What is the secret to Dubai roads and its success? It’s not just about being a hotspot for tourists and influencers, emerging as a centre of global finance, or delivering headline-grabbing architectural feats. Something more fundamental underpins the city’s thriving status: its roads.
In recent years, Dubai has been steadily climbing the rankings for the world’s best road networks. A World Economic Forum report of 2024 placed the UAE fifth in the international rankings; by 2025, another list by the Daily Jang newspaper listed the country fourth across the globe (behind Singapore, Hong Kong and Japan). What’s more, the same ranking placed the UAE top in the Arab region.
The reasons behind this achievement are complex, but they can’t be separated from the Middle East’s standing in the oil industry. A key element that elevates Dubai road quality above the rest is the use of materials derived from oil by-products – specifically bitumen, made from refining petroleum and also known as asphalt. Dubai’s road-construction companies use a high-grade polymer-modified asphalt which has enhanced durability. This is mixed with locally sourced limestone aggregate to produce a surface that retains its integrity even in temperatures exceeding 50°C. Put simply, Dubai’s motorways are built to last.
A number of cutting-edge engineering methods ensure that Dubai’s roads can withstand the city’s heavy commercial traffic, no matter how hot the climate gets. They are built with multi-layered foundation systems and incorporate crushed-stone base courses, cement-stabilised sub-bases, and geotextile reinforcements. These enhancements maximise load-bearing capacity and guarantee long-term structural stability. The strategy has produced a road-performance score of 96.95 per cent, supporting the UAE’s goals for quality of life and long-lasting, sustainable transport.
Naturally, this performance is the result of sustained investment in infrastructure. Dubai’s transformation into a modern city began in the 1960s with its first major highway, Sheikh Zayed Road, completed in the 1970s and 80s; it remains a symbol of the city’s prodigious advances. In the past decade, more that AED13 billion has been invested in infrastructure, and Dubai now boasts over 4,500 kilometres of highway – a figure that’s increasing all the time.
All of this may look troubling from an environmental point of view, but engineering excellence and conscious use of materials are helping to minimise the impact of Dubai’s road-centred culture (which, lest we forget, is complemented by a sophisticated public transport system, plus investment in cycling and pedestrian networks). New roads are currently built with 35 per cent recycled content; that is targeted to rise to 50 per cent by 2027. This year, all new highway lighting is set to be solar powered and run on 100 per cent renewable energy.
Smart technology enhances this approach. Laser-based systems, internet-connected IoT sensors, and predictive algorithms are used to detect cracks in roads before they cause damage, which enables precise intervention and maintenance, making for smoother roads, better driving comfort, and even optimised traffic flow for shorter commutes. AI-powered safety assessments predict deterioration rates and build resilience and longevity into highways.
AI is also proving crucial to minimising congestion. The iTraffic system analyses real-time data to predict movement, displaying route solutions on live signage to make journeys easier. “Big data” comes into play, too: LiDAR is a technology that has created a huge infrastructure database, ensuring that maintenance schedules across the Dubai road network are more streamlined, efficient and cost-effective.
Drivers will notice this in their everyday experience at a very basic level: potholes banished, lane transitions smoother. What they may not notice are the smart-tech details embedded in Dubai’s roads. Did you know, for example, that highly reflective glass beads are incorporated into road surfaces to enhance nighttime visibility? Or that thermoplastic road markings resist degradation from UV and heat exposure? Even the city’s LED road lighting has smart-dimming capabilities, adjusting automatically based on traffic density, weather conditions, and time of day.
All of this comes together to create what is fast becoming the world’s most sophisticated traffic-management system. By 2028, it’s hoped that commute times will be reduced by 30 per cent and congestion will be all but eliminated. You can also expect Dubai’s road projects to be (almost) as exciting as the next futuristic starchitect landmark. The new Dubai-Sharjah Express Tunnel, a 15km underwater highway costing AED5.2 billion, is expected by 2030; the Al Ain highway will be expanded to eight lanes featuring smart management tech by next year; and the Dubai Harbour Creek Bridge, a revolutionary cable bridge with integrated hyperloop stations, arrives in 2029.
