Dubai's Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has announced the completion of a major upgrade to Oud Metha Street, slashing travel time along the corridor from 20 minutes to just five. RTA Director-General and Chairman of the Board Mattar Al Tayer said the project raised the road's capacity from 10,400 to 15,600 vehicles per hour in both directions, a jump of nearly 50 per cent. The upgrade included construction of four bridges, two tunnels spanning 4.3 kilometres combined, 14 kilometres of new roads, and improvements to four major intersections. The areas of Za'abeel, Al Jaddaf, Oud Metha and Umm Hurair — expected to house a combined population of more than 420,000 people by 2030 — stand to benefit most from the faster connections. Officials said the project also improves access to Latifa Hospital and Al Wasl Club, easing congestion on one of Dubai's busiest corridors. The upgrade is part of RTA's broader push to modernise transport infrastructure across central Dubai as the emirate's population and urban development continue to expand. The authority said the faster travel times are expected to have a noticeable effect on traffic flow in the district in the coming months, supporting Dubai's wider strategy of cutting commute times and improving quality of life alongside sustainable infrastructure growth.