Dubai to Build 31 New Pedestrian Bridges by 2030 as Walking and Cycling Trips Surge - 89.1 Radio 4 FM

Dubai will construct 31 new pedestrian bridges and tunnels across major roads by 2030 as part of a major push to improve safety, enhance connectivity, and support the emirate’s growing shift toward walking and cycling, the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has announced.

The initiative, spanning 2026 to 2030, comes at a time when pedestrian movement in Dubai has seen significant growth, with walking trips rising to more than 326 million annually. Authorities also highlighted a dramatic improvement in safety, with pedestrian fatalities dropping by 98 per cent over the past 18 years.

Officials said the new crossings will be built at strategic locations such as Sheikh Zayed Road, Al Ittihad Road, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud Street, and Omar bin Al Khattab Street. These sites were selected based on population density, land use, and connectivity to key residential, business, and tourism hubs.

RTA Director General Mattar Al Tayer said the bridges will strengthen an integrated mobility network linking communities with public transport and encouraging safer first and last mile journeys. He added that Dubai’s pedestrian infrastructure has expanded from 26 bridges in 2006 to 178 by 2025.

The project also aligns with Dubai’s Traffic Safety Strategy, which aims to position the emirate among the safest cities in the world for road users.