DUBAI: Commercial vehicles in Dubai have been confined to transport goods belonging to related activities as set out by the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA).

“For example, it will not be permissible for a company to transport foodstuffs and at the same time transport petroleum products,” said the Director of Commercial Transport Activities at RTA Licensing Agency, Nasser Al Haj

He said the RTA has “identified 21 Coherent Commercial Groups where the licencee is permitted to practice one or add more activities electively within the activities set under the same group.

“This will help to streamline overlapping commercial transport activities within the applicable guidelines.

“The underlying objective of the new policy is to support the business sector through facilitating the licensing of relevant activities, and accordingly contribute to the realisation of RTA’s seventh strategic goal ‘RTA Excellence.’”

2-YEAR GRACE PERIOD

Al Haj told The Gulf Today that the owners of the vehicles “should now be coming to us for guidance”, a period he said will last for two years after which compliance would be mandatory.

The guidance will incline to specifications. Asked whether 21 groups are not too many, he said the essence is in “carrying related items. The licencee cannot combine different activities in a single commercial licence.

“We have mapped out a process for educating officials concerned with the implementation of the policy as well as periodic reviews and updates to bring it in line with any subsequent developments.”

Al Haj said the policy aims to develop a methodology to streamline the licensing of activities falling under coherent groups of sectors.

“It also seeks to curb random commercial licences along with their negative effects highlighted by the practicing of overlapping activities. The Policy seeks to facilitate business processes for companies and integrate them with coherent activities. For instance.”