If you’re hitting the roads this weekend, here’s an important update: Salik has revised toll rates for Sunday, November 2, to help manage traffic during the Dubai Ride 2025 event.

The annual cycling event, part of the month-long Dubai Fitness Challenge, kicks off at 6.15am on Sheikh Zayed Road, where thousands of cyclists will pedal past some of the city’s most iconic landmarks in the spirit of community fitness.

To keep traffic flowing smoothly, Salik has announced temporary toll adjustments across its gates:

• Peak hours (6am–10am): Dh6
• Evening peak (4pm–8pm): Dh4 instead of the usual Dh6
• Low-peak hours (10am–4pm, 8pm–1am): Dh4

In a statement shared on X, Salik said the initiative supports Dubai’s efforts to “enhance the smart mobility experience” while ensuring smoother traffic movement during major public events.

Meanwhile, the Dubai Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has confirmed road closures from 3.30am to 10.30am on November 2, primarily around Sheikh Zayed Road, Downtown Dubai, and surrounding routes.

Dubai Ride offers two cycling routes this year, a 4-km family-friendly loop through Downtown Dubai and an exhilarating 12-km route passing landmarks like the Museum of the Future, Dubai Water Canal, and Burj Khalifa.

The sixth edition of the event is one of the highlights of Dubai Fitness Challenge 2025, encouraging residents to embrace a more active, healthier lifestyle, whether on two wheels or four.

Starting November 1, delivery riders, heavy vehicle drivers, and bus operators in Dubai and Sharjah will face a new set of traffic rules designed to make UAE roads safer and more organised.

The updated regulations come in response to the rising number of accidents involving delivery motorcycles, as online food and e-commerce deliveries surge across the Emirates.

In Dubai, the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), in partnership with Dubai Police, will now ban delivery riders from using the fastest lanes on main roads.

• On roads with five or more lanes, riders are barred from the two leftmost lanes.
• On three- or four-lane roads, they cannot use the fast lane.
  Violators risk fines of up to Dh700 and suspension of their delivery permits for repeated offences.

To support enforcement, new signboards have been installed across the city, and inspections will be carried out jointly by the RTA, Dubai Police, and delivery companies using digital surveillance.

Meanwhile, Sharjah Police will roll out a new lane management system, requiring heavy vehicles and buses to stick to the far-right lane, while motorcycles must use designated middle or right lanes, depending on the road type.

Advanced smart radars, cameras, and 24-hour patrols will monitor compliance, with fines reaching up to Dh1,500 and 12 black points for heavy vehicles that stray from their lanes.

Officials say the initiative is part of a five-year traffic safety strategy focused on stricter enforcement, smarter road systems, and public awareness, all aimed at reducing fatalities and ensuring smoother, safer commutes across the UAE.

Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has announced an important update for Umrah pilgrims: the validity of the Umrah entry visa has been reduced from three months to one month from the date of issuance.

According to reports, the change will take effect next week. However, once a pilgrim enters the Kingdom, their stay validity remains three months, so the overall pilgrimage duration isn’t affected.

The move comes as part of efforts to streamline visa management and improve entry coordination during what is expected to be one of the busiest Umrah seasons yet.

Under the new rules, the Umrah visa will automatically be cancelled 30 days after issuance if it isn’t used to enter Saudi Arabia within that timeframe. Officials say this ensures smoother logistics as millions of pilgrims plan their journeys to Makkah and Madinah in the coming months.

Ahmed Bajaeifer, adviser to the National Committee for Umrah and Visit, told Al Arabiya the decision supports preparations for an anticipated surge in visitors, particularly during the cooler months when pilgrim numbers traditionally spike.

This season has already been a record-breaking one. According to the reports, over four million Umrah visas have been issued since June 2025, with more than 15 million pilgrims performing Umrah in the first half of the year alone.

In related updates, the Ministry recently confirmed that all visa types, including tourist, family visit, and work visas, now allow pilgrims to perform Umrah, as part of Saudi Vision 2030’s goal to make religious travel more accessible.

Pilgrims can also use the Nusuk Umrah platform to book packages, obtain permits, and plan their visits digitally.