Truck traffic in Dubai: restrictions from 1 October

RTA and Dubai Police announced truck movement restrictions from 1 October. Restricted hours vary by road; Emirates Road is exempt from the decision.

From 1 October 2026, the truck movement restrictions announced by RTA and Dubai Police take effect in Dubai. The authorities made the announcement on 26 September. Emirates Road is exempt from the decision. The restrictions concern freight vehicles: extending them to residents’ ordinary journeys in passenger cars would be incorrect.

There is no single timetable for every road. The announcement describes existing categories of restrictions: round the clock on Al Qudra Street, Al Meydan Street and in Airport Tunnel; from 06:00 to 22:00 on Sheikh Zayed Road, Beirut Street and in certain residential areas. Three periods are listed for Airport Street, Oman Street and Damascus Street: 06:30–08:30, 13:00–15:00 and 17:30–20:00. These are local Dubai times. Hauliers are encouraged to select permitted routes in advance and use designated waiting areas.

For an apartment buyer, the practical relevance is mainly moving home, furniture deliveries and renovation. Before booking a large delivery, it makes sense to agree the route, arrival time and unloading rules for the particular building with the contractor. This is our recommendation for organising a move, not an additional rule in RTA’s announcement.

The authorities’ aim is to improve traffic flow and safety. However, the news does not justify promising shorter journey times for everyone or higher property values along affected roads. When choosing an address, it remains useful to test the route at the times you expect to use it.