Dubai unveils plan for 3 massive truck rest areas

Three new truck areas, spanning a total area of over 210,000 square metres, will be built in Dubai under a new partnership between the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) and the private sector.

It will have a combined capacity for 490 trucks and heavy vehicles, and deliver a range of services designed to enhance driver safety and well-being, including accommodation, maintenance centres, training and commercial services.

The locations for the rest areas were identified based on technical studies, and its proximity to key corridors and major logistics hubs.

The move is part of the RTA's efforts to advance Dubai’s transport and logistics ecosystem, and seeks to provide a secure environment for drivers.

It is also a response to the "rapid growth" of the logistics sector, "with more than 500,000 truck trips recorded daily on roads," highlighted Mattar Al Tayer, Director General, Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of the RTA,

"Internal truck movement within the emirate accounts for approximately 83 per cent of total truck traffic, while the number of registered trucks in Dubai has reached 85,000, which reflects the growing demand for specialised infrastructure to support this vital sector," he added.

“The freight and logistics sector in the UAE represents a strategic pillar and a key driver of sustainable economic growth, as well as a core enabler of the Dubai Economic Agenda D33. It reinforces the emirate’s position as a global hub for trade and supply chains."

Location of the 3 new rest areas
The facility planned near Jebel Ali 3 spans 100,000 square metres, with capacity for up to 250 trucks and heavy vehicles. It comprises a comprehensive range of services and facilities, including a heavy vehicle testing centre, a driver training centre focused on safety requirements, a light vehicle maintenance centre, a periodic maintenance facility, retail outlets, and logistics warehouses. It also includes accommodation, recreational lounges, electric vehicle charging points, and diesel refuelling stations.

The second facility is to be located in Saih Shuaib, near the entrance to Dubai Industrial City (DIC). It spans approximately 51,000 square metres and accommodates up to 120 trucks and heavy vehicles. It comprises accommodation, a periodic maintenance centre, retail outlets, logistics warehouses, recreational lounges, and electric vehicle charging points.

The third facility is to be located in Madinat Hind 2 along Emirates Road, adjacent to Al Tayy Racetrack. It spans over 59,000 square metres and accommodates approximately 120 trucks and heavy vehicles. It comprises a heavy vehicle testing centre, a driver training centre focused on safety requirements, a periodic maintenance facility, retail outlets, and logistics warehouses. It also includes accommodation, recreational lounges, and electric vehicle charging points.

14 rest areas along 'key logistics hubs'
RTA, in collaboration with Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC), has developed 14 truck rest areas distributed across six key locations along strategic corridors and logistics hubs that attract high volumes of truck traffic daily. These include Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road, Emirates Road, Dubai–Hatta Road, Dubai–Al Ain Road, Jebel Ali–Lehbab Road, and Al Awir Road. Each rest area spans between 5,000 and 10,000 square metres and accommodates between 30 and 40 trucks and heavy vehicles.