E 11 road (United Arab Emirates)


E 11 is a highway in the United Arab Emirates. 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 Bin Rashid Road and Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Road in Abu Dhabi, Sheikh Zayed Road in Dubai, and Sheikh Muhammad bin Salem Road in Ras al-Khaimah.

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 Zayed Road in Dubai.

Sheikh Zayed Road

In Dubai, E 11 is known as "Sheikh Zayed Road". This road is the main artery of the city. The highway runs parallel to the coastline from the Trade Centre Roundabout to the border with the emirate of Abu Dhabi, away in the area of Jebel Ali.
The road was formerly known as Defence Road. Between 1993 and 1998, 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.
Northwest SideSoutheast Side
Etisalat Tower 2World Trade Centre
The Monarch Office TowerWorld Trade Centre Residence
The H HotelWorld Trade Centre Apartments 1
Holiday Inn Dubai - Al BarshaWorld Trade Centre
Sama TowerWorld Trade Centre Apartments 2
The Fairmont DubaiWorld Trade Centre Apartments 3
API World TowerEmirates Office Tower
Park PlaceJumeirah Emirates Towers Hotel
Acico Office Tower The Tower
Nikko Hotel DubaiAl Yaquob Tower
White Crown TowerCapricorn Tower
Saeed Tower 1Maze Tower
Grosvenor House Commercial TowerAl Ghadier Tower
Latifa TowerAl Attar Business Tower
HHHR TowerJumeira Tower
Crowne Plaza Apartment TowerSky Tower
Crowne Plaza Hotel TowerAl Attar Tower
Crowne Plaza Office TowerAhmed Abdul Rahim Al Attar Tower
Al Durrah TowerGhaya Residence
City Tower 2Rose Tower
City Tower 1Oasis Tower
Al Wasl Tower21st Century Tower
Khalid Al Attar TowerRolex Tower
Khalid Al Attar Tower 2Angsana Suites Tower
Al Safa TowerAngsana Hotel Tower
Zabeel TowerAl Kawakeb 1
Al Moosa Tower 1Al Kawakeb 2
Al Moosa Tower 2Al Kawakeb 3
Sahara TowerAl Kawakeb 4
Al Rostamani Tower BAl Kawakeb 5
Al Rostamani Tower ADusit Dubai
Saeed Tower 2Millennium Tower
Four Points by SheratonAl Tayer Tower
Union TowerFalcon Tower
Al Sondos TowerDubai Tower
Towers Rotana HotelNuaimi Tower
Sheikh Marwan Tower
Al Hawai Tower
Chelsea Tower
Sheikh Essa Tower
Number One Tower Suites
Ahmad Abdulrahim Ahmad Al Attar Tower
Dr. Khalifa Tower
Sheikh Ahmed Tower
Al Meraikhi Tower
Shangri-La Hotel
Al Manara Tower
Al Kharbash Tower
Aykon City

Interchanges

Sheikh Zayed Road has several interchanges to enable traffic to go on and off the highway. These interchanges commonly lead to roundabouts 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:
On 12 March 2008, 200 vehicles approximately smashed into each other before going up in flames. According to the Abu Dhabi Police, 3 people were killed and 277 injured, 15 of them critically. Thick fog and poor visibility contributed to the deadly pileup. The event is considered to be one of the worst traffic collisions in the UAE's history.