Sheikh Zayed Road Cityscape  

Photograph by Andrew Prokos 

Sheikh Zayed Road

Sheikh Zayed Road is representative of the larger story of the UAE’s rapid development—the 34 mile-long road from the Dubai World Trade Center to Jebel Ali was extended in between 1993 and 1998 and ushered in the now-iconic skyline of skyscrapers. This stretch of road is part of the larger E11 highway that unites the seven emirates and stands as a symbol of the rapid growth the UAE has undergone over the past 50 years. To match traffic demands, the Dubai Metro, the longest driverless metro rail system in the world, opened in 2009 with stations along Sheikh Zayed Road. A global team of 100 architects from the firm Aedas considered designs inspired by the UAE’s heritage, including the sails of dhows and falcon wings, before choosing the pearl, which is represented by the distinct shell form, aluminum roof, and glass paneling of each station.