Vehicular movement towards Sharjah from Dubai increased by 26km/h after expansion of heavy truck ban policy
- Last updated: November 19, 2025 | 16:57 ..
Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) and Dubai Police General Headquarters announced record positive results following the implementation of the expanded truck-movement restriction on Emirates Road.
RTA stated that the decision to limit truck movement on Emirates Road (specifically the section between Al Awir Road and the Emirate of Sharjah towards its direction during the evening peak hours from 5:30 pm to 8:00 pm) enforced from Jan.1, 2025, was undertaken as part of a wider plan to extend restrictions across selected arterial roads in Dubai, with the objective of reducing traffic congestion and enhancing road-safety levels.
The expanded truck-movement restriction has contributed to improving traffic flow and enhancing road-safety levels on key corridors, particularly Emirates Road and Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Road.
The most notable outcomes included a reduction in traffic incidents to 37 cases in 2025, compared with 75 cases in 2024. The results also indicated an improvement in truck compliance with restriction hours towards Sharjah, rising by 7.7% on Emirates Road and 5% on Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Road in June 2025 compared with November 2024. Average vehicle speed increased by 26 km/h on Emirates Road and 19km/h on Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Road following the implementation of the restriction, reflecting a clear improvement in traffic flow and a reduction in travel times.
The number of traffic permits issued during the restriction hours on both roads decreased by 97%, reflecting a higher level of compliance with the new procedures and criteria for permit issuance, and thereby achieving a better balance in distributing truck movements across alternative routes.
Hussain Al Banna, CEO of Traffic and Roads Agency at RTA, said: “Implementing the restriction forms part of the strategy to expand truck-movement limits to reduce peak-hour congestion, improve road-safety levels, and enhance traffic flow across Dubai’s road network. The decision was taken in coordination with our strategic partners at Dubai Police General Headquarters, the Department of Economy and Tourism, DP World, and Dubai Airports.”
Al Banna emphasised that adjusting truck-movement hours on Dubai’s roads is based on detailed engineering and technical studies conducted in coordination with partners. These studies take into account vehicle density, traffic volumes, incident statistics, and urban development on both sides of the corridors, in addition to assessing the capacity of alternative routes to accommodate logistics movements.
He added: “RTA, in cooperation with Dubai Police General Headquarters and relevant entities, is working to raise awareness among heavy-vehicle drivers and truck owners regarding the restriction hours and alternative routes. This effort includes installing guidance signs at the start and end points of the restriction zones, along with multilingual media and radio awareness campaigns across various outlets and social-media platforms, ensuring smooth and effective implementation of the new measures and achieving the intended outcomes.”
Reducing overlapping between heavy and light vehicles
Major General Saif Muhair Al Mazrouei, Assistant Commander-in-Chief for Operations Affairs at Dubai Police, said: “The decision to restrict truck movement on Emirates Road towards the Emirate of Sharjah during the evening peak period, implemented in January 2025, followed an in-depth study of engineering and technical criteria aimed at ensuring a balance between safety requirements and transport needs. The decision includes prohibiting truck movement during specific times on Emirates Road, particularly in the evening when traffic volumes are high. The primary objective is to reduce traffic incidents resulting from overlapping between trucks and light vehicles, and to ease congestion on vital corridors.”
He continued: “The decision has contributed to improving road-safety levels and reducing truck-related incident rates during peak hours. It has also enhanced traffic flow and eased bottlenecks on key roads such as Emirates Road, while supporting environmental sustainability by reducing congestion-related fuel consumption and pollutant emissions.”
Major General Al Mazrouei added: “The new traffic measures implemented on Emirates Road represent a proactive step aimed at providing a safer and more efficient traffic environment. With truck drivers and transport companies adhering to the decision, the intended objectives can be achieved without affecting logistics services or the economy. The success of this initiative reflects the collective commitment of all parties, ensuring smooth and effective implementation of the restriction and achieving the intended outcomes to maintain a safe and comfortable road environment for all users.”