RTA and Meraas to open new 110-metre pedestrian bridge tomorrow

- RTA and Meraas to Open New 110-Metre Pedestrian Bridge Tomorrow to Serve Coca-Cola Arena Visitors at City Walk

Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) will tomorrow open a 110-metre pedestrian bridge that has been developed by Meraas, a member of Dubai Holding Real Estate, linking Burj Khalifa/Dubai Mall Metro Station with Coca-Cola Arena at City Walk. The project will enhance pedestrian infrastructure and safety and make it easier for residents and visitors to reach key destinations and entertainment venues, in line with Dubai’s approach to enhancing quality of life and providing safe, sustainable mobility for all. The project reflects Meraas’ commitment to creating well-connected, walkable destinations that connect people to their surroundings.

The bridge forms part of the traffic improvement projects RTA is carrying out with Dubai Holding to improve infrastructure, strengthen connectivity between key areas and tourist and entertainment destinations, ease movement and enhance road safety. Together, they keep pace with Dubai’s urban and economic growth and reinforce its position as a pedestrian- and cycling-friendly city.

The expansion of pedestrian bridges and tunnels reflects RTA’s approach to achieving targets of the Dubai Traffic Safety Strategy, which aims for zero road fatalities and to place Dubai among the world’s leading cities in road safety. 

This involves providing safe crossings that separate pedestrians from vehicles, particularly in areas with heavy traffic and high pedestrian volumes, as well as near public transport stations, shopping centres, and tourist and entertainment destinations.

With a capacity of approximately 10,000 pedestrians per hour, equivalent to 59% of the crowd capacity at a single event, the bridge will help manage pedestrian flows more efficiently during major events. It will reduce the need to crossroads at street level, reduce overlap between pedestrian and vehicle movements, and encourage eventgoers to use Dubai Metro to reach the area and rely less on private vehicles, hereby improving traffic flow around Coca-Cola Arena and City Walk.

The bridge will be particularly valuable to visitors attending events at Coca-Cola Arena, which hosts a diverse range of live, entertainment and sporting events throughout the year. By providing a safe, direct pedestrian route, the bridge will facilitate access to and from the venue for eventgoers, especially during peak periods when large numbers of visitors arrive or depart within a short time.

The bridge also complements RTA and Meraas’ efforts to develop the road network in the area, aimed at increasing road capacity, reducing journey times, enhancing pedestrian and cycling routes and improving access to key destinations, foremost among them City Walk and Coca-Cola Arena. Together, these improvements will strengthen the integration of the road network with public transport, making travel easier and safer for residents and visitors.

RTA is continuing to implement its five-year plan for 2026–2030, which includes the construction of 31 pedestrian bridges and tunnels at key locations across the emirate. The plan draws on technical and field studies that take into account population density, pedestrian movement and proximity to public transport stations and tourist and economic attractions. It aims to improve road user safety, encourage sustainable mobility and promote first- and last-mile journeys.

RTA’s efforts to develop pedestrian infrastructure have contributed to improvements in road safety. The number of pedestrian bridges and tunnels in Dubai increased from 26 in 2006 to 178 by the end of 2025, while the pedestrian fatality rate fell from 9.5 deaths per 100,000 population in 2007 to 0.22 in 2025. These results reflect RTA’s continued efforts to provide a safe and sustainable mobility environment.