Dubai Road Closures: E611 Lanes and Al Maktoum Airport Tunnel Closed for Autonomous Taxi Tests (26 to 31 October)

Last updated: 27 October 2026

If you drive on Emirates Road near Al Maktoum International Airport (DWC) this week, expect delays during the day. Dubai's Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has closed part of Emirates Road (E611) and the Al Maktoum International Airport Tunnel so that autonomous taxi companies can test their vehicles on the highway. Here is what is closed, when, and how to plan around it.

What is closed

• Emirates Road (E611): 3 lanes closed opposite Al Maktoum International Airport.
• Al Maktoum International Airport Tunnel: fully closed in both directions.

When: dates and times

• Dates: Monday 26 October to Saturday 31 October 2026.
• Hours: every day from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM.
• Outside these hours the roads are expected to run as normal.

The RTA announced the closures on 25 October and asked motorists to plan their journeys in advance and follow the directional signs on the road.

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Who is affected

• Daily commuters who use Emirates Road between Dubai South, Jebel Ali and the rest of Dubai.
• Drivers travelling between emirates on the E611.
• Passengers and drivers going to or from Al Maktoum International Airport (DWC).
• Delivery, logistics and fleet drivers working around Dubai South.

Alternative routes to consider

The RTA has not named official diversion routes, so always follow the road signs on the day. Depending on where you are going, these highways may help you avoid the closed section:

• Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road (E311): runs parallel to Emirates Road and can replace parts of an E611 journey. It is not a direct replacement for every trip to DWC.
• Al Khail Road (E44): useful for some cross-city journeys, depending on where you start and finish.
• Sheikh Zayed Road (E11): an option for some trips, though getting to DWC from E11 may need extra connections and a longer drive.

A live navigation app is the easiest way to pick the best route at the time you leave, because it reflects the closures and the traffic they cause.

Practical tips for this week

• Travel outside 9 AM to 4 PM if you can. The closures are daytime only, so an early start or a later trip avoids them completely.
• Leave earlier than usual. Lane closures slow traffic on the open lanes and on nearby roads too.
• Check live traffic before you set off and follow the RTA's directional signs.
• Flying from DWC? Check your flight status and your airline's airport arrival time, and allow extra time for taxis and ride hailing. The road works do not by themselves mean any change to flights.
• No direct Metro to DWC. If you use public transport, check RTA Metro and bus options for part of the journey.
• Get your car checked before a long detour. Longer routes in the heat put more load on your engine, cooling and AC.

Why the roads are closed: autonomous taxis on the highway

The closures give autonomous taxi companies space to test their vehicles at highway speeds. Driverless taxis already run commercially in parts of Dubai, including Umm Suqeim and Jumeirah, with operators such as Apollo Go and WeRide (WeRide rides can be booked through Uber), and Pony.ai is part of the RTA's wider autonomous mobility programme. The RTA has not announced which companies are running these tests or when a robotaxi service near DWC might start.

Dubai's target is for 25% of all journeys to be autonomous by 2030. Earlier this month, a senior UAE official said the country expects more than 10,000 autonomous taxis and delivery vans on its roads in 2027.

Frequently asked questions

Which roads are closed in Dubai for autonomous taxi testing?
Three lanes of Emirates Road (E611) opposite Al Maktoum International Airport, and the whole Al Maktoum International Airport Tunnel in both directions.

How long will the closures last?
From 26 to 31 October 2026, every day between 9:00 AM and 4:00 PM.

Are there official diversion routes?
The RTA has not named any. Follow the road signs. E311, E44 and E11 may help depending on your journey.

Will flights at Al Maktoum International Airport be affected?
The road closures do not by themselves indicate any change to flights, but give yourself extra time to reach the airport.

Sources

• Khaleej Times: Dubai to close some E611 lanes, Al Maktoum airport tunnel amid autonomous taxi testing
• Gulf News: Dubai road closures this week for driverless taxi tests
• Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) Dubai