1 October 2026
Abu Dhabi’s Department of Municipalities and Transport (DMT) says the AED 2.85 billion first phase of the Mid-Island Parkway will be completed in 2027. Phase one is an eight-lane dual carriageway from the existing northern Saadiyat interchange on the E12 highway to the southern end of Saadiyat Island and across to Umm Yifeenah Island, with a 600-metre underwater section beneath Khor Laffan. Once it opens, DMT expects journey times to Al Reem Island or Abu Dhabi’s main island to fall from 25 minutes to 10. Phase two will extend the corridor by 14.5 km to Sas Al Nakhl, Al Raha Beach and Khalifa City, after which the trip between the two farthest points of the route, Saadiyat Island and Zayed City, is estimated at just under 15 minutes. The project was showcased at LIVEX 2026, and the Abu Dhabi Media Office published the announcement on 1 October 2026.
What DMT announced at LIVEX 2026
DMT presented the Mid-Island Parkway as one of its key projects at LIVEX 2026, the liveability exhibition held at ADNEC Centre Abu Dhabi from 29 September to 1 October 2026. Phase one creates a new road connection between Saadiyat Island and the Umm Yifeenah Island Central Interchange. It builds on the highway already completed along Saadiyat Island, which gave direct access to Saadiyat Lagoons, the Saadiyat Marina District and New York University Abu Dhabi (NYUAD), among other destinations.
| Indicator | Figure |
|---|---|
| Phase one cost | AED 2.85 billion |
| Phase one completion | 2027 |
| Phase one route | northern Saadiyat interchange on the E12 to the southern end of Saadiyat Island and Umm Yifeenah Island |
| Road type | eight-lane dual carriageway |
| Journey to Al Reem Island or the main island | 10 minutes instead of 25 |
| Underwater section | 600 metres beneath Khor Laffan, 11 metres deep |
| Walking and cycling tracks | 4 km of new tracks forming a continuous 12 km path |
| Phase two | 14.5 km to Sas Al Nakhl, Al Raha Beach and Khalifa City, four lanes in each direction |
| Saadiyat Island to Zayed City | just under 15 minutes once the whole parkway is open |
How phase one is built: reclaimed land and a tunnel under Khor Laffan
Two kilometres of the new connection run on reclaimed land, protected from erosion by 150,000 square metres of rock covering. The remaining 1.5 kilometres form an underground channel that includes an 11-metre-deep, 600-metre underwater segment beneath Khor Laffan. To shorten construction time, engineers used precast concrete roof panels made off site, alongside on-site labour and scaffolding.
Phase one also adds four kilometres of walking and cycling tracks, forming a continuous 12-kilometre path across Saadiyat Island and onto Umm Yifeenah Island. DMT lists the sustainability measures used on the project:
- priority for locally sourced and recycled materials;
- 23,000 linear metres of smart energy-saving lighting;
- native, drought-resistant landscaping;
- an efficient irrigation system of 14,000 linear metres.
Eng. Eisa Mubarak Al Mazrouei, Director General of Infrastructure Development at DMT, said the project reflects how Abu Dhabi builds infrastructure today: every major development, from design to delivery, takes into account its impact on the emirate’s liveability and on sectors such as tourism, trade and logistics. He added that, as DMT turns to phase two, it expects the parkway to become a global benchmark for multi-surface land transport networks.
Phase two: 14.5 km to Al Raha Beach and Khalifa City
Phase two extends the corridor across 14.5 kilometres, from Umm Yifeenah Island through Bilrimaid and Samaliyah islands to Sas Al Nakhl, Al Raha Beach and Khalifa City. The road will have four lanes in each direction, and DMT estimates that travel across the mid-island corridor will take about seven minutes. Dedicated walking and cycling tracks are planned along its entire length.
This section combines marine bridges, elevated flyovers and an underwater road tunnel. The submerged crossing is designed to limit disturbance to mangroves, salt marshes and coastal sabkha habitats and to keep natural water channels open. According to Gulf News, phase two was presented at LIVEX as a 14.5 km expressway linking the capital’s central islands with the E10 and Khalifa City. The announcement gives no budget or completion date for phase two.
When the whole parkway is in operation, DMT says journeys between its two farthest points, Saadiyat Island and Zayed City, will take just under 15 minutes.
How the project got here
The Mid-Island Parkway has been in Abu Dhabi’s plans for several years. In February 2023 the emirate opened the 11 km Umm Yifeenah Bridge, which links Al Reem and Umm Yifeenah islands to Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Street; Gulf News then described it as the first stage of the parkway, which was still being designed. In March 2024 the Integrated Transport Centre (ITC) of DMT presented the full parkway as a 25 km road with four to five lanes, linking Abu Dhabi island with the mainland through the mid-islands, with a capacity of 8,000 to 10,000 vehicles per hour in each direction.
