Dubai Emirates Road Truck Ban 2025 in UAE
By Anushree . 30 Jan 2026
Imagine Emirates Road during peak hours before restrictions—heavy trucks mixing with private cars, regular traffic jams, and rising accident risks. To address this, Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) and Dubai Police introduced a targeted truck movement restriction.
Start date: 1 January 2025
Location: Emirates Road (E611), between Al Awir Street and the Sharjah border, towards Sharjah
Timing: Evening peak hours, 5:30 PM to 8:00 PM
This guide explains:
- What the ban covers
- Why it was introduced
- Measured impacts on traffic and business
- How drivers and logistics firms can adapt
The restriction applies only during evening peak hours, not throughout the day, and forms part of a broader, data-driven strategy to improve traffic flow, road safety, and network efficiency across Dubai.
What the Dubai Emirates Road Truck Ban Covers
It focuses on limiting truck movement during busy evening hours to keep traffic flowing. It applies only to a specific stretch of Emirates Road and only in the Sharjah-bound direction, making the rule clear and predictable for drivers.
Official Restriction Details
| Item | Details |
| Restricted Vehicles | Trucks / heavy vehicles as per RTA classification |
| Restricted Direction | Towards Sharjah only |
| Restricted Section | Al Awir Street (E44) → Sharjah border |
| Restricted Time | 5:30 PM – 8:00 PM (Daily) |
| Effective From | 1 January 2025 |
| Enforcing Authorities | RTA (Roads and Transport Authority) & Dubai Police |
| Primary Fine | 1,000 AED |
| Black Points | 4 Points added to the driver’s license |
| Additional Risks | Vehicle impoundment (7 days) or higher fines for repeat violations |
There is no full-day or 6 AM–10 PM ban on Emirates Road. The restriction is limited strictly to evening peak hours.
Who Is Most Affected?
The Dubai Emirates Road truck ban 2025 mainly affects those relying on evening truck operations. Below are the groups most impacted:
| Stakeholder | Impact |
| Logistics & freight firms | Need to reschedule evening movements |
| Cross-emirate truck drivers | Must reroute or wait during peak |
| SMEs with small fleets | Higher sensitivity to delays and fuel costs |
| Private motorists | Benefit from smoother peak-hour traffic |
Why Dubai Made This Move
The Dubai Emirates Road truck ban 2025 was introduced to tackle congestion and improve safety during peak traffic. With cars and trucks competing for space in the evenings, authorities stepped in to reduce accidents and smooth traffic flow.
Safety and Traffic Flow Objectives
| Factor | Evidence |
| Accident risk | Truck–light vehicle overlap during peak hours |
| Congestion | Heavy traffic volumes on Emirates Road evenings |
| Road capacity | Limited ability to expand lanes in urban corridors |
| Environment | Reduced congestion lowers fuel burn and emissions |
Dubai Police confirmed the decision followed extensive engineering and technical studies balancing logistics needs with public safety.
Official Statements
| Authority | Key Message |
| Dubai Police | Reduce accidents caused by truck–car overlap and ease congestion |
| RTA | Improve traffic flow, road safety, and redistribute truck traffic |
| Strategic partners | Decision coordinated with DP World, Dubai Airports, DET |
Environmental benefits—such as reduced fuel consumption and emissions—are considered secondary outcomes resulting from smoother traffic flow.
Expansion of Truck Movement Bans Across Dubai
This isn’t a one-off rule—it’s part of a wider plan across the city. Similar truck restrictions are already active on major roads, and Emirates Road is the next step in Dubai’s broader traffic management strategy.
Truck Movement Restrictions Across Dubai:
Truck Movement Restrictions Across Dubai
| Road / Area Type | Restriction Type | Specific Timings / Details |
| Al Ittihad St, Meydan St & Crossings | Total Ban | Trucks always prohibited |
| Sheikh Zayed Rd & Residential Areas | 16-Hour Ban | 6:00 AM – 10:00 PM |
| Medium-Congestion Urban Roads | Peak Hour Ban | 6:30–8:30 AM / 1:00–3:00 PM / 5:30–8:00 PM |
| Emirates Road (E611) | Evening Peak | 5:30 PM – 8:00 PM (Towards Sharjah only) |
The Emirates Road restriction mirrors the peak-hour model, not the extended 16-hour ban.
Measured Results After Implementation
RTA and Dubai Police reported record positive outcomes following enforcement in 2025.
| Metric | 2024 (Baseline) | 2025/2026 Results | Status / Change |
| Traffic incidents on key corridors | 75 | 37 | ↓ 51% reduction |
| Truck compliance (Emirates Road) | — | +7.7% | Improved |
| Truck compliance (SMBZ Road) | — | +5% | Improved |
| Avg. speed increase (Emirates Road) | — | +26 km/h | Faster flow |
| Avg. speed increase (SMBZ Road) | — | +19 km/h | Faster flow |
| Permits issued during restricted hours | — | ↓ 97% | High compliance |
Result: Faster travel times, fewer incidents, and better compliance without disrupting overall logistics flow.
Business Impact: Wins and Challenges
For many businesses, the ban means safer roads and more reliable travel times. At the same time, it requires better planning—especially for companies that previously depended on evening deliveries.
Positive Outcomes
- Travel time: Reduced peak-hour delays
- Safety: Fewer truck-related incidents
- Planning: Clear, predictable restriction window
- Environment: Lower congestion-related emissions
Operational Challenges
- Evening delivery delays: Shift to off-peak or night operations
- Rerouting costs: Use approved alternative corridors
- Driver awareness: Mandatory training and briefings
Conclusion
The Emirates Road truck restriction (5:30 PM–8:00 PM, from January 2025) is a targeted, data-driven measure delivering safer roads, faster peak-hour traffic, higher compliance, and a better balance between logistics and urban mobility.
Action point: Review routes, adjust schedules, and brief drivers now.
Looking ahead: Further corridor-specific restrictions are likely as Dubai continues optimizing traffic flow beyond 2026.