Are you a commuter, driving from Sharjah to Dubai every day? If yes, you must have heard of this road although you don’t know its name yet. Try asking 10 people what the road is called – 10 answers will surprise you: MBZ Road, E311, Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Road or Emirates Road. Now try finding any relevant information about this road on Google – most likely, you will come across the contradictory data on its length (90 km and 140 km) and start point of the route. This article attempts to dispel the doubts that arise while you are searching for the information regarding this road.
What Is Mohammed Bin Zayed Road? (Simple Definition for Featured Snippet)
Mohammed Bin Zayed Road is the name of E311 that is a multi-lane motorway running parallel to Sheikh Zayed Road (E11). It is also called MBZ Road and Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Road.
The road was renamed from Emirates Road to Mohammed Bin Zayed Road in 2013 for commemoration of Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan who was a Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi at that time. The table below gives the key facts about this road.
Detail Information
Official name Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Road
Road code E311
Common names MBZ Road, Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Road
Former name Emirates Road
Year renamed 2013
Toll status No Salik toll gates
Speed limit Approx. 100-120 km/h (varies by section
The Background for the Change of the Name – How It Got Its Name
Knowing the history of the road will help you to understand why the road got its name. Nevertheless, it will help you understand the rest of the information about this road as well.
Original Emirates Road Era (Construction in Early 2000s)
At the beginning of the century, this road was built as an alternative road that would not allow the heavy vehicles pass through the downtown area. At the moment, there was only Sheikh Zayed Road (E11) in Dubai and it was heavily congested because of the rapid growth of the emirate. That is why the road was built in order to reduce the congestion on E11.
Renaming in 2013
In 2013, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum (ruler of Dubai at that time) decided to rename the Emirates Road to Mohammed Bin Zayed Road in order to honor Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan who made a great contribution to the development of the UAE. It should be noted that the term “Emirates Road” remained the same but was used for the new highway (E611). Whenever you find “Emirates Road” on some old map or some other outdated source, do not assume that it means E311.
The Route – Starting and Ending Points of MBZ Road
Let us clear the question of which territories MBZ Road crosses. Here is the list of its stretches:
Starting Point in the South
There is much debate about the starting point of MBZ Road. Most of the sources state that the beginning of the road is somewhere near New Al Falah and Al Shamkha in Abu Dhabi. But there may be some controversy about the starting point of the road as it is regularly renovated. In case you need the accurate starting point for navigation, consult RTA site or Google Maps.
Passing Through Dubai
As this road crosses Dubai, it runs around all the city centers and passes near Dubai Silicon Oasis, Arabian Ranches, Mirdif, Dubai South, Dubai Investments Park (DIP) and Dubai Sports City. That is exactly why this road became so important for the emirate, allowing people to travel throughout the emirate without getting into the city traffic.
Sharjah, Ajman and Umm Al Quwain Stretches
Having crossed the boundaries of Dubai, the MBZ Road runs around the industrial and residential areas and continues to Ajman, where it connects directly to Al Nuaimiya and the city center. Further it continues to Umm Al Quwain. Note: the Sharjah-Dubai border is one of the most congested points on this road due to the large number of commuters.
Termination in Ras Al Khaimah
MBZ Road finishes in Ras Al Khaimah and connects the roads that lead to Oman and Fujairah. MBZ Road is one of the few roads in UAE connecting the southern emirates with the northern emirates.
How Long Is Mohammed Bin Zayed Road? (Length and Lanes)
Here is the true answer instead of the false length. The lengths of MBZ Road vary greatly: in most cases, the length of the road is stated as 90 km or 140 km. The reason for that is the expansion and renovations of the road. Instead of giving some figure and stating it as a fact, it would be reasonable to give the range of figures and consult RTA/Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure for the exact numbers.
As for the number of lanes, everyone is in agreement that there are 4 to 6 lanes in each direction on this road with some stretches having even 12 lanes. The speed limits on this road vary within 100-120 km/h with the exceptions of the urban stretches and interchanges.
Is There a Toll Fee on MBZ Road? (Direct Answer – Featured Snippet Target)
No. There are no Salik toll gates on MBZ Road. That is exactly why many commuters from Sharjah prefer to travel on this road to Dubai although it takes slightly more time than some other roads.
For comparison, there is a toll fee on Sheikh Zayed Road (E11): AED 6 during peak hours (6:00 AM-10:00 AM and 4:00 PM-8:00 PM), AED 4 during off-peak hours (the tariff structure was introduced in January 2025) and toll free from 2:00 AM to 6:00 AM. So, if you can commute via this road, it would not be harmful for you to compare the routes.
