The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has awarded a contract for Phase II of the Hessa Street Development and opened a new 1,000-metre bridge connecting Sheikh Zayed Road and Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Street this week, aiming to enhance Dubai’s infrastructure.
- The RTA is focused on improving road connectivity in Dubai.
- The new bridge spans 1,000 metres linking key roads.
- Phase II contract awarded to further develop Hessa Street.
Why is the RTA Expanding Hessa Street Now?
The decision to advance the Hessa Street Development Phase II and inaugurate the bridge comes as part of the RTA’s ongoing commitment to bolster Dubai’s transport network. With the city’s rapid growth, enhancing road infrastructure is crucial to manage increased traffic and improve commuter experiences. The new bridge provides a vital link between two major roads, significantly easing congestion and facilitating smoother transit across the city.
What are the Immediate Effects of the New Bridge?
The opening of the 1,000-metre bridge is expected to immediately relieve traffic bottlenecks on Sheikh Zayed Road and Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Street. Commuters will benefit from reduced travel times and improved connectivity between key areas of Dubai. This development is a strategic move by the RTA to accommodate the city’s growth and ensure that infrastructure keeps pace with urban expansion. The awarded contract for Phase II of the Hessa Street Development signals further enhancements, promising long-term improvements in the city’s transport framework.
Parkin signs multi-year Binghatti deal for 1,200 Dubai parking spaces
Parkin to run 1,200 parking spaces at Binghatti sites
Parkin has signed a multi-year parking management deal with Binghatti Holding Ltd to operate around 1,200 parking spaces across selected Binghatti developments in Dubai. A move that aims to make parking accessible and payments more consistent, reducing delays around busy building entrances.
Under the agreement, Parkin will operate a defined portfolio of approximately 1,200 spaces at Binghatti properties in Dubai, according to a statement shared online by Dubai Media Office. The announcement also referenced senior executives, including Mohamed Abdulla Al Ali, CEO of Parkin, and Katralnada Binghatti, CEO at Binghatti Holding as having signed the contract for the proposed partnership which includes the deployment of advanced digital parking technologies across the managed Binghatti sites as the programme is rolled out.
A central element of the plan is to incorporate managed parking spaces into the Parkin app, uniting privately operated parking with the digital platform that many drivers already use to find and pay for parking. Practically, this app integration enables clearer parking regulations, more efficient customer support, and standardized operations across multiple locations, replacing isolated, building-specific systems.
In Dubai, where high-density towers and mixed-use developments often strain access roads and drop-off zones, well-managed private parking can significantly ease traffic flow and reduce congestion during peak hours. For Binghatti communities, streamlined parking operations enhance the experience for both tenants and visitors, while Parkin continues to grow its managed parking presence across the city.
Drivers can expect a smoother experience when arriving at participating Binghatti locations, particularly those who previously encountered varying rules across different buildings. With parking spaces now visible in the Parkin app, users can manage everything through one convenient platform instead of juggling multiple building systems.
- Agreement: Multi-year deal between Parkin and Binghatti Holding Ltd
- Scope: Parkin to operate approximately 1,200 parking spaces
- Location: Selected Binghatti developments in Dubai
- Next step: Parking spaces expected to be integrated into the Parkin app
The rollout of Parkin’s parking management operations at selected Binghatti locations is scheduled to begin in Q2 2026, with advanced digital parking technologies introduced as sites come online.
DMCC growth 2025: Free zone adds 2,300+ firms, tops 26,000 members
DMCC adds 2,300+ firms in 2025, tops 26,000 members as tech leads
Dubai Multi Commodities Centre (DMCC) reported strong growth in 2025, adding more than 2,300 companies and taking its total membership to over 26,000. DMCC said the tech cluster has surpassed 4,000 companies, making it the biggest segment by number of firms within the free zone.
Dubai Multi Commodities Centre (DMCC), one of Dubai's premier free zones and business districts centered around Jumeirah Lakes Towers (JLT), announced that technology has become its largest business sector. This growth is fueled by emerging clusters in cryptocurrency, artificial intelligence (AI), and gaming. DMCC highlights these developments as part of its broader mission to serve as a global hub connecting trade, technology, and finance from Dubai.
