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The E11 in Ras Al Khaimah in September 2018. Chris Whiteoak / The National
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A section of the E11, built by Khansaheb, is opened in Ras Al Khaimah in the late 1970s to early 1980s. Photo: Alittihad
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At the opening of the motorway, the flags of Abu Dhabi, Sharjah and Ras Al Khaimah are raised. Photo: Alittihad
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A sign reading Sheikh Zayed Road on the newly opened section of the E1 in Ras Al Khaimah in the late 1970s. Photo: Alittihad
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Sheikh Zayed Road. Dubai World Trade Centre (R) was built alongside the E11 in 1979. Antonie Robertson / The National
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The E11 in Ras Al Khaimah in 2008. The motorway passes through every emirate but Fujairah. Lauren Lancaster / The National
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Sheikh Zayed Road, connecting Abu Dhabi and Dubai. Work began on the motorway in 1968, though construction would not begin for another two years and would be completed a decade later. Antonie Robertson / The National
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Evening traffic on the E11 on a night in December 2013 in Abu Dhabi, near Al Raha Beach. Silvia Razgova / The National
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The E11 as it approaches the border between Ras Al Khaimah and Oman, pictured in October 2008. Lauren Lancaster / The National
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The E11 in May 2008. The motorway travels from the tip of Ras Al Khaimah to the border with Saudi Arabia in the south-west. Lauren Lancaster / The National
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A supermarket on the E11 in Ras Al Khaimah, towards the border with Oman, in October 2008. Lauren Lancaster / The National
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Part of the E11 motorway in May 2008. Lauren Lancaster / The National
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Motorists drive home along the E11 during rush-hour traffic in Abu Dhabi in April 2015. Lee Hoagland / The National
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Part of the E11 outside Abu Dhabi in May 2008. Lauren Lancaster / The National
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Sheikh Zayed Road in Dubai in May 2008. Burj Khalifa is still under construction. Ryan Carter / The National
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A junction along the E11 in the Western Region of Abu Dhabi, in June 2008. Ryan Carter / The National
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The E11 in Ras Al Khaimah in September 2018. Chris Whiteoak / The National
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A section of the E11, built by Khansaheb, is opened in Ras Al Khaimah in the late 1970s to early 1980s. Photo: Alittihad
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At the opening of the motorway, the flags of Abu Dhabi, Sharjah and Ras Al Khaimah are raised. Photo: Alittihad
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A sign reading Sheikh Zayed Road on the newly opened section of the E1 in Ras Al Khaimah in the late 1970s. Photo: Alittihad
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Sheikh Zayed Road. Dubai World Trade Centre (R) was built alongside the E11 in 1979. Antonie Robertson / The National
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The E11 in Ras Al Khaimah in 2008. The motorway passes through every emirate but Fujairah. Lauren Lancaster / The National
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Sheikh Zayed Road, connecting Abu Dhabi and Dubai. Work began on the motorway in 1968, though construction would not begin for another two years and would be completed a decade later. Antonie Robertson / The National
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Evening traffic on the E11 on a night in December 2013 in Abu Dhabi, near Al Raha Beach. Silvia Razgova / The National
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The E11 as it approaches the border between Ras Al Khaimah and Oman, pictured in October 2008. Lauren Lancaster / The National
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The E11 in May 2008. The motorway travels from the tip of Ras Al Khaimah to the border with Saudi Arabia in the south-west. Lauren Lancaster / The National
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A supermarket on the E11 in Ras Al Khaimah, towards the border with Oman, in October 2008. Lauren Lancaster / The National
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Part of the E11 motorway in May 2008. Lauren Lancaster / The National
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Motorists drive home along the E11 during rush-hour traffic in Abu Dhabi in April 2015. Lee Hoagland / The National
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Part of the E11 outside Abu Dhabi in May 2008. Lauren Lancaster / The National
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Sheikh Zayed Road in Dubai in May 2008. Burj Khalifa is still under construction. Ryan Carter / The National
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A junction along the E11 in the Western Region of Abu Dhabi, in June 2008. Ryan Carter / The National
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The E11 in Ras Al Khaimah in September 2018. Chris Whiteoak / The National
Why the UAE's national motorway is called the E11
Passing through six of the country's seven emirates, the country's main road has many names but is known to all as the E11
![James Langton](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/https%3A%2F%2Fs3.amazonaws.com%2Farc-authors%2Fthenational%2F59aec61e-41b3-468c-8a69-57168338145b.png?smart=true&auth=20537dd68c837a65707d347b248e74bad34b378390f02a7be13b68d756185b99&width=70&height=70)
James Langton
12 August, 2023
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