28 October 2026
On 27 October 2026 the Abu Dhabi Department of Municipalities and Transport (DMT) announced that advanced works are underway on a seven-bridge development connecting Ramhan Island and Jubail Island to Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Highway (E12). The project covers more than 166,000 square metres, has a budget of AED 872 million and is expected to be completed in 2027. Besides the seven bridges it includes three tunnels and a network of ramps, roads and utility corridors designed to raise road capacity and smooth traffic flow around the two islands. The announcement was published by the Abu Dhabi Media Office.
What DMT announced on 27 October
According to the official release, the project is part of the department’s work to strengthen mobility links in line with urban and economic development across the emirate. The key figures in one place:
| Parameter | Figure |
|---|---|
| Bridges | 7 |
| Tunnels | 3 |
| Other elements | ramps, roads, utility corridors |
| Development area | more than 166,000 square metres |
| Budget | AED 872 million |
| Expected completion | 2027 |
| Construction waste recycled | about 90 per cent, over 2,200 tonnes |
| Lighting | energy efficient LED |
The release describes the works as already at an advanced stage, so this is not a tender announcement or a concept: the project is in construction. DMT gives the year of completion, 2027. Khaleej Times reported that the network is set to open in the second quarter of 2027; the official release itself names only the year.
What the department says about the purpose
H.E. Eng Eisa Mubarak Almazrouei, Director General of Infrastructure Development at DMT, said the project “represents an important part of Abu Dhabi’s evolving transportation network, facilitating access to Ramhan and Jubail Islands while unlocking new development zones and economic opportunities.” He added that the initiative reflects the department’s approach to “creating integrated, livable communities that enhance quality of life and support the emirate’s rapid expansion.”
The environmental part of the brief is specific. The design relies on energy efficient LED lighting to cut electricity use and light pollution, and around 90 per cent of the project’s waste, equivalent to more than 2,200 tonnes, is to be recycled during construction.
Ramhan and Jubail: two island communities next to the E12
Both islands sit off the E12, the highway that runs from central Abu Dhabi past Saadiyat and Yas towards Dubai. Each is being built out as a residential community, which is why road access matters for buyers and residents.
- Ramhan Island is a master-planned development by Eagle Hills. The developer describes a naturally formed, low-density island with beachfront villas, a marina, a hotel with serviced residences and retail and dining. According to the Cavendish Maxwell report for H1 2026, Ramhan Island recorded 193 villa transactions in the first half of the year; we covered the full market numbers in our review of Abu Dhabi residential sales in H1 2026.
- Jubail Island is a residential island community owned by Jubail Island Investment Company (JIIC), which previously reported completion of the island’s main bridge to the E12.
The new network adds a further road connection to both islands. DMT has not published traffic capacity or journey time estimates for this specific project.
Part of a wider DMT programme in 2026
The Ramhan and Jubail link is one of several large road projects that DMT has announced or opened this year, most of them connecting islands to the E12:
- Al Reem Island bridges. On 20 March 2026 DMT opened two marine bridges linking Al Reem Island directly to the E12. The AED 450 million project is designed for up to 7,200 vehicles per hour and, according to DMT, cuts peak-hour travel times by 60 per cent, or 15 minutes.
- Mid-Island Parkway. On 1 October 2026 DMT said the AED 2.85 billion first phase of the Mid-Island Parkway, a new road between Saadiyat Island and the Umm Yifeenah Island Central Interchange, is scheduled for completion in 2027. We covered it in detail in our article on the AED 2.85 billion Mid-Island Parkway.
Taken together, the three projects add up to more than AED 4.1 billion of announced road works linking Abu Dhabi’s islands to the E12, with two of them due in 2027.
What the announcement does not say
For anyone planning around this project, the gaps in the release matter as much as the figures:
- the main contractor and the consultants are not named;
- there is no breakdown of the AED 872 million by bridge, tunnel or road section;
- the exact route of each bridge and the location of the three tunnels are not published;
- no figures are given for vehicles per hour or time savings, unlike the Al Reem release;
- the completion date is given only as the year 2027.
Until DMT publishes more detail, 2027 is the only official timeline for the new connection.
What it means for property buyers and companies
For buyers of villas and apartments on Ramhan or Jubail, the practical point is timing. Handover dates in a sale and purchase agreement and the completion of public roads are two separate schedules, set by different parties. Before committing, it is worth checking:
- the handover date and milestone payment plan written in the sale and purchase agreement;
- which access route the developer relies on today and what changes once the DMT network opens in 2027;
- how service charges and community fees are calculated for the master community;
- whether a bank will finance the unit at the current stage of construction and on what loan-to-value terms;
- which documents the developer issues at handover for title registration.
Our guide to the mortgage in the UAE for residents and non-residents explains how banks assess off-plan and ready property, what down payment to expect and which documents to prepare.
For companies, large public works create demand along the supply chain: construction materials, equipment rental, logistics, facility management and engineering services. A free zone company generally cannot trade directly onshore, so a supplier that wants to work on mainland projects usually needs a mainland licence for the right activity; we compare both routes in our guide to mainland vs free zone company in the UAE.
How Atlant Capital can help
We help investors and entrepreneurs who follow Abu Dhabi infrastructure and real estate:
- company setup in Abu Dhabi mainland or a free zone, with the activity matched to construction, trading, logistics or services;
- mortgage advisory for residents and non-residents buying in island communities, from bank pre-approval to transfer;
- a document checklist for the sale and purchase agreement and handover, prepared before you pay the first instalment.
Conclusion
DMT has confirmed a seven-bridge, three-tunnel network worth AED 872 million that will connect Ramhan and Jubail Islands to the E12, with completion expected in 2027. The project joins the Al Reem bridges and the Mid-Island Parkway in a series of island road links around Abu Dhabi. The official figures cover scale, budget and year; contractor, capacity and exact opening date have not been published.
Source: Abu Dhabi Media Office, Gulf News.
FAQ
How much does the Ramhan and Jubail Islands bridge project cost?
The budget is AED 872 million, according to the Abu Dhabi Department of Municipalities and Transport. The project covers more than 166,000 square metres and includes seven bridges, three tunnels and a network of ramps, roads and utility corridors.
When will the bridges to Ramhan and Jubail Islands open?
DMT expects the project to be completed in 2027. The official release of 27 October 2026 names only the year; Khaleej Times reported an opening in the second quarter of 2027. Advanced works were already underway at the time of the announcement.
Which road will the new bridges connect Ramhan and Jubail Islands to?
The network connects both islands to Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Highway (E12), the coastal highway that links central Abu Dhabi with Saadiyat, Yas and the road to Dubai. It adds a further road connection to the islands alongside existing access.
Who is developing Ramhan Island and Jubail Island?
Ramhan Island is a master-planned residential development by Eagle Hills with beachfront villas, a marina and a hotel. Jubail Island is owned by Jubail Island Investment Company. The DMT road network is a separate public infrastructure project of the Abu Dhabi government.
