Emirates Road

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Emirates Road (E! 311) is one of the longest roads in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The road extends from Jebel Ali Free Zone up to Sharjah. It was designed by Dubai Municipality originally to cut the traffic of heavy vehicles out of the downtown area. However, the ring-road has now become a prime location with many new projects on it.

In mid-2005, the road was extended to reach the UAE's northernmost Emirate of Ras Al Khaimah passing through the emirates of Ajman, Umm Al Quwain and Sharjah. There is also a project to extend the Emirates Road through Ras Al Khaimah to the UAE's northern border with Oman (Musandam Peninula)

The Emirates Road was an attractive place for new projects as all the lands around it turned from normal lands to prime properties. Many projects have been launched on the road and in various stages of development including International City, Arabian Ranches, Dubailand, Dubai Silicon Oasis, Al Salam City, Al Ameera, and others.

It is however, also one of the most dangerous roads in the UAE (the other being the Sheikh Zayed Road, E11) Most of the accidents take place on this road as vehicles travel at extremely high speeds, well over the speed limit of 120 km/h, despite numerous radar speed cameras.

As of November 2006, ongoing construction in Sharjah to widen the road and reduce grade crossings causes substantial traffic backups between Dubai and Ras Al Khaimah. In several areas of Sharjah, speed limits drop to 40-60 km/h and vehicles must make 90 degree turns. The area under construction bypass is moving northward and should be completed during 2007.

Traffic on the Emirates Road is generally heaviest in a southbound direction during morning communte (0700-0800) from Sharjah to Jebel Ali, and in a northbound direction from approximately 1400 to 1900. Often traffic comes to a standstill in all lanes during periods of high traffic.