Satwa Roundabout will not appear on a postcard. No ticket booth stands beside it and no tour bus stops to take photos. Yet taxi drivers know it by name, bus stops carry its name and thousands of people cross it every day. It sits in Al Satwa Dubai, one of the oldest districts in the city. It works as the front door to a neighbourhood that still feels like old Dubai. If you want to see the city beyond the towers and the malls, this is where you start.
This Al Satwa area guide gives you the practical facts: the exact location, the roads that meet there, how to reach it by metro and bus, where to park, what to see nearby and where to eat. It also carries one honest warning. The junction changed in 2026.
What Is Satwa Roundabout?
Satwa Roundabout is a major traffic junction in the Al Satwa district of central Dubai. It links Al Satwa Road, 2nd December Street and Al Hudaiba Street, with Sheikh Zayed Road running close by. For decades it worked as a classic roundabout. Today it works as a junction and a meeting point more than as a circle. Locals still call it by the old name.
The junction matters because of where it sits. Al Satwa lies between Sheikh Zayed Road and Jumeirah, just west of Bur Dubai and the World Trade Centre. One turn leads to Jumeirah Beach Road and the coast. Another leads to Bur Dubai and the creek. A third takes you onto Sheikh Zayed Road and the whole city opens up. The junction is the point where the old neighbourhood meets the modern highway.
Al Satwa is one of Dubai’s oldest residential districts, home to about 41,000 people in 2.87 square kilometres. Low-rise blocks, family-run shops, mosques and schools fill the area. It feels busy and lived-in rather than polished.
Where Is Satwa Roundabout?
The junction sits in the middle of Al Satwa, roughly between Bur Dubai to the east, Jumeirah to the north and Al Bada’a to the west. Sheikh Zayed Road runs along the southern edge of the district. The junction connects Al Satwa Road, 2nd December Street (the main commercial road) and Al Hudaiba Street, which leads toward Bur Dubai. From here you can reach Downtown Dubai in about 10 minutes by car. Dubai International Airport takes about 20 minutes when traffic is light. Tell any taxi driver the name and they will know where you mean.
The Big Change in 2026: Is It Still a Roundabout?
Here is the fact that most older guides miss. In October 2026 Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority converted the roundabout into a junction controlled by traffic lights, as part of its road works around the World Trade Centre. The circle of traffic is gone. The junction now runs on signals. A 2026 corridor upgrade also adds dedicated bus and taxi lanes along 2nd December Street and Al Satwa Street.
That does not make the name useless. Locals and couriers still use it and the RTA bus stops still carry it. Treat the name as a place name now, not as a description of the road layout. Come for the neighbourhood around the junction instead.
How to Get There by Metro
There is no metro station at the junction itself and no station inside Al Satwa. You will walk or take a short bus or taxi ride from the nearest Red Line station. World Trade Centre Metro Station is the closest, about 1.5 to 2 kilometres away. Al Jafiliya Metro Station sits a little further, roughly 1.8 to 2.2 kilometres away. Emirates Towers Metro Station is another option at about 2 kilometres. Bus 98E runs from the Satwa area to the Trade Centre station in about 9 minutes.
One source claims Al Fahidi Metro Station is only a 13-minute walk away. That claim matches neither the other sources nor the map. Al Fahidi sits across Sheikh Zayed Road in Bur Dubai. Do not plan your trip around that claim. Use World Trade Centre station as your stop and take a taxi or a bus for the last stretch. Keep at least AED 7.50 on your Nol card before you start a metro trip.
How to Get There by Bus
The bus is the easiest way to reach the junction. The RTA has named its stops after the roundabout itself. Two stop groups sit within a few minutes’ walk. They are known as Satwa Roundabout 1 and Satwa Roundabout 2. They are bus stop names, not two different roundabouts.
Roundabout 01 and Roundabout 02
Satwa, Roundabout 01 sits about four minutes from the junction and serves routes 7, 28, 32C, 88, C26, F12 and X28. Satwa, Roundabout 02 sits about five to eight minutes away and serves routes 15, 32C, 55, C1, C26, F12 and X28. Check the RTA app before you travel, since routes change. Either stop leaves you a short walk from the shops and restaurants.
Al Satwa Bus Station
Al Satwa Bus Station stands on 2nd December Street, a short walk from the junction. It is one of the main bus hubs in central Dubai. It connects the area with Bur Dubai, Deira, Jumeirah, Al Quoz and Jebel Ali. The station sits in Nol Zone 6. Bus C1 links the station directly with Airport Terminal 3. Feeder buses F27 and X02 link the station with Max and Union metro stations. The station has no dedicated car park. Drivers should use the street parking nearby.
Driving and Parking in Satwa
Driving to the junction is simple. Take Sheikh Zayed Road and follow the signs for Al Satwa and Jumeirah. You can also come from Bur Dubai along Al Hudaiba Street or 2nd December Street. Traffic gets heavy in the evening, especially between 6 PM and 10 PM when the shops are at their busiest.
Parking in Satwa is paid RTA parking almost everywhere near the junction. Read the sign on the street where you park. The commercial strip along 2nd December Street sits in a premium zone at about AED 4 per hour from 8 AM to 10 PM on weekdays. Residential side streets cost about AED 2 per hour. Saturday is free across both. Most community lots fall under Zone 334C, with other codes such as 334DP and 334AP for specific lots. Trust the code printed on the sign in front of your car. Pay through the RTA Dubai app or by SMS to 7275 with your plate number and the zone code. A wrong code means the payment fails and a fine follows.
| Parking type | Typical cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 2nd December Street commercial strip | About AED 4 per hour | 8 AM to 10 PM, weekdays |
| Residential side streets | About AED 2 per hour | Saturday free |
| Satwa Mosque car park | RTA rates apply | Close to the junction |
| Mall and hotel garages nearby | Free with validation in some cases | City Walk and Trade Centre area |
What to See Around the Roundabout
The junction itself holds no attraction. The streets around it do.
