DUBAI: Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has finished building 10 of the 16 planned truck rest stops, working with the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC). These rest stops are set up at six key locations: Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road, Emirates Road, Dubai – Hatta Road, Dubai – Al Ain Road, Jebel Ali – Lehbab Road, and Al Awir Road. These spots are chosen because they handle a lot of truck traffic daily. Each rest stop covers between 5,000 and 10,000 square metres and can hold 30 to 45 trucks, with over 700 parking slots available.

The facilities include amenities such as prayer rooms, diesel refuelling stations, and driver rest areas, covering a total of more than 75,000 square metres and serving over 5,000 trucks and heavy vehicles.

His Excellency Mattar Al Tayer, Director-General and Chairman of the RTA, said these rest stops help improve traffic safety by cutting truck-related incidents by 50%. They also ease traffic flow during truck ban periods and prevent trucks from parking on main roads and in residential areas. Given that Dubai sees over 300,000 truck trips daily, carrying around 1.5 million tonnes of goods, these rest areas are crucial.

Al Tayer noted that selecting the locations for these stops involved detailed planning to make sure they are effective and strategically placed. The aim was to ensure safe access and reduce the impact on residential areas while supporting the logistics sector.

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He also praised the growing partnership between the public and private sectors. This collaboration helps improve public services and allows for better investment opportunities. The recent agreement with ADNOC includes an integrated truck rest area near Emirates Road with a range of facilities to support drivers’ needs, such as refuelling, rest areas, maintenance, and more.