Sheikh Zayed Road is the lifeline of Dubai. Known as the E11, it is the longest road in the UAE, running for more than 550 km from Abu Dhabi, through Dubai, all the way to Ras Al Khaimah. Most of the city’s best-known landmarks sit along it. In this episode of our series on how the UAE works, we look at where the road came from and what makes it so different today.
Before the highway: sand tracks to Abu Dhabi
In the 1970s, getting from Dubai to Abu Dhabi was a gruelling trip. There was no proper road, just sand tracks running parallel to the coast. People regularly got stuck, there were no mobile phones, and if your car broke down you simply had to wait for someone to come past. Taxi drivers who knew the tracks were often the only reliable way to make the journey.
How Sheikh Zayed Road was born
The road we know today grew out of a route started by Sheikh Rashid from the Jebel Ali area. Construction began in 1971 with a single carriageway linking Dubai to Abu Dhabi. Over the decades it grew into the multi-lane highway we use now, with up to 14 lanes in places, and big master plans along its edges turned it into the spine of the city. The road was named after Sheikh Zayed, and it has kept that name as a tribute to the man behind it.
Driving on Sheikh Zayed Road today
- Lane discipline: the far-left lane is for overtaking, and slower vehicles and heavy trucks keep to the right, which helps prevent accidents caused by big differences in speed.
- Minimum speeds: some stretches have a minimum speed as well as a maximum, so driving too slowly can also get you fined.
- Cameras: the road is heavily monitored for both speed and safety.
- Salik tolls: tolls collected through Salik help fund the upkeep of the road.
- Dedicated lanes: bus lanes and fast-track lanes help keep traffic moving.
Speed limits and toll rates change over time, so always follow the posted signs and check the latest Salik rates before you drive.
More than just a road
Smooth, heavily engineered and busy day and night, Sheikh Zayed Road is far more than a way to get from A to B. It is the backbone of Dubai’s growth. Watch the full story above, and let us know in the comments if there is a piece of its history we missed. For more road and driving stories, visit our Automotive section.
