Oman’s transport authorities have barred food delivery motorcycles from using main roads, moving to reduce crash risks on high-speed corridors and push riders towards safer secondary routes across the Sultanate.The Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology issued the directive under Ministerial Circular No. 9/2026, placing new limits on where food delivery motorcycles may operate. The measure applies to riders working for delivery companies, restaurants and related establishments, and is aimed at cutting the risks created when two-wheelers share major roads with faster-moving cars, buses and heavy vehicles.
The ministry said the restriction is tied to Article 39 of the Executive Regulations of the Traffic Law issued by the Royal Oman Police. Officials cited speeding, unsafe riding practices and non-compliance with traffic rules as factors that could expose riders and other road users to serious accidents. Delivery motorcycles must now use secondary roads and routes designated as suitable for motorcycle traffic, while continuing to meet approved safety requirements.
The decision adds a road-use layer to Oman’s wider effort to regulate the fast-expanding food delivery sector. App-based ordering has sharply increased the number of motorcycles circulating through Muscat and other urban centres, particularly during lunch and dinner periods. Riders often face tight delivery windows, heavy traffic, heat stress and pressure to complete multiple orders, conditions that can encourage lane weaving, sudden stops and higher speeds.
Authorities have directed companies and establishment owners to brief riders on the new rules and ensure compliance. That places responsibility not only on drivers but also on delivery platforms, restaurants, logistics operators and supervisors who manage dispatch targets and route planning. The order is likely to require companies to revise delivery zones, adjust estimated arrival times and strengthen internal safety checks for riders operating near main roads.
Oman’s road safety record has improved over the past decade, helped by stricter enforcement, speed cameras and public awareness campaigns, but deaths and injuries remain a persistent concern. The country recorded 595 traffic fatalities and 1,597 injuries from 1,545 accidents in 2025, underscoring the severity of crashes even as accident numbers have fallen from previous peaks. Speed remains one of the most serious risk factors on Omani roads, especially where vulnerable road users interact with high-speed traffic.
Motorcyclists are among the most exposed road users because they lack the physical protection available to motorists. Research on delivery riders in several markets has linked occupational riding to longer road exposure, fatigue, time pressure and elevated crash risk. Oman’s move reflects a growing policy focus across the Gulf on separating small delivery vehicles from faster traffic flows where possible, while preserving the convenience of app-based services.
The practical effect will be felt most strongly in dense commercial areas and along roads connecting residential districts with shopping centres, restaurants and business zones. Delivery riders may face longer journeys where secondary routes are less direct. Consumers could see slightly longer delivery times in some areas, while operators may need to improve route-mapping systems to avoid prohibited roads.
The measure also raises enforcement questions. Clear signage, digital map updates and coordination between the transport ministry, Royal Oman Police and municipalities will be important if riders are to avoid inadvertent violations. Delivery companies may also need to integrate route restrictions into dispatch software rather than relying solely on rider judgement, especially for expatriate workers unfamiliar with detailed local road classifications.
The directive follows other steps to professionalise the delivery market. From September 2025, Oman required food delivery workers and supervisors to obtain professional licences through the Ministry of Labour’s logistics sector skills unit. That requirement was designed to standardise service quality, improve training and create clearer accountability across local, regional and international operators.
For delivery companies, the new road restrictions could increase operating costs through longer routes, rider training, compliance monitoring and possible adjustments to staffing patterns during peak hours. However, a safer operating environment may also reduce accident-related losses, insurance claims, downtime and reputational damage from serious collisions involving branded delivery riders.
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Oman