The growth comes from DMCC's cluster model, where companies in the same field join a shared system that includes licensing, community programs, and access to service providers. For example, crypto and digital-asset companies need strong compliance like customer checks and risk controls. AI and gaming companies usually need more engineers and cloud infrastructure.
For the UAE economy, significant annual growth in a major Dubai free zone typically drives increased activity in professional services, including legal, audit, and compliance sectors. It also boosts demand for banking and fintech solutions supporting trade flows. Additionally, this growth accelerates Dubai's efforts to attract foreign direct investment and diversify into the digital economy, complementing its well-established trade and commodities foundation.
For entrepreneurs and international companies, DMCC's growth is closely tied to the functioning of free zones in Dubai. Businesses establish themselves within a regulated free-zone framework, secure licenses through the authority, and leverage Dubai as a hub for regional operations and trade-related services. DMCC’s ecosystem model organizes firms by sector, enabling businesses to easily connect with suppliers, access talent, and obtain specialized support including banking, legal, accounting, and logistics services.
For business owners exploring company formation in Dubai, the key figures highlight both strong competition and exciting opportunities: an increasing number of firms are selecting DMCC, while the ecosystem is expanding in sectors like crypto, AI, and gaming. The crucial next step is to identify the appropriate license category for your business activities and understand the compliance requirements before finalizing your setup timeline.
- Free zone: DMCC (Dubai Multi Commodities Centre), based in the Jumeirah Lakes Towers (JLT) area of Dubai, UAE
- 2025 intake: More than 2,300 new companies joined, according to DMCC
- Total membership: Over 26,000 member companies, according to DMCC
- Largest ecosystem: Technology, with more than 4,000 tech companies, according to DMCC
- Key growth drivers: New clusters in crypto, AI and gaming
A growing DMCC membership base drives increased hiring, boosts demand for office space in JLT, and strengthens business for service providers supporting new company formations. The expansion of technology as DMCC's leading ecosystem aligns seamlessly with the UAE’s broader focus on knowledge-based industries such as software, fintech, cybersecurity, e-commerce, and digital trade services.
e& money launches digital gold buy/sell in UAE with SafeGold
e& money adds in-app digital gold in UAE
e& money has launched a digital gold buy-and-sell service in the UAE with SafeGold, allowing users to trade 24K gold (99.99% purity) directly inside the e& money app. The move matters for residents because it brings a low entry point — from AED 10 — into a familiar wallet app, with options to redeem gold when needed.
The new e& money digital gold feature is being rolled out UAE-wide and is positioned as a small-ticket way to build gold holdings without buying a full bar or coin upfront. e& money said customers can buy, sell and redeem 24K (99.99% purity) gold through the app, starting from AED 10.
The service works as an app-based gold holding recorded in small amounts, rather than requiring a large one-time purchase. SafeGold supports the back-end side of the product, including secure storage and delivery support for customers who choose redemption, while e& money provides the in-app experience for buying and selling.
For UAE consumers, the biggest impact is convenience and accessibility. Gold is a common savings and gifting choice across the Emirates, and an AED 10 starting point makes it easier for younger earners and first-time investors to build a regular habit, while still dealing in bullion-grade 24K purity.
A typical use case is a resident setting aside small amounts weekly inside the app, then selling instantly back into cash when they need liquidity, or choosing redemption when they want physical gold. Users should still confirm the app's pricing method, any spreads or charges, and the redemption terms before placing their first order.
- Service: Digital gold buy, sell and redemption inside the e& money app
- Partners: e& money (fintech arm of e&) and SafeGold
- Gold purity: 24K (99.99% purity)
- Minimum start: AED 10
Check the e& money app's disclosures for pricing, redemption conditions, and any delivery-related terms before you buy or redeem gold.
Dubai RTA completes 726 modern bus shelters across the emirate
RTA finishes 726 modern bus shelters rollout
Dubai's Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has completed the installation of 726 modern bus shelters across key areas of the emirate. The upgrade matters for daily commuters because better waiting facilities and clearer route access can make public transport more comfortable, safer, and easier to use in Dubai's heat and busy travel corridors.
