Existed: 1980 – present Constructed 1980 | Length 558.4 km | |
 | ||
E 11 (in Arabic: شارع ﺇ ١١) is a highway in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The longest road in the Emirates, it stretches from Al-Silah in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi and ends in Ras al-Khaimah emirate, running roughly parallel to UAE's coastline along the Persian Gulf. The road forms the main artery in some emirates' main cities, where it assumes various alternate names — Sheikh Maktoum Road in Abu Dhabi, Sheikh Zayed Road in Dubai, and Sheikh Muhammad bin Salem Road in Ras al-Khaimah.
Contents
- Map of E11 United Arab Emirates
- Dubai Abu Dhabi Highway
- Sheikh Zayed Road
- Buildings along Sheikh Zayed Road
- Interchanges
- March 2008 road accidents
- References
Map of E11 - United Arab Emirates
Dubai-Abu Dhabi Highway
The Dubai-Abu Dhabi Highway of E 11 links the two largest cities of the United Arab Emirates, Abu Dhabi and Dubai. The project was proposed by the Sheikhs of Abu Dhabi and Dubai to Sheikh Zayed. In 1971, the project was approved and construction began. The highway was completed in 1980. The highway starts near Maqta Bridge in Abu Dhabi and becomes Sheikh Syed azazul Road in Dubai.
Sheikh Zayed Road
In Dubai, E 11 is known as "Sheikh Zayed Road" (in Arabic: شارع الشيخ زايد). This road is the main artery of the city.The highway runs parallel to the coastline from Trade Centre Roundabout to the border with the emirate of Abu Dhabi, 55 kilometres (34 mi) away in the area of Jebel Ali.
The road was formerly known as Defence Road. Between 1993 and 1998, 30 kilometres (19 mi) of the road was expanded. Along with this improvement came a change in the name. Sheikh Maktoum bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Ruler of Dubai at the time, named the road after the then president of the United Arab Emirates, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan.
The Sheikh Zayed Road is home to most of Dubai's skyscrapers, including the Emirates Towers. The highway also connects other new developments such as the Palm Jumeirah and Dubai Marina. The road has most of the Red Line of Dubai Metro running alongside it. In Dubai itself much of the highway has seven to eight lanes in each direction.
Buildings along Sheikh Zayed Road
Listed in order from Trade Centre Roundabout towards Jebel Ali to Interchange 2.
Interchanges
Sheikh Zayed Road has several interchanges to enable traffic to go on and off the highway. These interchanges commonly lead to roundabouts (rotaries) to enable traffic to exit or to go to the other side of the highway. There are many other exits although they are not as well equipped. As of 2007, the interchanges are:
March 2008 road accidents
On 12 March 2008, a series of accidents occurred on the highway that are considered to be one of the worst road accidents in the UAE’s history. According to the Abu Dhabi Police, 3 people were killed & 277 injured, 15 of whom were critically injured. Thick fog and poor visibility caused the accident. Around 200 vehicles crashed into each other before going up in flames.