles per hour in each direction during peak times. This additional capacity should improve traffic flow around the tunnel and adjacent roads while lessening the strain on existing ground-level intersections.
The enhanced road network will also offer more direct access to the Sharjah Expo Centre, a vital destination for visitors and workers in the Al Taawun area. The tunnel will ensure a direct connection from Al Taawun Street to Al Nahda Bridge and Dubai. The broader project also includes access roads to Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road and Emirates Road, establishing additional links between major routes in Sharjah and the wider UAE road network.
This project is also expected to become part of a future transport corridor that will connect with Al Noor Road.
Al Taawun Street has evolved into an increasingly important transport artery between Sharjah and Dubai, daily transporting a large volume of drivers between the two emirates. The growing significance of this route was one of the reasons for deciding to move traffic underground at the Al Taawun roundabout. The goal is to create a more unimpeded corridor between the two emirates while simultaneously reducing congestion at one of the key ground-level intersections in the area.
The construction of the underground tunnel necessitated the temporary removal of the iconic Al Taawun monument. Engineering teams inspected the monument's foundation before commencing work and found it to be deeply rooted in the ground, complicating tunneling operations beneath it without dismantling the structure.
Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, a member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, assured residents that the monument would not disappear permanently. It will be redesigned and restored to its original location after the tunnel project is completed.
The first phase of the project is set to open in November 2026, ahead of the next Sharjah International Book Fair. The Al Taawun Tunnel is part of broader efforts to develop road infrastructure in Sharjah, aimed at increasing capacity and reducing travel time.
Another major project is the intersection of Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Road and Maliha Street, which involves a three-lane overpass spanning about 500 meters, along with nearly 2.5 kilometers of ground roads. This AED 140 million project is expected to double the efficiency of traffic flow and reduce travel time for drivers traveling from central Sharjah towards Maliha Road from about 20 minutes to 10 minutes.
Sharjah has also increased the capacity of Emirates Road, where two additional lanes were opened over five kilometers towards Wadi Al Amardi. The expansion increased the number of lanes from six to eight and is expected to boost capacity by approximately 33 percent, cutting peak-hour travel time by 25 percent.
Work is also ongoing to maintain and secure roads in several areas, including Al Jazzat and Al Hazana. Recent works have included road resurfacing and marking updates, with projects covering 785 meters in Al Jazzat and 730 meters in Al Hazana.
As traffic volumes increase with the resumption of schooling and the return of daily commutes between Sharjah and Dubai in full swing, the new Al Taawun Tunnel should add capacity to one of the emirate's busiest corridors, making travel in the area faster and more efficient.
