Abu Dhabi is pressing ahead with a major road project that could make travelling between several of its islands considerably easier. The first phase of the Mid-Island Parkway, valued at AED 2.85 billion (around $776 million), is scheduled for completion in 2027. The new route will connect Saadiyat Island with Umm Yifeenah Island, improving links across the emirate’s growing island network.

The project is being developed by Abu Dhabi’s Department of Municipalities and Transport (DMT). According to the department’s estimates, the new connection could reduce journeys between Saadiyat Island and Reem Island or Abu Dhabi’s main island from around 25 minutes to just 10 minutes once the road opens.

The first phase includes an eight-lane dual carriageway, sections built on reclaimed land, an underground channel and a 600-metre underwater road section beneath Khor Laffan. Walking and cycling routes are also part of the plan, extending the existing network into a continuous 12-kilometre corridor.

The investment comes as Abu Dhabi continues to expand its residential communities, business districts and tourism destinations. Better road connections are expected to make it easier for residents and visitors to move between these areas while providing additional capacity for future growth.

A second phase is also planned, extending the corridor by another 14.5 kilometres towards Sas Al Nakhl, Al Raha Beach and Khalifa City.

For motorists, the main attraction is the prospect of shorter journeys and more direct routes. For the emirate, the project is part of a broader effort to keep infrastructure in step with urban development.

However, the promised time savings remain estimates. The real impact will become clear only after the road opens and traffic begins using the new connection.

WHAT IS THE MID-ISLAND PARKWAY?

The Mid-Island Parkway is a major transport corridor designed to improve connections between Abu Dhabi’s central islands.

The first phase will link the existing northern Saadiyat interchange on the E12 highway with the southern end of Saadiyat Island and the Umm Yifeenah Island Central Interchange.

The planned eight-lane road will have four lanes in each direction, offering motorists an additional route between Saadiyat Island, Reem Island and Abu Dhabi’s main island.

The DMT announced the 2027 completion target on 1 October 2026 while presenting the project at LIVEX 2026. The department has described the wider programme as part of its efforts to improve mobility and support Abu Dhabi’s continued economic and urban development.

The project reflects a growing challenge for the emirate: as more homes, businesses and attractions spread across its islands, reliable connections between them become increasingly important.

A more direct road network could ease pressure on existing routes and give drivers additional options when travelling between residential neighbourhoods and commercial centres.

THE $776 MILLION INVESTMENT: WHERE THE MONEY IS GOING

The first phase's AED 2.85 billion budget covers much more than a conventional road. The project involves major highway construction, coastal engineering and infrastructure for people travelling on foot or by bicycle.

An eight-lane connection

At the heart of the project is an eight-lane dual carriageway designed to provide additional road capacity and a more direct link between Saadiyat Island and Umm Yifeenah Island.

The DMT expects the new connection to reduce journeys to Reem Island or Abu Dhabi’s main island from approximately 25 minutes to 10 minutes.

If the estimate holds up once the road opens, motorists could save around 15 minutes on a typical journey. Actual travel times will depend on traffic levels, access points and conditions at connecting interchanges.

Reclaimed land and coastal protection

Around two kilometres of the route will cross reclaimed land. The project also includes approximately 150,000 square metres of protective rock covering designed to help prevent erosion.

Building roads in coastal environments requires careful planning. Structures must remain stable under marine conditions while protecting the surrounding land and infrastructure from erosion.

These protective measures are an important part of making the road durable over the long term, particularly given its location across Abu Dhabi’s island network.

An underwater road section

One of the project's most notable features is a 600-metre underwater road section beneath Khor Laffan. It forms part of a 1.5-kilometre underground channel, with the underwater section reaching a depth of approximately 11 metres.

The construction method includes precast concrete roof panels manufactured away from the site before being transported for installation. Preparing components in advance can help improve construction efficiency and reduce the amount of work required on-site.

The underwater section also highlights the engineering challenges involved in connecting islands while working around marine channels and coastal conditions.

HOW MUCH TIME COULD MOTORISTS SAVE?

The biggest expected benefit is straightforward: less time spent travelling between key parts of Abu Dhabi.

