The Dubai truck ban took effect on 1 October 2026, when the RTA and Dubai Police began enforcing truck movement restrictions on roads across the emirate. Some roads are now closed to trucks around the clock, others from 6am to 10pm, and most urban roads during three daily peaks, while Emirates Road is exempt.
The joint announcement came on 26 September 2026 through WAM, the UAE’s official news agency. The stated aim is to improve traffic flow, ease congestion on key roads and cut journey times, while keeping goods moving. Here is what the rules say, where the reports disagree, and what it means if you drive a car in Dubai.
What changed on 1 October
The RTA and Dubai Police General Headquarters said truck restrictions now apply across Dubai “in line with the traffic restrictions applicable during peak periods”. Timings vary by corridor, area and congestion level.
The release sets out three levels of restriction:
- Round-the-clock ban on a short list of key roads and crossings.
- 16-hour daily ban, from 6am to 10pm, on major roads and some residential areas.
- Peak-period bans on urban roads, in three windows each day.
Emirates Road is exempt from the decision.
Dubai truck ban roads and timings
The table below follows the official WAM release. One extra row covers Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Road, which the release does not name but which The National listed.
| Road or area | Restriction | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Al Qudra Street | No trucks at any time | 24 hours |
| Al Meydan Street | No trucks at any time | 24 hours |
| All crossings (marine bridges) | No trucks at any time | 24 hours |
| Airport Tunnel | No trucks at any time | 24 hours |
| Sheikh Zayed Road | 16-hour daily ban | 6am to 10pm |
| Beirut Street | 16-hour daily ban | 6am to 10pm |
| Al Mizhar, Muhaisnah, Oud Al Muteena (residential areas) | 16-hour daily ban | 6am to 10pm |
| Airport Street | Peak-period ban | 6:30am to 8:30am, 1pm to 3pm, 5:30pm to 8pm |
| Oman Street | Peak-period ban | 6:30am to 8:30am, 1pm to 3pm, 5:30pm to 8pm |
| Damascus Street | Peak-period ban | 6:30am to 8:30am, 1pm to 3pm, 5:30pm to 8pm |
| Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Road (Ras Al Khor Road to the Sharjah border, both directions) | Peak-period ban (reported by The National) | 6:30am to 8:30am, 1:30pm to 3:30pm, 5:30pm to 8pm |
| Emirates Road (E611) | Exempt from this decision | Not restricted by this decision |
The release lists these roads as examples (“including”), so the full network covered may be wider. The RTA says it will run an awareness campaign with Dubai Police on the scope, timings and alternative routes.
Traffic near Dubai Marina. Urban roads such as Airport Street now have truck curbs during the three daily peaks. Image: Tim Gouw, Wikimedia Commons / CC0.
What about Emirates Road?
Emirates Road is exempt from the new decision. A separate rule took effect on 1 January 2025: a truck ban on Emirates Road towards Sharjah, between Al Awir Street and Sharjah, from 5:30pm to 8pm. The September release does not say whether that evening rule has changed.
Permits, rest stops and enforcement
Companies that must move trucks during restricted hours can apply for a permit, but only in essential cases. The permit is called the Mobility Permit for Heavy Vehicles in Banned Times and Roads. Applications go through the Right-of-Way (ROW) Department on the RTA website.
Permits are linked to the truck’s number plate in RTA and Dubai Police systems. Patrols can identify trucks moving without a permit, or outside its terms, without stopping them.
The RTA is also expanding truck rest stops, so drivers have somewhere to wait out restricted hours:
- 14 of 16 planned rest stops are complete, across six sites.
- Seven rest stops gained 364 parking spaces, a 50% increase.
- Those seven now have 1007 truck parking spaces in total.
- Four more permanent rest areas are planned with the private sector.
- More than 150,000 trucks use the rest stops each month.
- Dubai sees about 400,000 truck journeys every day.
The RTA asked truck drivers not to park randomly on main roads, in residential areas or in undesignated spaces. The release does not list fine amounts for breaking the timings. It says drivers should follow the rules “to avoid traffic violations”. For how Dubai fines work and how to pay them, see our RTA Dubai fines guide.
What it means for car drivers
The rules target trucks, not cars. Nothing changes in what you are allowed to do. What may change is who you share the road with, and when.
Commuter traffic heading from Sharjah towards Dubai. Image: Janjua shj, Wikimedia Commons / CC0.
Your commute
- Sheikh Zayed Road. Trucks are off this road from 6am to 10pm. Daytime drives should have fewer heavy vehicles in the mix.
- Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Road. Reports say trucks are barred during the morning, afternoon and evening peaks between Ras Al Khor Road and the Sharjah border. Outside those windows, expect trucks as normal.
- Airport Street, Oman Street, Damascus Street. Trucks are off these roads only during the three peaks. Midday and late evening are a different picture.
- Al Khail Road. The release does not name Al Khail Road. Treat it as unchanged until the RTA says otherwise.
- Emirates Road. It is the one road named as exempt. Truck drivers avoiding restricted roads may choose it, so you could see more heavy vehicles there, including at peak times. No official traffic figures have been published since 1 October.
If you are renting a car for your Dubai commute, you can compare cars from dealers on OneClickDrive’s rent a car Dubai page.
Watch the edges of each window
Trucks that wait at rest stops or on permitted roads will move once a window closes. That means the minutes after 8:30am, 3pm, 8pm and 10pm may bring a wave of heavy vehicles back onto some roads. If your schedule is flexible, leaving a little earlier or later can help.
Driving tips around trucks
- Stay out of blind spots. If you cannot see the truck driver in their mirror, they cannot see you.
- Leave a longer gap. A loaded truck needs far more distance to stop than a car.
- Do not cut in. Overtake cleanly and move back only when the whole truck is in your mirror.
- Keep to your lane. Weaving around heavy vehicles is how many crashes start. Our guide to lane discipline in Dubai covers the rules and the fines.
- Plan around peaks. Our tips on avoiding heavy traffic on Dubai roads still apply, truck ban or not.
Questions people are asking
Does the Dubai truck ban apply in Sharjah or Abu Dhabi?
No. The 26 September announcement covers roads in the Emirate of Dubai only. Other emirates set their own heavy vehicle hours, so check the local authority before you cross a border.
Can the truck restrictions be lifted?
Yes, temporarily. In March 2026, the RTA and Dubai Police let trucks use all roads around the clock until the evening of 4 March to support supply chains. Airport Tunnel and Al Shindagha Tunnel stayed restricted. The lift was then extended, and by late March trucks were allowed on all other roads around the clock until further notice. The 1 October 2026 decision brought the restrictions back.
Does a truck driver need to carry a printed permit?
No. Under the system the RTA and Dubai Police linked in 2021, permit details sit against the truck’s number plate. Patrols can check them electronically.
Do the rules cover pickups and vans?
The release refers to trucks and heavy vehicles. It does not set out a weight or size threshold. If you drive a pickup or van for work, confirm with the RTA before relying on either answer.
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