The Mina Tunnel is set to save a jaw-dropping 34 million hours of travel time
If your daily drive around Abu Dhabi feels smoother, faster, and overall more effortless, it’s all thanks to the game-changing Mina Tunnel.
Since its grand debut in 2023, the Mina Tunnel has revolutionised the city’s commute, cutting travel times by a staggering 40 per cent.
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You can shave almost half the time off your daily drive. But this isn’t just about quicker routes; it’s a whole new way of thinking about how a city moves.
According to a recent study by the Department of Municipalities and Transport (DMT), the Mina Tunnel is not only speeding things up but is also improving safety by reducing accidents by 23 per cent. Fewer traffic jams mean fewer collisions, making Abu Dhabi’s roads significantly safer.
The tunnel’s impact on the city’s infrastructure goes beyond just making things faster. The Sheikh Khalifa Bridge, which connects directly to the Mina Tunnel, has seen a 26.7 per cent per cent increase in traffic.
That’s a clear sign that the tunnel is quickly becoming a vital artery in the city’s connectivity, making it easier for people to get where they need to go.
The Mina Tunnel isn’t just a traffic solution; it’s also a green superhero. By easing congestion and improving traffic flow, it’s projected to cut a massive 65,000 metric tonnes of CO2 emissions by 2050—roughly the equivalent of planting three million trees.
Even air quality has seen a boost, with pollutant levels in the area dropping by up to 37 per cent.
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The tunnel is also flexing its economic muscles, expected to add a cool AED 1.66 billion to Abu Dhabi’s GDP.
The business community is already feeling the effects, with local companies benefiting from faster access to key commercial hubs, bringing in more customers, and boosting overall activity.
This is only the beginning. In the coming decades, the Mina Tunnel is set to save a jaw-dropping 34 million hours of travel time.
That means more leisure, more time for fun, and, yes, more spending. It’s estimated that this will result in an additional Dhs130 million in leisure spending and a whopping AED 1.36 billion in wage shifts.
So, the next time you zip through Abu Dhabi a little faster, remember: you’re cruising through more than just a tunnel. You’re driving through the future.
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