The DMT estimates that the new connection could cut journeys between Saadiyat Island and Reem Island or Abu Dhabi’s main island from around 25 minutes to approximately 10 minutes.

That would mean a saving of about 15 minutes per journey. For regular commuters, those minutes could add up over the course of a working week.

The improved connection could also benefit people travelling to destinations on Saadiyat Island, including Saadiyat Lagoons, Saadiyat Marina District and New York University Abu Dhabi. These destinations already connect to the existing highway network, but improved links could make some journeys more convenient.

Still, the projected reduction should not be treated as a guarantee. Travel times will depend on how many vehicles use the road, congestion at junctions and the way traffic spreads across the wider network.

Once the Parkway is operational, actual journey data should provide a clearer picture of whether the anticipated savings are being achieved.

WALKING AND CYCLING ARE PART OF THE PLAN TOO

The Mid-Island Parkway is not being designed solely around cars.

The first phase includes four kilometres of new walking and cycling tracks. These will extend the existing network into a continuous 12-kilometre route across Saadiyat Island and onto Umm Yifeenah Island.

The aim is to give residents more options for shorter trips, exercise and access to nearby destinations.

But building a path is only part of the job. Its usefulness will also depend on safe crossings, lighting, shade and convenient connections to the places people live, work and visit.

The project includes another set of supporting features: 23,000 linear metres of energy-efficient smart lighting and a 14,000-metre irrigation network intended to support native, drought-resistant landscaping.

The use of locally sourced and recycled materials also forms part of the project's stated sustainability approach. Together, these measures are intended to improve resource efficiency and help the new infrastructure fit into its surroundings.

How well they perform will ultimately depend on construction quality, maintenance and the way the facilities are used.

PHASE TWO: A BIGGER NETWORK IS PLANNED

The first phase is only one part of the wider Mid-Island Parkway programme.

Phase Two is planned to extend the corridor by 14.5 kilometres, running from Umm Yifeenah Island through Bilrimaid and Samaliyah islands towards Sas Al Nakhl, Al Raha Beach and Khalifa City.

The proposed extension will include four lanes in each direction, walking and cycling tracks, marine bridges, elevated flyovers and another underwater road tunnel.

The DMT expects the second phase to reduce travel times across the mid-island corridor to around seven minutes. This is a projection for the relevant corridor, not a guarantee that every journey between the listed destinations will take that long.

The department has also estimated that travel between Saadiyat Island and Zayed City could take less than 15 minutes once the wider Parkway is operational.

These figures describe the network’s expected performance rather than results from a completed road. The delivery schedule and actual travel-time benefits will depend on construction progress, final connections and traffic conditions.

If delivered as planned, the expanded corridor could improve access between residential neighbourhoods, employment centres and coastal districts, while providing alternatives to some of Abu Dhabi’s busier central routes.

WHY THE PROJECT MATTERS FOR ABU DHABI

Abu Dhabi’s development is increasingly spread across residential communities, commercial centres and tourism destinations on different islands. As these areas grow, transport links become a key part of making them accessible.

The Mid-Island Parkway is intended to help meet that demand by improving connections between existing communities and areas expected to see further development.

For residents, shorter journeys could make daily commutes and trips to essential services more convenient.

For businesses, better road access could help employees, customers and suppliers move more easily between commercial districts and residential areas.

For tourism, improved connections could make it easier for visitors to reach Saadiyat Island and travel between attractions.

For logistics and service providers, additional road capacity could offer more route options and help some journeys avoid existing bottlenecks. The extent of that benefit will depend on traffic patterns and how the new road connects with the wider network.

The DMT has said the broader programme is intended to support liveability and sectors such as tourism, trade and logistics.

The economic impact, however, will depend on how effectively the new road serves actual travel demand. More infrastructure can improve access, but its value must be measured by the benefits people and businesses experience after it opens.

THE ENVIRONMENTAL AND ENGINEERING CHALLENGE

Building roads across islands and coastal waters brings challenges that are different from those involved in constructing an ordinary inland highway.

The first phase includes reclaimed land, marine protection works and an underwater road section. The wider programme also envisages bridges and another submerged crossing in an area that includes mangroves, salt marshes and coastal sabkha habitats.

