E 11 road (United Arab Emirates)

E 11 (Arabic: شارع ﺇ ١١) is a highway in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The longest road in the Emirates, it stretches from the Al Batha border crossing at the Saudi Arabia–UAE border in al-Silah in the al-Dhafra region of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi and ends at the Oman–UAE border crossing of al-Darah in al-Jeer, Emirate of Ras al-Khaimah, 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^[1] in Abu Dhabi, Sheikh Zayed Road in Dubai, Al Ittihad Road in Sharjah Emirate and Ajman Emirate, and Sheikh Muhammad bin Salem Road in Ras al-Khaimah.

E 11
إ ١١
E 11 becomes Sheikh Zayed Road in Dubai, with Dubai Metro visible
Route information
Length	558.4 km (347.0 mi)
Existed	1980–present
Major junctions
West end	Ghuwaifat Border Crossing
Major intersections	E 15 - Ghiyathi Road E 65 - Liwa - Abu Dhabi Road E 22 - Al Ain Road E 20 - Suweihan Road E 10 - Zayed bin Sultan Street E 14 - Al Faqa Road E 75 - Al Fayah Road D 53 - Al Maktoum Airport Street E 77 - Expo Road D 57 - Al Yalayis Street D 63 - Hessa Street D 71 - Financial Center Road E 66 - Oud Metha Road S 108 - Al Khan Street S 112 - King Faisal Street E 55 - Al Shuwaib - Umm Al Quwien Road E 311 - Mohammed Bin Zayed Road E 18 - Al Manama - Ras Al Khaimah Road
East end	Al Dara Border Crossing
Location
Country	United Arab Emirates
Major cities	Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Umm al-Quwain, Ras al Khaimah, Abu Dhabi
Highway system
Transport in the United Arab Emirates Roads in Dubai

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 first proposed in 1968 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.^[2] The highway starts near Al 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" (in Arabic: شارع الشيخ زايد). 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, 55 kilometres (34 mi) away in the area of Jebel Ali.^[3]

Skyscrapers on Sheikh Zayed Road in July 2006

The road was formerly known as Defence Road.^[3] Between 1993 and 1998, 30 kilometres (19 mi) of the road was expanded.^[3] 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.^[4]

The E11 is designated as such because "E" stands for Emirates, and the number system was adopted in 1995 to represent nationally and internationally significant high-speed roads within the UAE. The E Route system defines these roads as having limited or controlled access and a speed limit of 100 kilometers per hour or higher. The E11 is part of this system, categorized as a primary road, with its numbering indicating a north-south orientation as per the guidelines detailed in the Abu Dhabi Department of Transport's document TR-538 from 2018.^[5]

Overhead view of Sheikh Zayed Road and its skyscrapers

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.^[6] In Dubai itself much of the highway has seven to eight lanes in each direction.

In recent years, the government built a canal, the Dubai Water Canal; as part of the project, a section of the road was removed and a bridge was constructed.^[7]

Traffic pileup

On 12 March 2008, approximately 200 vehicles smashed into each other before going up in flames.^[8][9] 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.

Exit list

In the emirates of Abu Dhabi and Dubai, exits are numbered based on distance starting from east to west within the emirate.

