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28 March 2024

2014, year of Dubai's mega projects: 3 alone exceed Dh6bn

Published
By Staff

Three of the largest and costliest projects by RTA in the history of the emirate of Dubai are being carried out in the year 2014. Speaking numbers, these three projects alone exceed Dh6 billion.

Speaking on the occasion of RTA’s 8th anniversary, Mattar Al Tayar, Chairman of the Road and Transport Authority (RTA) referred to the projects as “the emirate’s largest ever qualitative projects” and called the year of 2014 a year of challenges.

At a total cost of Dh2 billion, the Dubai Creek will be extended from Business Bay Canal to the Arabian Sea, forming a unique waterway that will be called Dubai Canal. The project will change the face of one of the most prominent areas of the emirate, and cross some of the most consumed roads. Although the project will expand over next couple of years, this year the ground works are laid.

Another eye-catching project will be the construction of Al Ittihad Bridge, which will be carried out at a total cost of more than Dh1 billion dirham. The bridge will replace the existing floating bridge, but comprise of 12 lanes (6 in each direction), in addition to a footpath in each direction. By the end of this year, a contract for the construction will be awarded.

Exceeding all costs is the Dubai Tram project, which will eventually see the length of 14,6 kilometres in rail work rolled out along Sufouh Road. By November this year, the first phase of the project should be completed, guaranteeing 10,6 track of railway serving 11 passenger stations.

The cost of this project have not been entirely clear. Depending on media reports, the first phase of the project would amount to Dh3,18 billion. However, the number does not seem to appear in official releases.

This year’s project agenda clearly standing out, the year 2013 saw the realisation of some multi-digit-projects too, most notably being the completion of Al Khail Road, which was carried out at a total cost of Dh1,9 billion.

Reaching in the millions were projects such as Rashid Hospital Tunnels, with a total cost of Dh 722, World Trade Center bridges at Zabeel, costing Dh719 million dirhams, and the widening & improvement of Umm Suqeim Road, at a cost of Dh167 million.

The RTA earlier revealed that the total expenditure budget approved for the year 2014 amounts to Dh7.036 billion, of which Dh3.62 billion would be allocated for constructing around 99 projects; comprising 50 new projects to be undertaken in roads, marine transport and public transport sector, and 49 projects currently underway.