Master developer Nakheel has welcomed the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) opening of the first phase of a AED400mn roads scheme at International City.
The project, funded by Nakheel to the tune of AED201mn, will improve traffic flow, reduce journey times, and boost safety, the company said.
The scheme includes road widening, new interchanges, and signalised junctions in and around Dragon City, International City, and Warsan Village, where more than 110,000 people live and over 200,000 visit each day.
Nakheel chairman, Ali Rashid Lootah, said: We thank the RTA for its ongoing co-operation and support for transport links at our communities. This project is essential to the overall, long-term master plan at International City, bringing major benefits to existing residents, business owners and visitors in the short term, and paving the way for the future growth of the area.
Traffic studies by Nakheel show that more than 182,000 vehicles currently move in and out of the area every day a figure which is set to grow as expansions at International City and Dragon Mart continue. Nakheel is also exploring further traffic enhancement schemes such as increased parking within International City.
Dragon City, located on the north-eastern edge of International City, is a mixed-use master development with a growing collection of retail, commercial, residential, and hospitality components. Spanning 102ha, Dragon City is home to Dragon Mart and its sister mall, Dragon Mart 2, which opened in 2015, with a Phase 3 retail showroom and car park complex nearing completion.
Nakheels first hotel an ibis Styles with 251 rooms opened at Dragon City in 2016 and a 304-room Premier Inn will open in 2019. Meanwhile, Nakheel is assessing construction proposals for Dragon Towers, a twin-building residential development with 1,142 apartments, which is set to break ground in Q3 this year.