The UAE Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure has opened bidding for the engineering and design of the country’s planned fourth federal highway, designated E-911. Khaleej Times reported that the new corridor will span 68 kilometers, extending from the Dubai-Sharjah border to Al Shuhada Road in Ras Al Khaimah. The tender documents specify that the route will include between 12 and 16 lanes in both directions, along with an 8-kilometer link connecting the new corridor to Emirates Road in Umm Al Quwain. The proposed alignment has already received approval from local emirate authorities, and the concept design phase is complete.
Tender No. 2026-022 requires the winning firm to validate the existing concept design, conduct technical investigations, and prepare preliminary and detailed design documents. Khaleej Times noted that the ministry is seeking bids from eligible Category A consultants by October 23, 2026. The infrastructure project is projected to cost Dh6 billion and will incorporate 10 major intersections and four flyovers. This new route will join Al Ittihad Road, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road, and Emirates Road as a primary federal artery, aiming to boost inter-emirate connectivity and reduce traffic bottlenecks.
The expansion follows a review by the UAE Infrastructure and Housing Council during its first 2026 meeting. The council also examined plans to enhance public transport links between Dubai, Sharjah, and Ajman, including a proposed network of 10 bus rapid transit routes with dedicated lanes. Officials indicated that work is underway to improve Ajman’s access to the Third and Fourth Federal Corridors, offering drivers alternative paths.
Traffic congestion between Dubai and the Northern Emirates has frequently been debated in the Federal National Council. In March 2025, member Dr Adnan Al Hammadi highlighted that commuters traveling between Dubai and Sharjah could spend roughly 460 hours annually on the road. He raised the issue again in April 2026, citing population growth and rising vehicle registrations. Minister of Energy and Infrastructure Suhail Mohamed Al Mazrouei responded by outlining the Fourth Federal Corridor, stating it would handle approximately 360,000 trips daily.
In November 2025, Al Mazrouei unveiled a Dh170-billion national roads and transport investment plan through 2030. This initiative includes expanding the three existing major federal highways and studying the fourth, with the goal of improving federal road network efficiency by 73 per cent over five years.