All main roads in Dubai now named

Dubai Municipality says the installation of sign boards for the remaining roads is expected to be completed by the end of the first half of 2015.

Signs that show street names instead of numbers have been installed in Umm Suqeim neighbourhood along with several other areas in Dubai. Antonie Robertson / The National

DUBAI // All of the city’s main streets have been officially named, along with half of all side roads.

Dubai Municipality said the installation of signs for the remaining roads was expected to be done by the end of June next year.

“The project includes selection of over 7,500 names for different main and sub-roads in coordination with the Roads and Traffic Authority,” said Hussain Lootah, director general of the municipality.

Mr Lootah said the civic body had considered Dubai’s history, culture and traditions in naming the roads, to keep them alive for coming generations.

Street names have been installed on all roads crossing Sheikh Zayed Road; in Umm Suqeim 1, 2 and 3; Al Sufouh 1 and 2; and Dubai Marina.

The work is continuing in Oud Matina 1 and 2, Nad Al Sheba 2 and 4, Dubai Investment Park and Jebel Ali Industrial Area.

It is part of a huge project launched by the Dubai Government and involves replacing old numbers with local names to preserve Emirati heritage, said Mr Lootah.

“Streets in a district such as Jumeirah will have names bearing marine features such as boats, fishes, marine life, and so on, as it is about beach and sea,” he said.

“Similarly, streets in Deira and Bur Dubai will have historical and heritage names, while inland areas as Mushrif and Al Awir will bear names of local trees, famous Arab personalities, poets, et etcera.”

The municipality also looked at ways used by other cities around the world in naming streets.