ITC split the works into two phases. The first links Saadiyat Island and Umm Yifeenah Street to Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Street and Al Reem Island. The second connects Umm Yifeenah Island to Al Raha Beach, the E10, Al Khaleej Al Arabi Street (E20) and Madinat Zayed. Contracts for phase one followed: Turkish contractor Doğuş Construction says that on 4 July 2024 it signed, with its partner GCC, the contract for Section 1A of phase one, tendered by DMT. The scope covers the upgrade of the connection between the existing Saadiyat interchange and the end of Saadiyat Island, the extension of the route to the entrance of the tunnel planned under Section 1B, and a single point urban interchange.
A second route: the coastal expressway from Al Hudayriyat to Al Nouf
Alongside the parkway, DMT showcased a planned coastal route from Al Hudayriyat Island to the E11 at Al Nouf. The 37 km expressway, with three lanes in each direction, one tunnel, seven kilometres of marine bridges and four kilometres of causeways, will link Al Dhafra directly to Al Hudayriyat Island and Abu Dhabi Island via Halat Al Bahrani, Al Futaisi and Al Aryam islands. It is designed as a coastal bypass around central city traffic for both commercial freight and everyday commuters, with animal crossings and environmental protection around the Bul Syayeef Marine Protected Area and a Ramsar wetland. No cost or timeline was given for this route.
What changes for companies and residents
The announcement does not change licensing rules, fees or visa procedures. What it adds is a date: from 2027, DMT expects the drive from Saadiyat to Al Reem Island or the main island to take 10 minutes instead of 25. For a company choosing where to place an office, a showroom or staff housing among Saadiyat, Al Reem and the central districts, this is a planning input with a named year. Phase two and the coastal route have no published dates, so plans that depend on them have nothing to rely on yet.
Location also affects the licence. Al Reem Island is part of the Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM) jurisdiction: since 1 November 2023 new businesses on the island are licensed by ADGM, and licences of the Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development have not been valid there since 31 December 2024. Our review of the TARAF and Mubadala plan for the Al Reem Island waterfront covers the island in more detail, and our article on the Musaffah Innovation District describes another DMT project presented at LIVEX 2026.
Checklist for companies planning around the new road:
- Use 2027, the scheduled completion of phase one, as the reference date for any office or housing decision tied to the Saadiyat and Al Reem link.
- Check the licensing jurisdiction of the address before signing a lease: Al Reem Island is ADGM.
- Do not build plans around phase two or the coastal route until DMT publishes dates.
- Match the licensed activities of the company to the operation you plan to run at the new location.
- Arrange employee visas before the team moves into the new office.
How Atlant Capital can help
We help founders open and relocate companies in Abu Dhabi and across the UAE. Our company setup service covers the choice between the Abu Dhabi mainland, ADGM and free zones, the selection of licensed activities and registration. The steps and documents are explained in our UAE company formation guide. Through our work visa and residency service we arrange investor and employee visas for the team.
Conclusion
Abu Dhabi has put a cost and a year on the first phase of the Mid-Island Parkway: AED 2.85 billion, completion in 2027, eight lanes from Saadiyat to Umm Yifeenah with a 600-metre section under Khor Laffan, and 10 minutes instead of 25 to Al Reem Island or the main island. Phase two, 14.5 km to Al Raha Beach and Khalifa City, has been presented but has no published budget or date. For businesses, the useful figure today is the 2027 completion date for the Saadiyat link.
Source: Abu Dhabi Media Office, Abu Dhabi Mobility, Doğuş Construction, Gulf News, Gulf News (2023).
FAQ
What is the Mid-Island Parkway in Abu Dhabi?
The Mid-Island Parkway is a road corridor of Abu Dhabi’s Department of Municipalities and Transport that links Saadiyat Island, Umm Yifeenah Island and other central islands with Al Raha Beach and Khalifa City on the mainland. It is being built in two phases. When the whole route is open, the trip between its two farthest points, Saadiyat Island and Zayed City, is estimated at just under 15 minutes.
When will phase one of the Mid-Island Parkway open?
DMT says the AED 2.85 billion first phase is scheduled for completion in 2027. It is an eight-lane dual carriageway from the northern Saadiyat interchange on the E12 to Umm Yifeenah Island, with a 600-metre underwater section beneath Khor Laffan. Journey times to Al Reem Island or Abu Dhabi’s main island are expected to fall from 25 to 10 minutes.
What will phase two of the Mid-Island Parkway include?
Phase two extends the corridor by 14.5 km from Umm Yifeenah Island through Bilrimaid and Samaliyah islands to Sas Al Nakhl, Al Raha Beach and Khalifa City. It will have four lanes in each direction, marine bridges, elevated flyovers, an underwater road tunnel and walking and cycling tracks. Travel across this corridor is estimated at about seven minutes; no budget or completion date has been announced.
Does the Mid-Island Parkway change anything for companies in Abu Dhabi?
The project does not change licensing rules, fees or visa procedures. From 2027 it shortens travel between Saadiyat, Al Reem Island and the main island, which matters when choosing an office or staff housing. Licensing depends on the address: businesses on Al Reem Island are licensed by ADGM.
