Official project image: Dubai Government Media Office.
Quick answer: Dubai’s approved New Fourth Corridor is a planned 80km, 12-lane road connection between Al Shanouf Road in Sharjah and Al Faya Road in Abu Dhabi.[1] It will cross Dubai in two phases, connect with Dubai–Al Ain Road, and pass key locations including Al Maktoum International Airport and the Etihad Rail route.[1] It is an approved future project—not a road that is open to traffic today.[1]
New Fourth Corridor at a glance
- Total length: approximately 80km.[1]
- Endpoints: Al Shanouf Road in Sharjah and Al Faya Road in Abu Dhabi.[1]
- Configuration: 12 lanes across both directions.[1]
- Planned capacity: up to 24,000 vehicles per hour in both directions.[1]
- Major structures: 72 bridges, 17 tunnels and 45 stormwater drainage culverts.[1]
- Delivery: two phases.[1]
- Phase 1 budget: approximately AED3.5 billion.[1]
- Status: approved; the official announcement did not state a construction start date or final completion date.[1]
Planned route
The corridor is planned to run from Al Shanouf Road in Sharjah, through Dubai, to Al Faya Road in Abu Dhabi.[1] In Dubai it is expected to pass or connect near these strategic locations:[1]
- Dubai–Al Ain Road
- Al Maktoum International Airport
- Al Marmoom Desert Conservation Reserve
- Al Wohoosh Desert Conservation Reserve
- the Etihad Rail route
- surrounding residential and development areas
The announcement provides the endpoints and major landmarks, but it does not publish a turn-by-turn alignment, interchange list or property-level map.[1] Drivers and property owners should wait for detailed RTA maps before assuming that a specific community or plot will have direct access.[1]
Phase 1: Sharjah to Dubai–Al Ain Road
Phase 1 will cover approximately 30km from Al Shanouf Road to Dubai–Al Ain Road and is budgeted at about AED3.5 billion.[1]
The planned works include:[1]
- a 12-lane through corridor across both directions;
- about 55 lane-kilometres of at-grade roads;
- 2.5km of tunnels;
- 21km of bridges and ramps;
- widening Dubai–Al Ain Road from three to four lanes in each direction between Emirates Road and Lehbab Road; and
- upgrades to four major intersections.
According to the project announcement, this phase is designed to cut the relevant journey from 35 minutes to 14 minutes, a 60% reduction, and serve around 600,000 people. Those figures are project targets, not measured travel times on an operating road.[1]
Phase 2: Dubai–Al Ain Road to Abu Dhabi
Phase 2 will extend approximately 50km from Dubai–Al Ain Road to Al Faya Road in Abu Dhabi.[1]
The plan includes:[1]
- 12 lanes across both directions;
- capacity for up to 24,000 vehicles per hour in both directions;
- about 190 lane-kilometres of at-grade roads;
- 3.5km of tunnels; and
- 157km of bridges and ramps.
The official target is to reduce the relevant journey from 50 minutes to 24 minutes, a 52% reduction, while serving around 3.1 million people.[1]
Will it reduce traffic between Dubai, Sharjah and Abu Dhabi?
That is the project’s purpose, but the effect cannot be measured until sections open. The corridor is intended to become the fourth strategic inter-emirate road axis after Sheikh Zayed/Al Ittihad Road, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road and Emirates Road.[1]
The RTA expects it to divert through traffic—especially trucks—away from urban areas, relieve pressure on existing corridors, and improve links among the federal road network, Al Maktoum International Airport and Etihad Rail.[1][2]
What drivers should do now
There is no route change to make today because the corridor is not yet open.[1] For now:
- Do not follow unofficial route maps as final. Use detailed alignment and interchange maps only when RTA publishes them.[1][2]
- Do not use the projected travel times for current trip planning. The 14-minute and 24-minute figures are future project targets.[1]
- Watch the Dubai–Al Ain Road section. Phase 1 includes lane widening between Emirates Road and Lehbab Road plus four intersection upgrades.[1]
- Expect phased works. A project containing 72 bridges and 17 tunnels will be delivered in two main phases, but the announcement does not yet provide traffic-diversion dates.[1]
- Check official channels before travelling. RTA’s website is the appropriate source for future roadwork notices, diversions and opening announcements.[2]
What remains unannounced
As of the September 16 approval announcement, the following details were not stated:[1]
- construction start date;
- completion or opening date for either phase;
- contractor awards;
- exact interchange names and locations;
- detailed public route map;
- planned tolling or Salik arrangements; and
- temporary traffic diversions.
Treat claims about those items as unconfirmed unless they appear in a later RTA or Dubai Government announcement.[1][2]
FAQ
Is Dubai’s New Fourth Corridor open?
No. The project has been approved, but the official announcement describes future construction in two phases and does not state an opening date.[1]
Where will the New Fourth Corridor run?
It is planned to run approximately 80km between Al Shanouf Road in Sharjah and Al Faya Road in Abu Dhabi, crossing Dubai and connecting with Dubai–Al Ain Road.[1]
How many lanes will it have?
The planned corridor will have 12 lanes across both directions.[1]
How much will the project cost?
The announced cost of Phase 1 is approximately AED3.5 billion. The official announcement does not state a total cost for both phases.[1]
How much time could it save?
The official targets are a reduction from 35 to 14 minutes on the Phase 1 section and from 50 to 24 minutes on the Phase 2 section. These are projected benefits, not current journey times.[1]
Will it connect to Al Maktoum International Airport?
The corridor is planned to pass Al Maktoum International Airport and integrate with major transport links including the Etihad Rail route.[1]
Is there an official completion date?
No completion date was included in the September 16, 2026 approval announcement.[1]
Last checked: September 19, 2026. This explainer will need updating when RTA publishes construction dates, detailed maps or diversion notices.