Construction begins on two Palm Jumeirah pedestrian bridges

The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), in partnership with Dubai Holding Community Management, has started work on two pedestrian bridges on Palm Jumeirah, a project aimed at improving safety and easing traffic across the landmark island.

Bridge locations and timelines

The first bridge will be built near Shoreline, at the entrance to the Palm, and is scheduled for completion by June 2027. The second, at Golden Mile next to the retail frontages, is due in October 2027. Together, the bridges will have a combined capacity of 2,700 pedestrians per hour, exceeding current demand and allowing room for future growth. Officials said about 16,000 residents are expected to benefit.

Traffic and design features

Waiting times for vehicles at surrounding intersections are projected to fall by 50 per cent, with shorter journey times and smoother traffic flow anticipated across the area. Each bridge will span 40 metres and include lifts and supporting facilities, designed to the highest safety and accessibility standards, particularly for senior Emiratis and People of Determination. The architecture is intended to complement Palm Jumeirah’s distinctive urban and tourism character.

Officials’ comments

Hussain Al Banna, Chief Executive Officer of RTA’s Traffic and Roads Agency, said the project reflected the strategic partnership between the RTA and Dubai Holding to integrate infrastructure and road network projects with major developments. He said it built on ongoing cooperation to deliver “integrated traffic solutions that respond to current and future growth requirements, improve connectivity between areas and key facilities, enhance safety and accessibility, and support sustainable urban development across the emirate.”

Francis Gianni, Chief Executive Officer of Dubai Holding Community Management, said the new bridges would “enhance accessibility and connectivity across Palm Jumeirah, while supporting safer pedestrian movement and smoother traffic flow,” adding that the investment reflected a commitment to “creating future-ready communities that put people and their everyday experience at the centre.”

Selection and background

The locations were chosen based on traffic and field studies assessing pedestrian and vehicle volumes, land-use patterns, and current and future mobility needs. The Shoreline bridge is on the inbound side of the Palm, the Golden Mile bridge on the outbound side. Traffic management measures will be in place throughout construction.

The project falls under a March 2025 agreement between the RTA and Dubai Holding to implement traffic solutions and upgrade road infrastructure serving 15 areas and development projects across Dubai, including Palm Jumeirah. Planned improvements there also include additional acceleration and deceleration lanes at six locations, with the bridges replacing at-grade crossings.

The bridges also support the Dubai Traffic Safety Strategy’s goal of zero road fatalities. The emirate’s pedestrian fatality rate declined by 98 per cent between 2007 and 2025, while the number of pedestrian bridges and underpasses rose from 26 in 2006 to 178 by the end of 2025, an increase of approximately 585 per cent.