The DMT says the planned Phase Two tunnel is intended to limit disruption to surrounding ecosystems while allowing natural water channels to remain open.

That objective will require careful construction management and effective environmental monitoring.

Marine construction can affect water movement, sediment and sensitive habitats if it is not properly planned and controlled. Protecting these environments therefore matters both during construction and throughout the road's operational life.

The planned use of drought-resistant landscaping, efficient irrigation and energy-saving lighting may also help manage resource use. The project's overall environmental performance will depend on how these measures are implemented and maintained.

WHAT THE PROJECT MEANS FOR PUBLIC SPENDING

At AED 2.85 billion, the first phase represents a substantial infrastructure investment.

Large transport projects can deliver benefits for decades, but their value must be weighed against construction costs, delivery risks and future maintenance expenses.

For Abu Dhabi, the key question is whether the Parkway delivers the expected time savings, improves access to growing communities and supports economic activity without shifting congestion to other parts of the road network.

Better transport links can also influence where people choose to live and where businesses decide to invest. Improved access may make some districts more attractive, while helping existing communities reach jobs, services and commercial centres.

However, adding road capacity does not automatically solve congestion across an entire city. If population and vehicle numbers rise quickly, new roads can become busy too. Long-term results will depend on how transport infrastructure is coordinated with land-use planning and other travel options.

The Parkway's walking and cycling routes are one element of that broader approach. Their success will depend on whether they provide practical, safe connections to the destinations people need to reach.

FACT CHECK METER

FACT METER: 98%

STATUS: PROJECT CONFIRMED — PHASE ONE TARGETED FOR COMPLETION IN 2027

CONFIRMED: Abu Dhabi’s Department of Municipalities and Transport has set 2027 as the expected completion year for the first phase of the Mid-Island Parkway. The phase is valued at AED 2.85 billion, or approximately $776 million.

CONFIRMED: The first phase includes an eight-lane dual carriageway, around two kilometres of reclaimed land, a 600-metre underwater road section and four kilometres of walking and cycling tracks.

IMPORTANT DISTINCTION: The project is in Abu Dhabi, not Dubai. The 10-minute journey time is an official estimate for travel between Saadiyat Island and Reem Island or Abu Dhabi’s main island after the new connection opens.

IMPORTANT DISTINCTION: Phase Two and the projected travel-time savings across the wider corridor relate to future plans. They should not be presented as benefits already being delivered by an operational network.

AWX VERDICT: The Mid-Island Parkway is a major investment in Abu Dhabi’s transport infrastructure. Its success will depend on whether it delivers meaningful journey-time savings, improves connections between districts and fulfils its environmental and active-mobility commitments.

WHAT TO WATCH NEXT

1. Construction progress: Updates from the DMT will show whether the first phase remains on track for completion in 2027.

2. Opening arrangements: The confirmed opening date and traffic-access plans will determine when motorists can begin using the new connection.

3. Actual journey times: Traffic data after opening will reveal whether the expected reduction from 25 minutes to 10 minutes is being achieved.

4. Phase Two progress: Details on contracts, timelines and construction milestones will help clarify when the corridor could extend towards Al Raha Beach and Khalifa City.

5. Environmental safeguards: Monitoring reports and implementation details will help establish how effectively coastal habitats are being protected during construction and operation.

6. Wider transport planning: The Parkway's performance will also depend on how well it connects with existing highways, public transport and future development across Abu Dhabi.

THE AWX BOTTOM LINE

Abu Dhabi’s $776 million Mid-Island Parkway is intended to do more than add capacity to the road network. It aims to create more direct connections between the emirate’s island communities, reduce journey times and improve access to residential, commercial and tourism destinations.

The AED 2.85 billion first phase is scheduled for completion in 2027. It combines an eight-lane road with an underwater section, coastal engineering works and dedicated walking and cycling routes.

The next challenge is delivery. Construction must be completed safely, the road must open as planned, and the promised time savings must stand up to real-world traffic conditions.

If the project performs as expected, it could become an important part of Abu Dhabi’s transport network and support the emirate’s continued urban development. For now, it represents a significant investment in connectivity, with its real value to be judged by how much it improves everyday journeys once the road opens.

ATTLAS WIRE | AWX WORLD NEWS

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