Mohamed bin Zayed Roads Around the World: Messages of Affection, Bridges of Peace, and Arteries of Development
In recognition of the efforts and initiatives of Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, in promoting peace, prosperity, and development, several countries have named major roads after him.
Today, from East to West, many roads bear his name, serving as symbols of gratitude from these nations to the UAE and its leadership, acknowledging their contribution to development and strengthened ties.
Roads named after him exist in Pakistan, Chechnya, Indonesia, Egypt, and Yemen, along with other landmarks worldwide, immortalizing the bonds of friendship between the UAE and these countries.
Taiz (Yemen)
Among the latest, Major General Tareq Saleh, Vice President of the Presidential Leadership Council and Commander of the National Resistance, inaugurated on Monday the first phase of the “Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Road,” a 37 km stretch linking the Mocha–Mawza junction to Al-Kadha in Taiz Governorate.
This strategic road is considered a lifeline, restoring hope to Taiz after years of suffering under the suffocating siege imposed by Houthi militias. What was once a perilous journey has now become a safe passage.
Saleh emphasized that this project is a vital achievement for the people of Taiz, noting that the Al-Kadha route was the first artery to connect the city since the siege was imposed.
He praised the UAE’s generous support in executing the project and their prominent role in driving development and reconstruction along Yemen’s western coast.
The first phase consists of two 7-meter lanes, a landscaped central divider, two main bridges (Mawza, 120 m and As-Suwaida, 60 m), and dozens of culverts and drainage canals. The road, stretching 81 km in total, will be completed in three phases, crossing mountains, valleys, and flood channels, linking Mocha, Mawza, Al-Waziya, Al-Ma’afir, and finally Taiz.
Aden (Yemen)
In January 2024, Aden authorities had already named one of the city’s vital roads after Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, running from Aden Hotel Square (Khormaksar) to the Aden General Hospital and Heart Center (Sira), in recognition of the UAE’s sacrifices and generous support in military, economic, and humanitarian fields.
Egypt
In Egypt, the “Mohamed bin Zayed Axis,” a key route connecting Cairo to the New Administrative Capital, is nearing completion.
Its naming reflects Egypt’s gratitude for Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed’s unwavering support.
Over the years, he has attended inaugurations of major Egyptian military bases, witnessed project launches, and participated in important bilateral agreements.
Since 2013, President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi has repeatedly praised UAE support and his fraternal ties with Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed.
He attended the opening of the Mohammed Naguib Military Base in 2017, the Berenice Base in 2020, the July 3rd Base in 2021, and in 2024 announced with Sisi the Ras El-Hikma development project, worth $35 billion.
Indonesia
In Indonesia, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed’s name adorns the country’s longest elevated expressway, inaugurated in December 2019. At 37 km long, it links Jakarta with Bandung, Bekasi, and Karawang in West Java, and forms part of the highway system connecting West and Central Java.
On April 12, 2021, President Joko Widodo officially named the expressway in his honor, highlighting the strong ties between the two nations.
Chechnya
In April 2021, Chechen President Ramzan Kadyrov inaugurated a main avenue in Grozny named after Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, praising his humanitarian values and his support for Chechnya’s development projects.
Pakistan
In Pakistan, a 42 km highway connecting Mohmand Gate to Ghalanai in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was built under his name. Funded by the Abu Dhabi Fund for Development, the project cost more than $29 million.
The road benefits over 627,000 people, linking 9 towns and 6 villages. It has improved transport networks, facilitating trade in agricultural, mineral, livestock, and construction goods to main distribution centers.
It stands as a symbol of the UAE’s solidarity with Pakistan during hardships, natural disasters, and crises.
