Elevated carriageway parallel to Sheikh Zayed Road among new Dubai projects worth $4.9bn

Dubai has approved a package of projects and strategies worth Dh18 billion (about $4.9 billion) that spans culture, trade, infrastructure, Emiratisation, finance, investment and urban planning, senior officials said. The approvals include the Dubai Cultural Strategy 2033, the First Al Khail Street Development Plan featuring a 15-kilometre elevated carriageway parallel to Sheikh Zayed Road, the Dubai Investor Register, a real‑time AI population census called Dubai Population Now, and sector strategies such as the Dubai Customs Strategy 2030.

“Dubai, which has become synonymous with ambition and achievement, backs its words with action and continues to write new chapters of success,” said Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence, after chairing the Executive Council meeting that approved the plans. “Under the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, we are building a city that does not pause. We plan for the future while delivering for the present, ensuring that every step forward is anchored in progress and purpose.”

Key infrastructure commitments include the First Al Khail Street Development Plan, which will create a strategic corridor parallel to Sheikh Zayed Road. The project will feature a 15km elevated carriageway with three lanes in each direction; construction is scheduled to start in the third quarter of 2027 and to be completed by the end of 2030. The elevated carriageway aims to improve traffic flow along one of Dubai’s busiest axes and integrate the corridor into broader urban planning objectives.

The Dubai Cultural Strategy 2033, led by Her Highness Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum as Chairperson of the Dubai Culture and Arts Authority, is positioned as a cornerstone of the package. The strategy’s stated goals are to make the emirate “a leader in cultural innovation and collaboration rooted in the UAE’s heritage,” establish Dubai as a global hub for creative talent and projects, and create a “global reference for safeguarding cultural heritage.”

• Dubai Customs Strategy 2030: emphasises trade facilitation, stronger economic partnerships, enhanced security and improved customer and partner experience.
• Dubai Investor Register: allows companies and investors to operate across multiple zones without re‑registering, aligns with Financial Action Task Force requirements, and aims to reduce costs and administrative burdens by unifying procedures and data.
• Dubai Population Now: an AI‑driven census tool designed to provide a real‑time population clock to support urban planning; Dubai’s population reached 4.58 million by the end of 2025, up 332,000 (7.5%) from the previous year.
• Emirati Talents Strategy in Private Education: targets 3,000 Emirati placements by 2033 in support of the Dubai Education Strategy 2033.
• Global Centre for Technology and Innovation in Islamic Finance: to be managed by Dubai International Financial Centre.
• New visual identity for Dubai’s address system: aims to give signage a distinctive urban character classified by urban sector.

The initiatives collectively reflect a multi‑year planning horizon intended to balance short‑term delivery with longer‑term positioning: cultural competitiveness, streamlined investment procedures and major transport upgrades. Officials have attached clear timelines to the largest civil works, notably the Al Khail elevated carriageway with a 2027 start and 2030 completion target, while the cultural and education strategies extend to 2033. Implementation of the investor register and AI population platform will be watched closely by businesses and urban planners looking for faster cross‑zone operations and more granular demographic data to guide private and public investment decisions.