The Al Taawun Tunnel could cut congestion time by up to 85 per cent, giving thousands of Dubai-Sharjah commuters a quicker daily journey.

SHARJAH: Anyone who regularly drives between Sharjah and Dubai knows how quickly a short journey can turn into a long commute. Now, the Al Taawun Tunnel is being developed to tackle one of the busiest routes towards Dubai, with congestion time expected to fall by as much as 85 per cent once the wider project is completed.

The tunnel is being built at Al Taawun Square and will have three lanes in each direction. It is designed to handle around 4,000 vehicles an hour during busy periods, which could make a noticeable difference for people travelling between the two emirates every day. The first phase of the road project is expected to be ready in November 2026, while the entire development is scheduled for completion by the end of February 2027.

The main idea behind the Al Taawun Tunnel is simple: make it easier and faster for drivers travelling from Al Taawun towards Al Nahda and Dubai. This route is familiar to thousands of residents who live in Sharjah but work, study or regularly travel to Dubai. Heavy traffic during morning and evening rush hours has long been one of the biggest frustrations for commuters using roads connecting the two emirates.

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Work has been moving quickly. In July, the Sharjah Roads and Transport Authority said construction was taking place around the clock and that about 20 per cent of the project had been completed. The tunnel is also part of a much bigger effort to improve Sharjah’s roads and keep traffic moving as residential and business areas continue to grow.

Other road improvements are also under way. An upgrade at the intersection of Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Street and Mleiha Road includes a new three-lane bridge costing AED140 million. Sharjah is also investing in public transport, including electric and hybrid vehicles, while AI technology is being used in buses and taxis to improve safety and efficiency.

Also read: Dubai road upgrade cuts peak-hour travel time by up to 30%

The emirate is also expanding its Bus on Demand service, which lets passengers book journeys through an app instead of depending only on fixed bus routes. The service covers areas including Muwaileh Commercial, Aljada, University City, Al Juraina, Al Qarain and Al Nouf, helping residents in areas that may not have convenient traditional bus connections.

For regular commuters, however, the Al Taawun Tunnel could be one of the most noticeable changes. If the project delivers the expected reduction in congestion, spending less time sitting in traffic could soon become a reality for many people travelling between Sharjah and Dubai.

Also read: Dubai opens new bridge cutting World Trade Centre journey to two minutes

Impact to expect

Faster traffic flow could make daily life easier for thousands of commuters, particularly during rush hour. Shorter journeys may also reduce pressure on surrounding roads and improve connections between Sharjah and Dubai.

Sharjah Dubai traffic, Dubai Sharjah commute, Sharjah road project, Al Taawun road upgrade