Emirate	Location	km	mi	Exit	Destinations	Notes
Abu Dhabi	Ghuwaifat	0	0.0	-	Ghuwaifat Border Crossing
	Al Sila'a	19.14	11.89	19	Al Sila'a
	Al Wahidah	29.82	18.53	30	Al Wahidah
	Mahmiyat Al Soqour	53.60	33.31	53	Mahmiyat Al Soqour
	Barakah	67.85	42.16	66	Barakah
	Umm al Oshtan	96.71	60.09	95	Umm al Oshtan
	Jebel Al Dannah	115.18	71.57	113	Jebel Al Dannah
	Al Ruwais, UAE	128.77	80.01	127	E 15 (Ghiyathi Road) – Al Ruwais, UAE, Ghayathi
		143.72	89.30	-	Al Rubban Street
		157.92	98.13	158	Baynounah, Thumayriyah
	Gerain Al Ash	176.50	109.67	176	Gerain Al Ash
	Al Harmia	189.32	117.64	189	Al Harmia
	Al Mirfa	202.28	125.69	202A	Al Mirfa (South), Habshan, Madinat Zayed
		203.26	126.30	202B	Al Mirfa
		213.83	132.87	214	Al Mirfa (East)
	Tarif	231.69	143.97	231	Tarif
		243.96	151.59	244	E 45 (Shikha Salama bint Butti Road) – Madinat Zayed, Liwa (Mezaira'a)
	Al Khidayrah	251.21	156.09	251	Abu Al Abyad
		260.61	161.94	261	Ghuwaifat
		270.65	168.17	271	Ghuwaifat
	Al Noof	284.51	176.79	285	Al Rumaitha, Al Noof
	Al Aryam	297.55	184.89	297	Al Aryam
	Al Shinayin	305.46	189.80	305	E 65 (Hameem Road) – Hameem
	Al Aryam	297.55	184.89	297	Al Aryam
	Abu Dhabi Industrial City (ICAD)	312.10	193.93	312A	ICAD
		313.04	194.51	312B	ICAD
		319.41	198.47	318	ICAD
	Jarn Yafour	321.88	200.01	322A	E 30 (Al Rawdah Road) – Al Ain (Truck Road)
		322.54	200.42	322B	Mussafah, Mohammed bin Zayed City, Abu Dhabi
	Al Mafraq	327.33	203.39	328A	E 22 / M 7 (Al Ain Road) – Al Wathba, Al Ain
		327.90	203.75	322B	E 22 (Al Ain Road) – Abu Dhabi, Yas Island
		320.32	199.04	320	Mafraq Sheikh Shakbout Medical City, Bani Yas
	Al Shawamekh	332.56	206.64	333	Shakbout City, Al Shawamekh
	Al Shamkha	336.13	208.86	336	Shakbout City, Al Shamkha
		340.61	211.65	343A	E 20 (Sweihan Road) – Sweihan
		341.71	212.33	343B	E 22 (Sweihan Road) – Abu Dhabi
	Al Falah	344.0	213.8	343C	Airport support facilities
		346.50	215.31	348	Rawdat Al Reef Palace, Al Falah, Al Reef To E 12 (Khalifa bin Zayed Street) – Yas Island, Saadiyat Island
	Rawdat Al Reef	355.06	220.62	357	Zayed Military City End of E 10 (Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Street)
	Abu Mreikhah	358.46	222.74	359	Al Shahama, Zayed Military City
		365.43	227.07	366	Al Rahba City E 16 (Al Taf Road) – Al Ajban
	Muwaylih	369.83	229.80	371	Al Rahba, Al Taweelah, Khalifa Port - Kizad
	Al Samha	374.59	232.76	374A	Al Samha
	Khalifa Industrial Zone	375.60	233.39	374B	Kizad B
		376.21	233.77	374C	Kizad A, Khalifa Port
		381.03	236.76	381	Al Semeh, Abu Dhabi Sports Aviation Club
	Al Layyan	389.98	242.32	390	E 14 (Al Faqaa Road) – Saih As Sidrah
	Ghantout	398.37	247.54	399	Ghantout
		402.75	250.26	403	E 75 (Al Faya Road) – Seih Sheib
		404.17 0.00	251.14 0.00	Abu Dhabi-Dubai Border
Dubai	Jebel Ali Hills	1.51	0.94	2	Saih Shuwaib 1
		4.65	2.89	5	Dubai Parks and Resorts
	Jebel Ali Industrial	13.09	8.13	13A	D 53 east (Al Maktoum Airport Street) – Madinat Al Maktoum
		13.98	8.69	13B	D 53 west (Al Maktoum Airport Street) – Jebel Ali Port (Gate 7 and 8)
		18.93	11.76	20A	Jebel Ali Central Street
		19.27	11.97	20B	E 77 east (Expo Road) – Al Ain, Hatta
		19.27	11.97	20C	E 77 west (Expo Road) – Jebel Ali Port (Gate 4)
		22.09	13.73	22A	D 57 east (Al Yalayis Street) To E 311 (Mohammed bin Zayed Road)
		23.08	14.34	22B	D 57 west (Al Yalayis Street) – Jebel Ali Port (Gate 1 and 3)
	Jebel Ali Village	25.34	15.75	25	Al Tahila Street
		26.89	16.71	27	Ibn Battuta Street
		27.89	17.33	29	D 59 (Garn Al Sabkha Street) Bluewaters Island
	Dubai Marina	31.42	19.52	32	Al Sarayat Street, Al Naseem Street, Dubai Harbour
		33.32	20.70	34	Nakhlat Jumeira Street, Al Falak Street, Dubai Harbour D 61 east (Hessa Street)
		35.74	22.21	36	D 61 west (Hessa Street) – Jumeira
	Al Barsha	31.42	19.52	39	D 63 (Umm Suqeim Street)
	Al Qouz	39.91	24.80	40	D 65 (Al Marabea Street)
		42.17	26.20	43	D 65 (Al Manara Street)
		43.93	27.30	44	D 67 west (Umm Al Sheif Street) – Jumeira
		44.25	27.50	45	Al Waha Street
		46.38	28.82	47	D 69 (Al Meydan Street, Al Hadiqa Street)
	Al Wasl			48	Al Khaleej Al Tejari 1 Street
				50A	D 71 east (Financial Center Street(Upper Level)) The Dubai Mall
				50B	D 71 east (Financial Center Street(Lower Level)), The Dubai Mall, Burj Khalifa Al Sukook Street, DIFC
				50C	D 71 west (Al Safa Street)
	Al Satwa			51	Al Boursa Street Museum of the Future
				52	Trade Centre Street
				53	D 73 (Zaa'beel Palace Street, 2nd December Street) D 88 (Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Street)
	Zaa'beel			54A	D 78 (Umm Hurair Street) – Deira D 84 (Zaa'beel Street) – Bur Dubai
				54B	D 75 (Sheikh Rashid Street) – Port Rashid
				54C	Zaa'beel Street
				56A	E 66 east (Oud Maitha Road) – Al Ain
				56B	D 79 west (Oud Maitha Street) – Bur Dubai
				57	Al Zahrawi Street, Al Jaddaf
	Al Garhoud			58A	D 70 (Casablanca Street) – Terminal 1 and 3
				58B	D 83 (Al Rebat Street) – Umm Ramool, Mirdif, Al Warqa'a Dubai Festival City
				60	D 85 (Baniyas Street) – Deira City Centre Deira
				61	D 89 (Al Maktoum Street, Airport Road) – Deira, Al Khawaneej Terminal 1 and 3
	Deira			62	D 91 east (Al Quds Street) – Al Twar, Terminal 2 D 91 west (Bu Hail Street) – Abu Hail, Al Wuheida D 80 (Salah Al Din Street) – Al Ras, Naif
				65	D 93 east (Al Nahda Street) – Al Qusais, Al Mizhar, Muhaisnah D 93 west (Al Wuheida Street) – Hor Al Anz East, Al Wuheida, Al Hamriya Port
				66	D 95 east (Baghdad Street) – Al Qusais, Al Nahda
				67	D 95 west (Cairo Street) – Al Mamzar
	1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi        Tolled

