The Dubai Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) and Dubai Police General Headquarters have reported record improvements in traffic flow and road safety following the expansion of truck-movement restrictions on Emirates Road.
Implemented on January 1, 2025, the measures were designed to reduce peak-hour congestion and enhance safety levels across key corridors.
The results show sharp reductions in incidents, higher compliance among truck operators and significant increases in average vehicle speeds.
Dubai traffic incidents fall
RTA confirmed that limiting truck movement on Emirates Road — specifically the section between Al Awir Road and the Emirate of Sharjah during evening peak hours from 5.30 pm to 8pm — has delivered measurable safety gains.
The number of traffic incidents dropped to 37 cases in 2025, compared with 75 cases in 2024.
Compliance with truck-movement hours also increased:
- 7.7 per cent improvement on Emirates Road
- 5 per cent improvement on Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road
(June 2025 compared with November 2024)
Average vehicle speeds rose by:
- 26 kmph on Emirates Road
- 19 kmph on Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road
RTA said the results indicate smoother traffic flow, reduced travel times and a noticeable efficiency improvement during critical peak periods.
97% drop in permits issued in restricted hours
RTA reported a 97 per cent decrease in the number of traffic permits issued during restriction hours across both roads.
The authority said the decline reflects stronger adherence to permit criteria and better distribution of 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,” said
Al Banna said the decision was based on engineering and technical studies covering:
- Vehicle density
- Traffic volumes
- Incident statistics
- Urban development patterns
- Capacity of alternative logistics routes
He added that RTA is working with Dubai Police and other entities to raise awareness among heavy-vehicle drivers, installing guidance signs and running multilingual campaigns across media and social platforms.
Dubai Police restrictions
Major General Saif Muhair Al Mazrouei, Assistant Commander-in-Chief for Operations Affairs at Dubai Police, said the evening truck restriction followed an in-depth study of engineering and technical criteria to balance safety requirements and transport needs.
He said the primary objective is to reduce incidents arising from overlapping between trucks and light vehicles while easing congestion on vital corridors.
He said: “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,” he said.
Major General Al Mazrouei added that the initiative represents a proactive step toward a safer and more efficient traffic environment and that success depends on the collective commitment of truck drivers, companies and stakeholders.
