Abu Dhabi Announces 2027 Completion for First Phase of Dh2.8bn Mid-Island Parkway

The first phase of the Dh2.85 billion ($776 million) Mid-Island Parkway road project is scheduled for completion in 2027, according to an announcement by Abu Dhabi's Department of Municipalities and Transport.

The new eight-lane dual carriageway will link the northern Saadiyat interchange on the E12 motorway to the southern end of the island, extending across to the Umm Yifeenah Island Central Interchange. Once opened, the road is expected to cut journey times from Saadiyat Island to Reem Island or Abu Dhabi's main island from 25 minutes down to 10 minutes.

This initiative aligns with Abu Dhabi's Dh240 billion strategy to develop into a '15-minute city'. The construction involves 2km of reclaimed land secured by 150,000 square metres of rock to guard against erosion, along with a 1.5km underground channel that includes a 600-metre underwater tunnel beneath Khor Laffan at an 11-metre depth.

Additionally, the initial phase introduces 4km of walking and cycling tracks, creating a continuous 12km path spanning across Saadiyat and Umm Yifeenah islands. Environmental and sustainability features comprise smart energy-saving lighting systems and a dedicated irrigation network for native, drought-resistant landscaping.

Eisa Al Mazrouei, director general of infrastructure development at DMT, stated that the project embodies the modern infrastructure standards being established in Abu Dhabi. He further noted that the upcoming second phase will serve as an international benchmark for multisurface land transportation networks.

The second stage will stretch the corridor by an additional 14.5km, connecting Umm Yifeenah Island to Sas Al Nakhl, Al Raha Beach, and Khalifa City through Bilrimaid and Samaliyah islands. Designed with four lanes in each direction, this route aims to further decrease travel times across the mid-island area. Plans for this stage include bridges, elevated flyovers, and another underwater road tunnel specifically engineered to safeguard nearby mangroves, salt marshes, and coastal ecosystems.

Furthermore, authorities have announced a separate 37km coastal route linking Al Hudayriyat Island to the E11 at Al Nouf, which will connect Al Dhafra to Abu Dhabi Island by passing through Halat Al Bahrani, Al Futaisi, and Al Aryam islands.