References

1. "Mafraq-Ghuwaifat highway renamed Shaikh Khalifa road | Transport – Gulf News". Gulfnews.com. 2018-01-24. Retrieved 2021-05-04.
2. Ismail, Manal. "A trip down E11 memory lane". The National. Retrieved 2024-09-07.
3. "From empty roundabout to city hub". Gulf News. 2007-12-28. Archived from the original on 2015-06-17. Retrieved 2008-01-11.
4. "Sheikh Zayed Road". Dubai As It Used To Be. Retrieved 2008-01-11.
5. Langton, James (2023-08-12). "Why the UAE's national motorway is called the E11". The National. Retrieved 2023-12-24.
6. "Dubai metro guide: metro timings, tickets and lines". Visit Dubai. 2020-09-23. Retrieved 2021-05-04.
7. "Work begins on Sheikh Zayed Road diversion as part of Dubai Canal project". The National. 2014-07-21. Retrieved 2021-05-04.
8. "200-Car Pileup in One of UAE's Worst Accidents". Arab news. 2008-03-12. Retrieved 2008-03-12.
9. "REFILE-UAE's biggest traffic accident kills 3, injures 277". Reuters. 2008-03-12. Retrieved 2008-03-12.

External links

• Sheikh Syed Azazul Road Map by Dubai City Guide
• Dubai From the Sky: Sheikh Syed Azazul Road Gulf News, 10 October 2006

25°13′7″N 55°16′48″E