80km New Fourth Corridor to ease freight movement

Dubai has approved the New Fourth Corridor project to improve freight movement and connectivity between the UAE’s emirates. The 80km corridor will extend from Al Faya Road in Abu Dhabi to Al Shanouf Road in Sharjah, supporting logistics traffic and connecting key transport routes, including Al Maktoum International Airport and the Etihad Rail route.

The first phase, costing around AED3.5 billion, will cover 30km from Al Shanouf Road to Dubai–Al Ain Road. It will include 12 lanes across both directions, with capacity for up to 24,000 vehicles per hour. The phase is expected to reduce journey time from 35 minutes to 14 minutes.

For the logistics sector, the corridor will help divert trucks and through traffic away from urban areas, easing pressure on existing roads and improving freight movement. Better road links between Dubai, Sharjah and Abu Dhabi could support smoother movement of goods between industrial, commercial and transport hubs.

The project will also include widening part of Dubai–Al Ain Road and upgrading four major intersections. Mattar Al Tayer, Director General of Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority, said the project will help “divert through traffic, particularly trucks, away from urban areas”, easing pressure on existing road corridors and improving traffic flow and road safety.