The Dedicated Bus and Taxi Lanes Project in Dubai has reached a major milestone, with the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) announcing that 30% of the 14.5-kilometre expansion has now been completed.
The project is being rolled out across six busy streets in the city: Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmad Al Jaber Al Sabah Street, 2nd December Street, Al Satwa Street, Al Nahda Street, Omar Bin Al Khattab Street and Naif Street. Once the works are finished, the total length of dedicated bus lanes in Dubai will increase to 20.6 kilometres.
For thousands of daily commuters, the project could mean shorter travel times, more reliable public transport services and a smoother journey across some of the city’s busiest corridors.
Faster Journeys and More Reliable Public Transport
According to the RTA, dedicated lanes for buses and taxis are designed to help public transport move more efficiently, especially during peak traffic hours. By separating buses and taxis from general traffic, the authority aims to improve punctuality and reduce delays.
The impact is expected to be significant. Bus journey times on some routes could be reduced by between 24% and 59%, depending on the location. Naif Street is expected to see the biggest improvement, with travel times potentially dropping by 59%, followed by Al Satwa Street at 54%, Omar Bin Al Khattab Street at 50% and Al Nahda Street at 38%.
Passengers may also notice more predictable arrival times. Expected bus arrival times could improve by up to 56% on certain routes, making public transport a more dependable option for residents travelling to work, school and other daily destinations.
Supporting Dubai’s Growing Mobility Network
Beyond improving travel times, the project forms part of Dubai’s broader vision to encourage greater use of public transport and reduce reliance on private vehicles.
The RTA expects bus ridership to increase by as much as 30% on some streets once the new lanes become operational. Faster journeys could also allow operators to use fewer buses on certain routes while maintaining service levels, creating greater efficiency across the network.
The current expansion builds on previous phases that introduced 6.1 kilometres of dedicated bus lanes across key areas of Dubai. Those earlier projects helped reduce journey times by around five minutes per trip while improving satisfaction levels among passengers and drivers alike.
As Dubai continues to invest in smarter and more sustainable mobility solutions, projects like this are aimed at making public transport a faster, more convenient choice for residents and visitors across the city.
