Tender issued for UAE’s fourth federal highway E-911 with up to 16 lanes

The Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure has invited consultancy bids for the planned fourth federal highway in the UAE, designated E-911, with the project set to run from the Dubai-Sharjah border to Ras Al Khaimah.

According to tender documents released by the ministry, the 68-kilometre corridor will stretch to Al Shuhada Road (E-87) in Ras Al Khaimah and will feature between 12 and 16 lanes in both directions. The project also includes an 8-kilometre connecting road that will link the new highway to Emirates Road (E-611) in Umm Al Quwain.

Project Details and Scope

The tender, numbered 2026-022, seeks a Category A consultant to review and validate the already completed concept design, carry out technical studies and investigations, and prepare preliminary and detailed designs along with tender documents. The ministry has set 23 October 2026 as the deadline for bid submissions.

The documents confirm that the proposed alignment has been approved by the relevant local emirate authorities and that the concept design is finished.

E-911 is planned to become the UAE’s fourth major federal highway, joining Al Ittihad Road (E-11), Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road (E-311) and Emirates Road (E-611). According to the UAE Government’s official portal, E-11 is the country’s longest highway, running from Abu Dhabi to Ras Al Khaimah, while E-311 and E-611 connect the emirates and provide alternative routes between Abu Dhabi and the Northern Emirates.

The Fourth Federal Corridor was among the major infrastructure projects reviewed by the UAE Infrastructure and Housing Council during its first meeting of 2026. Khaleej Times reported that the corridor is expected to include 10 major intersections and four flyovers, at an estimated cost of Dh6 billion. The council stated that the project aims to improve connectivity between emirates, increase road capacity and ease congestion.

During the same meeting, the council also reviewed plans to enhance public transport links between Dubai, Sharjah and Ajman, including a proposed network of 10 routes supported by Bus Rapid Transit systems and dedicated lanes, with connections to metro stations and major city centres. Officials added that work is under way to improve Ajman’s connections to the Third and Fourth Federal Corridors, offering motorists alternative routes.

Traffic Congestion Concerns Raised in Parliament

The proposed highway comes amid repeated complaints about traffic congestion between Dubai and the Northern Emirates, especially during peak commuting hours. The issue has been raised at the Federal National Council (FNC), where members have called for solutions to the rising number of vehicles on the roads.

During an FNC session in March 2025, member Dr Adnan Al Hammadi questioned the Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure about worsening traffic congestion between Dubai and Sharjah. He said an employee commuting between the two emirates could spend approximately 460 hours a year on the road, equivalent to nearly 60 working days.

Responding to the concerns, Minister of Energy and Infrastructure Suhail Mohamed Al Mazrouei said development work on key federal road corridors had begun in 2024 and was continuing. He also pointed to the need for updated policies governing vehicle ownership and registration, noting that vehicle growth in Dubai had exceeded 8 per cent, compared with a global average of around 2 per cent.

The issue returned to the FNC in April 2026, when Al Hammadi again raised concerns about population growth, vehicle registrations and congestion. He called for studies on future population increases, restrictions on heavy vehicles during peak hours and stricter controls on driving licences and vehicle registrations.

In response, Al Mazrouei said a major project was under way to address traffic congestion between Sharjah and Dubai. He outlined plans for the Fourth Federal Corridor, saying the proposed highway would have a capacity of around 360,000 trips per day.

The project is part of the UAE’s efforts to expand its road network and address congestion as vehicle numbers and the population continue to grow. In November 2025, Al Mazrouei announced a Dh170-billion national roads and transport investment programme through 2030, including plans to expand the three existing major federal highways and study the construction of a fourth. The minister said the programme aimed to increase the efficiency of the federal road network by 73 per cent over five years.