RTA said the shelters have been distributed across Dubai as part of its push to improve service quality and operational efficiency in the public bus network. The authority added that the bus system supported by these stops serves more than 192 million riders annually, with some shelters acting as high-demand connection points linked to more than 10 bus routes.
The project is designed around usage levels, with RTA categorising shelters into seven models based on demand at each stop. The approach targets stronger infrastructure at the busiest locations—where multiple routes meet and passenger movement is highest—while maintaining coverage across the wider network, including residential districts that feed into metro and tram stations.
For Dubai residents and workers, the biggest day-to-day impact is at high-traffic stops that function like mini interchanges. When a single stop connects more than 10 routes, clearer stop facilities and better organisation can support smoother boarding and transfers, helping the network run more consistently and making it easier to choose buses for first- and last-mile trips instead of short car journeys.
A common scenario is a commuter travelling from a residential area to a metro station using a feeder bus, then switching to another bus route after work. At multi-route stops, upgraded shelters can reduce confusion about where to wait and which service to board, especially during peak hours and late evenings.
- Project owner: Dubai Roads and Transport Authority (RTA)
- What was completed: Installation of 726 modern bus shelters across Dubai
- Network scale cited by RTA: More than 192 million riders annually
- Operational detail: Some shelters connect to more than 10 bus routes
Check your nearest stop details and route options on RTA's official channels before you travel, especially if you use multi-route shelters for transfers.
Dubai Municipality completes Phase 1 of Al Quoz Creative Zone sewerage project
Al Quoz gets major sewerage and drainage upgrade
Dubai Municipality has successfully completed Phase 1 of the Al Quoz Creative Zone sewerage project, providing upgraded sewerage and stormwater infrastructure in one of Dubai’s busiest industrial and creative hubs. This milestone is significant for businesses and daily commuters in Al Quoz, as enhanced drainage and utility capacity minimize disruptions during heavy rainfall and support growth across hundreds of plots.
Dubai Municipality said Phase 1 of the Sewerage and Stormwater Network Development Project in Al Quoz Creative Zone was delivered at a cost of Dh250 million as part of a wider Dh500 million programme to upgrade wastewater and rainwater infrastructure in the district.
The Dubai Municipality stormwater and sewerage network is designed to serve Al Quoz Industrial Areas 1, 2, 3, and 4, along with the corridor between Sheikh Zayed Road and Al Khail Road. This upgraded system aims to improve sewerage and stormwater management in Al Quoz, minimizing disruptions during heavy rainfall and enhancing service reliability for businesses throughout the area.
In Al Quoz, where warehouses, logistics yards, workshops, and creative spaces coexist, the upgraded drainage system enhances business continuity and public health. Improved stormwater management reduces surface water pooling, preventing delivery delays, protecting stock in ground-floor units, and ensuring easy access for staff and customers throughout this extensive industrial area.
A typical impact is evident during heavy rain: enhanced drainage capacity keeps internal roads and entry points to industrial plots accessible, minimizing downtime for loading bays and last-mile movements between Sheikh Zayed Road and Al Khail Road. For tenants and landlords, more reliable utilities facilitate smoother planning of expansions without service interruptions.
Al Quoz Creative Zone sewerage project:
| Item | Confirmed detail |
|---|---|
| Phase 1 cost | AED250 million |
| Total project investment | AED500 million |
| Coverage area | 1,600 hectares |
| Plots covered | More than 1,507 plots |
| Areas served | Al Quoz Industrial Areas 1–4 and the corridor between Sheikh Zayed Road and Al Khail Road |
| Phase 1 completion | April 2026 |
- Project: Sewerage and Stormwater Network Development Project in Al Quoz Creative Zone
- Delivered by: Dubai Municipality
- Goal: An integrated, adaptable and sustainable sewerage and stormwater system
- Service footprint: Al Quoz Industrial 1–4 plus the Sheikh Zayed Road–Al Khail Road corridor, covering 1,600 hectares and 1,507+ plots
The Al Quoz sewerage and stormwater upgrade is positioned as infrastructure support for the Al Quoz Creative Zone’s integrated urban model, aligning utilities with the district’s industrial-and-creative mix.
