As UAE temperatures soar, over 10,000 air-conditioned rest stations are being made available to delivery riders across the country to ensure their safety as part of the midday break initiative. The midday break is scheduled daily during the hours of 12.30pm through 3.30pm and will be in place from 15 June to 15 September.
The initiative, led by the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MoHRE) in collaboration with local and private sector partners, builds on last year’s rollout of 6,000 stations. Now, even more cooling stations can be found across all Emirates, especially in high-demand areas.
Partners include Dubai’s Road and Transport Authority, Abu Dhabi’s Integrated Transport Centre, Talabat, Deliveroo, Noon, Careem, and numerous malls, cloud kitchens, restaurants, and fuel stations. Delivery riders can also find the nearest rest station through interactive maps on their delivery apps.
This expansion highlights the UAE’s growing focus on worker welfare, especially for delivery riders who spend long hours outdoors with no fixed job site. The midday break initiative also requires employers to provide shaded rest areas, cold water, and first aid kits on-site for all outdoor workers.
Residents can support the initiative by reporting violations through the MoHRE call centre or through their website and app.