Over the years, there have been times when one could get relief from the heat of Dubai summers by riding a motorcycle under the shade of a palm tree or by sitting on a veranda of a mosque or in the parking area of a mall waiting for a break in the heat.
This shade hunt was as much a part of the delivery business as the deliveries for the thousands of delivery riders throughout the emirate. That’s all changed now.
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Dubai Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has announced that air-conditioned delivery riders rest areas are 100 percent operational to support riders during peak summer heat. It promotes safety on the roads, minimizes the risk of accidents and boosts the quality of life for delivery riders.
Today, there are 40 facilities open throughout the city and they are welcome just in time.
Delivery Riders Rest Areas: From Three Shelters to Forty
This initiative did not appear overnight. The delivery riders rest areas project was first announced by RTA in November 2023, with just three such areas planned. Since then its development has been explosive, as demand has been increasing and concerns regarding rider welfare in extreme heat have grown across the city.
In the Summer months in the UAE, the temperature can become very hot and can hit 45 degrees Celsius and higher. It has been a challenge for delivery riders who spend more than eight hours on the road each day to find shade.
Before these rest areas were provided, cyclists would frequently stop under trees, at mosque verandas or in parking lots of malls. There is a significantly different atmosphere to the past and present. The delivery riders rest areas now offer a purpose-built solution where none existed before.
Delivery Riders Rest Areas: What Each Stop Offers?
Maintenance and preparatory works have been completed at around 40 facilities located across key areas of Dubai, including Hessa Street, Al Khawaneej, Al Barsha, Al Satwa, Oud Metha, Al Karama and Arjan.
The locations were selected based on operational data and a comprehensive assessment of high-demand delivery zones, conducted in coordination with delivery companies. The thinking behind each site is practical rather than arbitrary. Every facility is built where riders are already clustered.
Air conditioning, water dispensers and mobile phone charging stations are provided at each rest area. The outer design has been designed to minimise the amount of direct sunlight that falls on it and to give thermal insulation without compromising visibility. About 10 people can ride at each of the sites and there are areas for motorcycle parking.
The Authority’s commitment to the delivery sector is reflected in this initiative, said Ahmed Mahboob, Chief Executive Officer at the Licensing Agency at RTA. “Traffic safety remains RTA’s highest priority, in line with our ambition to make Dubai a world leader in this field.
We have developed an integrated governance framework for the delivery sector that ensures effective oversight across Dubai and contributes to continuously raising service standards,” he said.
Part of a Wider National Effort
The RTA initiative is not the only welfare measure active across the UAE for delivery workers. Last year, the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation had distributed more than 10,000 air-conditioned rest stations across the country through various delivery platforms, such as Talabat, Deliveroo, Noon and Careem.
These programmes are part of a wider policy change towards the treatment of the delivery workforce in the UAE. Additionally, RTA has also opened new rest areas in bus and metro stations in collaboration with Deliveroo and UAE Food Bank, providing 7,500 free hot meals to delivery drivers as part of their efforts to support the many services delivered door-to-door in Dubai.
In addition, RTA has also opened new rest areas in bus and metro stations with Deliveroo and UAE Food Bank, where 7,500 hot meals will be provided for free for delivery drivers, to recognise their important role in providing many services door-to-door in Dubai.
How People Are Responding
The community has been receptive to the news. The Dubai Media Office’s announcement on social media on June 4th, 2026, resulted in immediate and positive responses.
One of them directly responded to the official on the account with a message that reads: “Simply commendable! Thank you!” The mood was representative of the general opinion of the city.
Dubai delivery riders can be seen on every street, at any time of day or night, regardless of the weather. Residents with whom they come into daily contact have heard their pledge of comfort and safety and it has made an impact on them.
The delivery riders rest areas may appear small from the outside. For the riders stepping inside them during a July afternoon, they are anything but.
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