The Roads and Transport Authority and Dubai Police issued a joint statement outlining new truck movement restrictions across Dubai that take effect on October 1, 2026, as part of ongoing efforts to reduce congestion on key corridors. The calibrated measures account for varying traffic volumes, with some roads facing full-day prohibitions and others limited to peak periods, while Emirates Road has been exempted entirely from the updated rules. The statement emphasised that the changes seek to balance enhanced road safety with the operational requirements of the commercial transport and logistics sectors that underpin much of the emirate’s economic activity. Authorities have simultaneously expanded the network of truck rest areas to provide alternatives during restricted hours.
A round-the-clock ban will apply to truck movements on Al Qudra Street, Al Meydan Street, all marine crossings and the Airport Tunnel under the new framework detailed by the RTA and Dubai Police. Sheikh Zayed Road, Beirut Street and residential zones including Al Mizhar, Muhaisnah and Oud Al Muteena will observe a 16-hour daily restriction running from 6am to 10pm. In urban corridors such as Airport Street, Oman Street and Damascus Street, trucks will face prohibitions only during three peak windows each day.
Emirates Road remains exempt from these restrictions, according to the joint statement by the RTA and Dubai Police. The RTA has advised companies needing to move trucks during restricted hours in essential cases to apply for a mobility permit for heavy vehicles through its website under the Right-of-Way Department. This process helps avoid traffic violations while ensuring necessary goods movement continues.
The authority has completed 14 of 16 planned truck rest areas distributed across six key sites in the emirate, RTA data shows. It increased capacity at seven rest stops by 50 percent through the addition of 364 parking spaces, bringing the total to 1,007 spaces at those locations. More than 150,000 trucks use the rest areas each month.
RTA figures place the daily number of truck journeys across Dubai at approximately 400,000. Earlier implementation of similar peak-hour restrictions produced a 20 percent drop in truck-related traffic incidents during 2025, according to an RTA assessment. Average vehicle speeds also rose significantly on affected highways following those prior measures.
The TomTom Traffic Index indicated that Dubai motorists lost 72 hours to congestion in 2025 amid rising vehicle numbers and population growth. Both the RTA and Dubai Police urged full compliance with the new restrictions and encouraged cooperation to sustain road safety gains achieved in previous years. The updated rules form part of a long-term strategy to manage heavy vehicle movements while preserving the emirate’s efficiency as a regional logistics centre.
