Dubai's Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) opened a new 1.65-kilometre tunnel on Sunday, connecting the end of the Infinity Bridge ramp to the intersection of Al Khaleej Street and Al Wuheida Street. Built with three lanes in each direction, the tunnel can handle up to 12,000 vehicles an hour.

The new link improves access to Deira, Al Mamzar, Abu Hail and surrounding neighbourhoods, and forms part of the broader Al Shindagha Corridor Improvement Project — a 13-kilometre initiative designed to cut travel time along the corridor from one hour and 44 minutes down to just 16 minutes by 2030.

Mattar Al Tayer, RTA's director-general and chairman, said at the opening that the tunnel would "improve connectivity between residential areas, commercial centres and tourist destinations in Deira." He described the project as a key step in easing round-the-clock congestion on one of eastern Dubai's busiest corridors.

A standout feature of the new tunnel is its mosaic mural, created by Emirati artist Maryam Al Hathboor using 36 million individual pieces to depict Dubai's skyline — turning the crossing into one of the city's more striking blends of infrastructure and public art.

Urban transport specialists say the tunnel, alongside the rest of the Al Shindagha Corridor works, should meaningfully ease pressure on Dubai's east-west traffic axis, particularly during the morning and evening peaks when the area typically sees heavy congestion. RTA said work on the remaining sections of the corridor is ongoing, with further progress updates expected in the coming months.