The major new highway between Dubai and Abu Dhabi has just opened and it will be named after Dubai’s ruler…

A new Dhs2.1 billion motorway connecting Dubai and Abu Dhabi opened yesterday.

The 62 kilometre-long road starts from the end of Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road and stretches to the Sweihan Road in Abu Dhabi, and it’s just been announced that the road will be named after the much beloved Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, who is the ruler of Dubai and Vice President of the UAE.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid road has four lanes on either side, and the capacity to host 8,000 vehicles an hour.

The road officially opened yesterday:

The road’s new name was confirmed on Twitter Tuesday morning by Sheikh Hazza bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President of the UAE Executive Council.

So if you often find that Sheikh Zayed is congested, this should provide a good alternative.

WHERE IS THIS NEW ROAD?

Here’s a drawing showing the new Abu Dhabi-Dubai road (in red). 

e311 road

As far as safety features go, the road is lined by 800 environmentally friendly lights, as well as six lay-bys for emergency use.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Road also features a rainwater drainage system (for the rare occasion it does rain) and a fence on both sides to protect from crossing herds.

Petrol-station-wise, the road will feature one on each side of the road, situated between interchanges one and two.

More…
*Here’s what (and who) causes the most road accidents in Dubai*
*This Dubai road is going to be closed until February*
*One day you might be able to catch the Dubai Tram to Satwa*
*If you use these roads, you need to know about a new Dhs600 fine*

“The new motorway will form a strategic link that will provide additional capacity to traffic movement, particularly during peak hours,” Shamsa Al Shamsi, project manager of the E311 road extension told the The National.

motorway e311

“It will help to improve traffic flow between Abu Dhabi and Dubai, shorten the trip time between the two cities and ease traffic congestion.”

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