Yesterday I went along with John and a National photographer to the border with Saudi Arabia. They are writing a photo-slideshow story on the new highway, E11. When we got to the border post we turned around and came back east, stopping along the way to ask people what they were doing, where they are from, and what they think about the road. I think it's a lovely road! Very sandy. As unofficial translator, I felt useful but not crucial until we stopped to take photos of the most enormous graveyard for tires you can imagine. Square kilometers of tires, stacked 20 or 30 feet tall. The landfill proprietor was extremely grumpy and worried the photos would show up on TV; when I explained they were for a newspaper he was mollified... hmm, interesting.  
I will post a link to the story when it comes out in a couple weeks. Until then, you can look at the newspaper website here: www.thenational.ae. You can read John's pieces by searching for Gravois in the top right search field.
I'm taking a break from the road trip for a day, but I may take a bus up to Dubai to meet them there and then continue on the road for the northern section to Ras al Khaima, the border with Oman. We don't have internet at home yet, and this little internet cafe is rather smoky, which I don't think is too good for the mini person, so I am not being very good at correspondence. But soon I will be better.