International Removals to and from Dubai
Moving to Dubai with movers? Truck bans run by road and hour, and the newest enforcement notice dates from September 2026.
A few short questions. Nothing is sent until you check and confirm.
When can a removal lorry use Dubai roads?
Not at all hours, and the answer changes by road. The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) told the public in December 2024 that “Truck movement is always prohibited on major Dubai roads such as Al Ittihad Street, Meydan Street, and all crossings”.
A second tier is shut for sixteen hours: “Sheikh Zayed Road and residential areas near Sharjah, such as Al Mizhar, Al Muhaisnah, and Oud Al Muteena, are subject to a 16-hour ban from 6:00 AM to 10:00 PM”. That leaves a window between ten at night and six in the morning for heavy vehicles on those streets, so ask the firm when it plans to arrive.
A third tier bans trucks at peak times only. The RTA lists “Airport Street, Oman Street, and Damascus Street, with restricted times as follows: 6:30 AM to 8:30 AM, 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM, and 5:30 PM to 8:00 PM”. A truck due in the early afternoon can fall inside the middle band.
What changed in 2025 and 2026?
The same release announced a “restriction on truck movement along Emirates Road, specifically the section between Al Awir Street and Sharjah, during evening peak hours from 5:30 PM to 8:00 PM”, starting on 1 January 2025. That is no longer the whole story.
In March 2026 the authorities let trucks run freely: Gulf News reported a permit “allowing trucks to operate across Dubai roads around the clock until further notice”, and added that “Airport Tunnel and Al Shindagha Tunnel are excluded from this decision”.
Gulf News then reported, on 26 September 2026, that “Dubai will begin enforcing restrictions on truck movements across roads in the emirate from October 1, 2026, under existing peak-hour traffic controls, with Emirates Road exempt from the decision.” It names Al Qudra Street, Meydan Street, all marine bridges and Airport Tunnel as closed to trucks all day, and lists Sheikh Zayed Road and Beirut Street among the sixteen-hour roads.
We read this change in a newspaper, not on the RTA site, and we found no RTA notice dated after December 2024. Treat the hours above as the last published pattern and have the firm confirm the notice in force on your moving day.
Does a household move need a permit?
No source we read says so for a family move. What the RTA does regulate is the carrier. A January 2020 decision, reported by Khaleej Times, covers “the transportation of passengers, goods, valuables, packages, foodstuff and furniture by specialised companies”, and the paper says “companies had to seek RTA's approval” before their permits are issued or changed.
For a lorry that must move in a banned window, Gulf News says “Companies whose work requires truck movements during restricted periods in necessary cases can apply for a Right of Way Services permit, or ROWS, through the RTA website to avoid traffic violations.” That application belongs to the firm, so ask whether it holds one for your date.
How far do the Dubai rules stretch towards Sharjah?
As far as the border districts. Dubai's sixteen-hour ban names Al Mizhar, Al Muhaisnah and Oud Al Muteena, which sit beside Sharjah, and the Emirates Road ban pointed at Sharjah. Sharjah keeps its own timetable. The National reported in May 2023 that “Sharjah's population has grown by 22 per cent to 1.8 million, from 1.4 million in 2015”.
We found it only for Ramadan 2026. Gulf News said the Sharjah Roads and Transport Authority set a schedule for Ramadan: “The revised schedule will come into effect from the start of Ramadan”. For city roads it gave “Truck movement will be banned daily from 6.30am to 10am, and again from 2pm to 8pm.” It also named a midnight to 5.30am restriction on Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road. Ordinary-month hours were not on any page we read, so a move to Sharjah or Ajman needs its own check.
How many people live in Dubai?
Four million and rising. The National reported that “The emirate's population stood at 4,000,387 as of August 28.” Gulf News adds that Dubai records about 400,000 truck journeys every day, the traffic the bans are meant to manage.
The same article says the RTA has completed 14 of 16 planned truck rest areas and tells drivers to head to designated truck rest areas during the ban periods, so a lorry may be asked to wait there until its slot opens. Customs rules for the goods inside are in the UAE customs guide, and the capital's equivalent rules are on the Abu Dhabi page.
What should you ask a removal firm before a Dubai move?
Ask for the delivery window in writing, the roads the lorry will use and what happens if a ban hour overlaps the booked slot. Ask whether the firm holds a ROWS permit for the date and whether the unloading address is reached through Sheikh Zayed Road or a peak-hour street. A written quotation should show the delivery window, and the removals cost guide explains how quotations are built. The UAE hub lists the other guides.
Questions about moving to or from Dubai
Are trucks banned on Sheikh Zayed Road?
The RTA's December 2024 notice puts Sheikh Zayed Road in a sixteen-hour ban from 6am to 10pm, and Gulf News repeated it in September 2026.
Is Emirates Road still closed to trucks in the evening?
The RTA announced an evening ban towards Sharjah from January 2025, but Gulf News says Emirates Road is exempt from the restrictions enforced from 1 October 2026.
Confirm on the day.
Does my removal firm need a permit?
Carriers of furniture are regulated by the RTA, and a lorry that must move in a banned period can apply for a Right of Way Services permit.
No source says a household needs one.
Tell us about your Dubai move
Send the Dubai address, the floor, whether there is a lift and loading bay, and the month you want to move.
About International Removals Companies
International Removals Companies is an enquiry and introduction service run by DATACONTEXT (UK) LTD, in partnership with AGM Group. We don't move goods ourselves: the removal company quotes for your move and carries it out, so check its credentials and terms before you book. Our service is free. Discuss the quotation and booking terms directly with the removal company.
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- In partnership withAGM Group (agm.group)