Traffic and the Best Time to Drive on MBZ Road
The Most Congested Periods
If you commute southwards from Sharjah to Dubai, be ready for the traffic starting from 5:00 AM with the heaviest congestion occurring between 6:30 AM and 9:00 AM. If you return back from work, the traffic pattern will be the same but vice versa roughly between 5:00 PM and 7:00 PM. Of course, it would be better for you to plan your trip and avoid the congestions on this road.
Infrastructure Development
This road is being developed continuously: recently, some new bridges were opened on Garn Al Sabkha interchange, reducing the congestion at rush hour traffic on this interchange. The important thing to remember here is that the information you know from years ago may become outdated.
Practical Driving Tips
- Drive in the right lanes if you are not overtaking – the left lane crawling is the common practice on this road.
- Adhere to the speed limits in the radar camera zone – the speed limits may vary according to the part of the road.
- Consider where you can refill your car – ENOC, ADNOC and EPPCO gas stations are located on this road, but unevenly distributed.
- If the E311 is congested on your map application, E611 (Emirates Road) may serve as an alternative route.
Cities and Landmarks Linked by MBZ Road
One of the key characteristics of the MBZ Road is the large number of cities and regions connected by it. Let us enumerate the territories that you can access using this route.
- Abu Dhabi – the areas of Masdar City and Mussafah industrial zone are located near the southern stretch of this road.
- Dubai – you can reach such landmarks as Global Village, IMG Worlds of Adventure, Dubai Sports City and Dubai Silicon Oasis from this route.
- Sharjah – industrial zones and residential areas, close proximity to Sharjah International Airport.
- Ajman – direct connection to Al Nuaimiya and the city center.
- Umm Al Quwain – developing areas near the road.
- Ras Al Khaimah – the end point of the road, connecting to Fujairah and Oman.
Also, there are several interchanges on this road that connect MBZ Road to Dubai-Al Ain Road (E66) and Al Khail Road (E44) near Jebel Ali.
MBZ Road and Real Estate Development in Dubai
One more fact that needs to be considered when talking about the importance of MBZ Road is that the developers prefer building the new neighborhoods near this road as it provides a convenient connection to Dubai and northern emirates at a lower price compared to Sheikh Zayed Road. Moreover, the logistics and industries prefer this road as it provides convenient connection to free zones and ports.
Nevertheless, it is necessary to consider the pros and cons of the territories near the MBZ Road for the local residents. The residents appreciate the connection to other cities and the low cost of the real estate; however, sometimes they complain about the bottleneck effect near the Sharjah-Dubai border and about the traffic safety problems due to the high traffic volume. The recent changes such as expansions, construction of the bridges and strict speed limits helped to solve the problem.
Comparison of MBZ Road with Sheikh Zayed Road (E11) and Emirates Road (E611)
Let us compare these roads that sound similar.
Road Toll Status Primary Route Best For
Sheikh Zayed Road (E11) Salik tolls apply Coastal route, Dubai downtown City sightseeing, business districts
MBZ Road (E311) Toll-free Inland route, parallels to E11 Daily Sharjah-Dubai commuting
Emirates Road (E611) Toll-free Bypasses Dubai and Sharjah centers Freight, logistics, long-distance transit
In other words: if you need the most convenient coastal route passing through Dubai’s landmarks, take E11. If you need to commute daily from Sharjah to Dubai toll-free, use MBZ Road. And if you need to deliver the cargo and bypass Dubai and Sharjah downtowns, take Emirates Road (E611).
Conclusion
Thus, MBZ Road is not just any road but the most convenient toll-free road that connects six emirates from Abu Dhabi to Ras Al Khaimah. Knowing the background of this road’s name, its true range of length and traffic pattern, you are better-informed about this road than 90% of the available online information.
Check the traffic conditions for Mohammed Bin Zayed Road before your next trip and if you would like to learn more about the highways of UAE, read our articles about metro stations and government offices in Dubai.
Is Mohammed Bin Zayed Road the same as Emirates Road?
No. Before 2013, it was called Emirates Road but then it was renamed in order to commemorate the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi. The term “Emirates Road” is now used for another highway (E611).
Does MBZ Road have tolls?
No. MBZ Road (E311) doesn’t have Salik toll gates unlike Sheikh Zayed Road (E11).
What is the speed limit on Mohammed Bin Zayed Road?
It varies between 100 and 120 km/h in different sections.
Which cities does Mohammed Bin Zayed Road connect?
It connects Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al Quwain and Ras Al Khaimah, running roughly parallel to Sheikh Zayed Road.
What is the best time to avoid traffic on MBZ Road?
Avoid the period between 6:30 AM and 9:00 AM in case of commuting from Sharjah to Dubai and the period between 5:00 PM and 7:00 PM otherwise.
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