RTA starts work on two Palm Jumeirah pedestrian bridges

Dubai, UAE - Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) and Dubai Holding Community Management have started building two pedestrian bridges on Palm Jumeirah, aiming to make crossings safer for people on foot and to ease traffic on the island.

The first crossing sits near Shoreline, at the entrance to the island on its inbound side, and is due to be finished in June 2027. The second, on the outbound side at Golden Mile next to the retail frontages, is scheduled for October 2027.

Between them, the two bridges can handle 2,700 pedestrians an hour, which the RTA said is above current demand and leaves room for growth. About 16,000 residents are expected to use them.

According to the RTA announcement, the two sites were picked after traffic and field studies of pedestrian and vehicle numbers, land use, and present and future mobility needs on an island that mixes homes with commercial and tourism facilities.

Each bridge will be 40 metres long, with lifts and supporting facilities, and is designed for access by all users, in particular senior Emiratis and People of Determination. The authority said the architecture will match Palm Jumeirah’s urban and tourism character.

The RTA expects the work to cut vehicle waiting times at nearby intersections by 50% and shorten journeys, while making daily trips between the island’s residential and commercial areas easier for walkers and drivers alike. Traffic management measures will stay in place while construction is under way.

Hussain Al Banna, Chief Executive Officer of RTA’s Traffic and Roads Agency, said: “The project reflects the strategic partnership between RTA and Dubai Holding to enhance the integration of infrastructure and road network projects with major developments. It also builds on the ongoing cooperation between the two parties to develop road networks and infrastructure serving major developments through integrated traffic solutions that respond to current and future growth requirements, improve connectivity between areas and key facilities, enhance safety and accessibility, and support sustainable urban development across the emirate.”

Dubai Holding Community Management said the bridges belong to its long-term approach of improving its communities with practical mobility solutions that meet the needs of residents and visitors and allow for Palm Jumeirah’s future growth.

Francis Gianni, Chief Executive Officer of Dubai Holding Community Management, said: “At Dubai Holding Community Management, we take a long-term approach to the communities we create, continually investing in infrastructure that responds to the evolving needs of residents and visitors.”

He added: “The new bridges will enhance accessibility and connectivity across Palm Jumeirah, while supporting safer pedestrian movement and smoother traffic flow. This reflects our commitment to creating future-ready communities that put people and their everyday experience at the centre.”

The RTA said the project supports the Dubai Traffic Safety Strategy, which targets zero road deaths. Dubai’s pedestrian fatality rate fell by 98% between 2007 and 2025, while its stock of pedestrian bridges and underpasses grew from 26 in 2006 to 178 by the end of 2025, a rise of about 585%.

The two crossings come under an agreement the RTA and Dubai Holding signed in March 2025 to deliver traffic solutions, upgrade roads and improve entry and exit points for 15 areas and development projects linked to Dubai Holding across the emirate.

On Palm Jumeirah, that programme also adds acceleration and deceleration lanes at six locations, with the two new bridges replacing at-grade crossings.