Abu Dhabi’s latest infrastructure project on Al Reem Island will slash travel times
Abu Dhabi has just made getting to and from Al Reem Island a whole lot easier.
The Department of Municipalities and Transport (DMT) has officially opened two new marine bridges connecting Al Reem Island directly to the Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Highway (E12).
For commuters and freight operators alike, this is a game-changer: the bridges are built to handle up to 7,200 vehicles per hour, and peak-hour travel times are expected to drop by around 15 minutes, or 60 percent.
The AED450 million project doesn’t just make life easier for drivers. It also includes a dedicated freight U-turn bridge linking Zayed Port and Saadiyat Island, helping commercial vehicles move more efficiently while keeping heavy traffic separate from regular commuters.
For anyone who’s had to sit in traffic on Hamdan Bin Mohammed Street or Mina Road, the relief is welcome, congestion in these key corridors should now ease considerably.
The bridges span a combined 1.5 km, with a total surface area of more than 25,000 square metres, built using cast-in-situ box girder technology for durability. Twelve V-shaped piers ensure vessels can safely pass underneath, so maritime traffic isn’t disrupted.
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Alongside the bridges, the project adds a 2 km elevated roadway, 71 streetlights, landscaped spaces, and 2 km of pedestrian and cycling tracks, so whether you’re driving, walking, or cycling, the new connections offer safer, more comfortable journeys.
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Construction was a massive effort, requiring around 5 million manhours and 35,000 cubic metres of concrete. The scale of the work reflects how seriously Abu Dhabi takes urban mobility and infrastructure development.
For daily commuters, the time savings are obvious. Trips between Al Reem and Saadiyat Island, or on to Dubai-bound highways, will now be far quicker.
Freight operators will also benefit from the dedicated U-turn bridge, which separates heavy vehicles from general traffic and improves overall road safety.
By combining higher capacity with smarter freight management, the bridges add a strategic link to Abu Dhabi’s growing transport network.
Whether you’re commuting to work, running errands, or transporting goods, the new Al Reem bridges are designed to make life simpler, safer, and faster for everyone in the city.
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