Truck Movement Ban On Emirates Road Towards Sharjah Set To Begin On January 1, 2025

The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) and Dubai Police General Headquarters have announced a new restriction on truck movement along Emirates Road. This applies to the section between Al Awir Street and Sharjah during evening peak hours, from 5:30 PM to 8:00 PM, starting 1st January 2025. This initiative is part of RTA’s strategy to enhance traffic flow, reduce congestion, and improve road safety standards across Dubai.

In April 2024, RTA began enforcing an expanded truck movement ban on Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road during peak hours. From 2025, this restriction will extend to Emirates Road towards Sharjah in the evenings. The aim is to increase road capacity for private vehicles while maintaining safety standards.

Truck movement bans are enforced by RTA at different times on various roads in Dubai. Major roads like Al Ittihad Street, Meydan Street, and all crossings always prohibit trucks. Other roads such as Sheikh Zayed Road and residential areas near Sharjah face a 16-hour ban from 6:00 AM to 10:00 PM.

Medium-congestion urban areas also have restrictions during peak hours. These include Airport Street, Oman Street, and Damascus Street with restricted times from 6:30 AM to 8:30 AM, 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM, and 5:30 PM to 8:00 PM.

Hussain Al Banna, CEO of the Traffic and Roads Agency at RTA stated that this decision aligns with their strategy to reduce congestion during peak hours. He said it was made in coordination with strategic partners like Dubai Police, the Department of Economy and Tourism, DP World, and Dubai Airports.

Major General Saif Muhair Al Mazrouei from Dubai Police explained that the decision followed an extensive study of engineering and technical standards. "The decision to ban truck movement on Emirates Road towards Sharjah during evening peak hours, starting 1st January 2025, was made following an extensive study of the engineering and technical standards required to balance safety needs with transportation demands," he stated.

The primary goal is to reduce accidents caused by interactions between trucks and smaller vehicles while easing congestion on vital roads. By restricting truck movements at specific times when traffic volumes are high, authorities aim to improve overall road safety.

This measure reflects ongoing efforts by RTA and its partners to manage traffic effectively in Dubai's rapidly growing urban environment. The focus remains on balancing transportation demands with safety requirements for all road users.

With inputs from WAM