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UAE: Over 10,000 AC rest stations for delivery riders during peak summer
Delivery service workers can access the nearest rest stations through interactive maps available on the apps
- PUBLISHED: Tue 10 Jun 2025, 1:33 PM UPDATED: Wed 11 Jun 2025, 8:16 PM
Over 10,000 air-conditioned rest stations will serve delivery service workers across the UAE throughout the peak summer period. Known as the ‘Midday Break’, the UAE enforces a ban on outdoor work under direct sunlight from 12.30pm to 3pm daily for three months, starting June 15.
The Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MoHRE) said Tuesday that delivery services are a “vital logistical sector with a unique operational model”, where workers are not stationed in fixed locations. Delivery service workers can access the nearest rest stations through interactive maps available on the apps.
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The initiative is spearheaded by the Ministry in partnership with Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), as well as other government entities, and with delivery platforms. Last year, 6,000 air-conditioned rest areas were provided for delivery workers, with thousands more added this year.
The Midday Break was launched in 2024 to protect workers outdoors from the risks of heat exhaustion during the summer months, especially during peak sunshine hours.
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The Ministry said that employers are required to provide shaded areas, sufficient cooling devices, cold drinking water, hydration supplies, and first aid equipment at job sites. It also called on the public to report any violations of the Midday Break regulations by dialling 600590000 or through the official website.
When the initiative first rolled out last summer, delivery riders told Khaleej Times that the rest areas provided momentary relief from the intense heat and allowed them to work more comfortably.
Last month, Kuwait also enacted provisionary measures to offer motorcycle delivery workers respite during peak daytime hours. The temporary ban started on June 1 and will continue until the end of August, prohibiting delivery workers from operating between 11am and 4pm, as per the X post shared by the country’s Ministry of Interior.
As Associate Editor, Sahim Salim helps tell the UAE story like no one else does — and leads a team of reporters that asks the questions to get news and headlines that matter.