Heavy haulage and transport in the UAE is the road movement of overweight and oversized loads such as transformers, vessels, plant and structural modules, using heavy prime movers, multi-axle or modular trailers, permits and escorts. This page lists UAE heavy haulage suppliers and explains vehicle choice, RTA and Abu Dhabi Mobility permit rules, route surveys and what drives cost.
0 suppliers found
Skip the search. Post your requirement and we'll connect you with verified heavy haulage & transport suppliers who quote for your order directly.
Tell us about heavy haulage & transport in UAE and receive competitive quotes from verified suppliers — free, fast, and no obligation.
Heavy haulage is road transport of loads that exceed the normal weight, length, width or height limits, carried on specialist trailers behind heavy prime movers under a permit. It is part of industrial transport suppliers in the UAE, and you need it when a piece cannot go on a standard flatbed trailer or in a box, which is common for transformers, columns, generator sets, tunnel and rail components, and large excavators.
Most heavy hauls begin at a port such as Jebel Ali or Khalifa Port or at a free zone yard and end at a plant, substation or construction site. The haulier supplies the tractor, trailer, driver, escort and permit, and works from the lifting and route plan agreed with the shipper. The upstream shipping planning sits under project cargo services.
| Configuration | Typical load | Planning points |
|---|---|---|
| Low bed or semi low bed, 3 to 6 axle lines | Excavators, dozers, cranes, tall plant; see low bed trailers | Deck height, ramps, axle loads, gooseneck type |
| Extendable trailers | Pipe, girders, blades, long vessels | Overhang, rear escort, turning radius |
| Hydraulic modular trailers | Transformers, process modules, bridge beams | Number of axle lines, load spreading, self-propelled options, bridge capacity |
| Heavy prime mover, 6x4 or 8x4, plus pusher or tail tractor | Combination weights beyond a single tractor's capacity | Gradients, braking, tractor power and coupling load |
Heavy tractors in the market include SITRAK heavy-duty prime movers and 6x4 and 8x4 trucks, which the maker lists with MAN-licensed engines. Selection should follow the gross combination weight and the gradients on the route.
Each emirate controls vehicle movement on its own roads, so heavy haulage needs the permit of the authority that owns each road section: the RTA in Dubai, Abu Dhabi Mobility in Abu Dhabi. As of 2026 the rules differ by emirate and change by notice, so confirm them with the authority and the police before the move.
| Requirement | Applies to | Authority |
|---|---|---|
| Right-of-way permit for oversized or overweight vehicles | Abnormal loads on Dubai roads | RTA, with Dubai Police |
| Heavy vehicle permit via TAMM | Heavy vehicles on named Abu Dhabi roads, including 24-hour issuance | Abu Dhabi Mobility, Abu Dhabi Police |
| Escort and traffic management | Loads that exceed width or length thresholds set in the permit | Police and the permit authority |
| Truck bans by road and hour | All heavy vehicles on restricted roads | RTA, Abu Dhabi Mobility |
| Owner HSE and lifting standards | Oil, gas and utility projects | Project owner, for example ADNOC group companies |
When the RTA linked its permit system with Dubai Police in 2021, it described a full 24-hour ban for trucks on routes such as the Airport and Shindagha tunnels and Al Maktoum Bridge, a 06:00 to 22:00 ban in the city centre and on Sheikh Zayed and Al Ittihad roads, and permits for oversized cargo to move between 02:00 and 05:00. These timings date from 2021, so verify them with the RTA.
Abu Dhabi Mobility, with Abu Dhabi Police, said in March 2026 that it had activated 24-hour permit issuance for heavy vehicle movement on two named roads: the Abu Dhabi to Sweihan Road (E20) section and part of Sheikh Maktoum Bin Rashid Road, with companies applying through TAMM. Heavy vehicle bans on E11 and Al Raha Beach Road and a peak-hour ban on Al Rawdah Street in Mussafah continue, so permits are road specific. A move that crosses emirates is planned section by section.
A heavy haul is planned from the delivery point backwards: the lift, the route, the trailer and axle plan, then the permit and the escort. A route survey that measures real clearances is the step that prevents roadside surprises.
Summer matters: loading, rigging and lashing outside are restricted by the MoHRE midday break between 12:30 and 15:00 from 15 June to 15 September, and the heat raises tyre and brake temperatures on long hauls. Our guide to heat stress and PPE for outdoor work in the Gulf covers the crew side.
Choose a haulier with comparable moves, engineering support and insurance, then check its permits and equipment before award. Price alone favours operators who cut escorts and surveys.
If you want comparable quotes, post your requirement with weight, dimensions, loading and delivery addresses. See the sourcing guide for the UAE and Saudi Arabia for supplier checks.
Price depends on load weight and size, distance, trailer type, escorts, permits, crane support and standby time. Lead time depends on permit approval, availability of specialist trailers and the port release of the cargo.
Night-only movement windows mean a haul may take several nights rather than one day, which raises crew and escort cost. Heavier units also attract stricter permit conditions, so ask the haulier what the authority requires for your axle loads. Customs release must be complete before collection; see customs clearance services.
