The UAE is planning to open the Shaikh Khalifa Expressway by December 2011, built at a cost of AED2bn ($544m) and stretching from Fujairah to Dubai.

The project includes construction of the 85km expressway, with the first 45km comprising of a three-lane carriage way with hard shoulder passing through the Hajar Mountains, which links to an existing two-lane highway.

UAE is planning to upgrade the remaining section of the expressway to three lanes.

After opening of the road, traveling time between Dubai and Fujairah will be reduced to 45 minutes.

Construction work on the began in 2006.