Satwa Grand Mosque
Satwa Grand Mosque, also called Jaabaar Al Satwa Mosque, stands close to the junction. It acts as one of the neighbourhood’s main landmarks. It is a working neighbourhood mosque rather than a tourist site. Visit with respect and dress modestly. Non-Muslim visitors should view it from outside and avoid prayer times. Our Satwa Mosque guide covers the visiting rules in more detail.
Iranian Mosque and Iranian Hospital
The Iranian Mosque, also known as Imam Hussein Mosque, stands on Al Wasl Road a short walk from the junction. It was built in 1979. It is famous for its blue Persian-style tilework, which makes it one of the most photographed mosque exteriors in Dubai. Non-Muslim visitors can view the exterior. The Iranian Hospital sits nearby.
Union House and 2nd December Street
2nd December Street runs from the junction toward the Trade Centre and it carries the history of the whole country. The street was called Al Diyafah Street until December 2011, when it was renamed to mark the UAE’s founding declaration. That declaration was signed at Union House, Dar Al Ittihad, at the far end of the same street on 2 December 1971. Union House now works as a museum, with the Etihad Museum close by. The street runs about 2,500 metres. A slow walk passes fabric shops, electronics stores, pharmacies and cafes.
Where to Eat and Shop
Food is the best reason to visit the area around the junction. 2nd December Street holds one of the densest restaurant strips in Dubai. Pakistani restaurants in Satwa stand beside Indian, Filipino and Arabic eateries. Prices stay low and portions stay generous. The street comes alive after sunset when families and workers fill the tables.
Ravi Restaurant
Ravi Restaurant is the name every food lover in Dubai knows. It opened in Satwa in 1978 and it still serves Pakistani food from the same spot on 2nd December Street. The original branch sits at Shop 245, opposite the Union Co-op supermarket. Its signature dish is the mutton handi, a slow-cooked curry served in a small clay pot. Butter chicken, chicken biryani and tandoori chicken also draw crowds. A meal for two costs about AED 50 to 70. Listings disagree on the exact hours. Some say 6 AM to 2 AM. Others say 7 AM to 3 AM. Check before you go. Our guide to the best Pakistani restaurants in Dubai lists more places like Ravi across the city.
Street Food and Supermarkets
Beyond Ravi, the street holds dozens of smaller eateries. Al Mallah serves Lebanese shawarma and manakish a short walk from the junction. New Sagar Restaurant serves curries, biryanis and kebabs. Small cafeterias sell karak tea, fresh juices and parathas for a few dirhams. The shopping matches the food. 2nd December Street is famous for its fabric and textile shops, where tailors work beside the stalls. Supermarkets such as Al Maya, West Zone and the Union Co-op sit nearby.
Best Time to Visit and Tips for Your Trip
Visit in the late afternoon or evening if you want the full Satwa experience. The streets stay calm until lunch. After 5 PM the area wakes up. Restaurants fill and the pavements get busy. The cooler months from October to April suit walking best. In summer, visit after sunset when the heat eases.
A few tips will make your visit smoother:
- Start at the junction and walk down 2nd December Street toward Union House.
- Use the bus if you can. Parking fills fast in the evening.
- Carry cash or a card. Small eateries and fabric shops may not take cards.
- Dress modestly. Satwa is a residential neighbourhood with mosques on nearly every street.
- Keep your visit short. The area rewards a walk and a meal, not a full day. Pair it with a bigger stop from our list of things to do in Dubai for a longer day out.
FAQs
Where is Satwa Roundabout in Dubai?
Satwa Roundabout Dubai sits in the Al Satwa district of central Dubai, where Al Satwa Road, 2nd December Street and Al Hudaiba Street meet, just off Sheikh Zayed Road. It lies between Bur Dubai, Jumeirah and Al Bada’a, close to the World Trade Centre.
Is Satwa Roundabout still a roundabout?
No, not any more. In October 2026 the RTA converted it into a signal-controlled junction. Locals, bus stops and maps still use the old name. It still works for directions and addresses.
What is the nearest metro station to the junction?
World Trade Centre Metro Station is the nearest, about 1.5 to 2 kilometres away. Al Jafiliya and Emirates Towers stations are also close. There is no metro station inside Al Satwa itself. Take a taxi or a bus for the last stretch.
Which bus goes to the junction?
The RTA stops Satwa, Roundabout 01 and Satwa, Roundabout 02 serve routes 7, 15, 28, 32C, 55, 88, C1, C26, F12 and X28 between them. Al Satwa Bus Station connects the area with Bur Dubai, Deira, Jumeirah and the airport.
What is the parking zone in Satwa?
Parking near the junction is RTA paid parking. The commercial strip on 2nd December Street costs about AED 4 per hour on weekdays. Residential side streets cost about AED 2 per hour. Saturday is free. Most community lots fall under Zone 334C. The code changes from street to street. Always read the sign where you park and pay through the RTA app or by SMS to 7275.
Is the junction worth visiting?
Yes, if you want to see old Dubai rather than a landmark. The junction itself is only a road crossing. The streets around it hold some of the city’s best cheap food, fabric shops and local life. Come for a walk, a meal at Ravi Restaurant and a look at Satwa Grand Mosque and Union House.
