Stand-up and stand-down reach trucks, supplied from JAFZA, Dubai

What a Reach Truck Does, and When to Choose One

A reach truck is the standard machine for putting away and picking pallets in high racking. Unlike a counterbalance forklift, the mast reaches forward into the rack, so the truck itself stays in a much narrower aisle, typically around 2.7 to 3 metres against the 3.5 to 4 metres a counterbalance forklift needs to turn. That lets you add rows of racking and lift higher, often to 8 to 11 metres, without moving to a bigger building.

Electric reach trucks in UAE warehouses

Almost every reach truck sold in the UAE is electric. They work indoors with no exhaust, stay quiet through multi-shift operations, and recharge overnight. For Dubai and JAFZA distribution centres where racking height and aisle density decide how much you can store, an electric reach truck is usually the most cost-effective way to use the full height of the building.

Reach truck vs forklift vs articulated

A counterbalance forklift is more flexible and works outdoors, but it needs wide aisles. An articulated forklift goes narrower still and can load vehicles, but costs more. Reach trucks sit between the two: narrow-aisle, high-lift and indoor-focused, which makes them the usual first choice for high-bay pallet storage. Where aisles are tighter again, a very narrow aisle truck packs racking closest of all.

Capacities and mast heights

ARAS supplies reach trucks in the capacities and lift heights listed in the specification table on this page. Tell us your racking height, aisle width and heaviest pallet, and we will confirm the reach truck model that fits.

Reach truck or reach stacker: which one do you need?

The two get mixed up constantly, and the price difference makes it worth getting right. A reach truck has an operator cab, lifts to the 6 to 10 metre range and moves quickly between aisles all shift. An electric reach stacker is the smaller, simpler machine, walkie or ride-on, for moderate heights and shorter runs, at a much lower purchase price. If your racking tops out around 4 to 5 metres and the truck will not run continuously, the stacker usually wins. ARAS Developments FZE supplies both from Jebel Ali Free Zone with same-working-day response across all seven emirates, so tell us your top beam height and we will point you at the cheaper machine that still does the job. For the full side-by-side, read our guide on reach truck vs reach stacker.

What an electric reach truck costs

Our electric reach trucks start from AED 65,000. The figure moves with the lift height you need, whether that is a 6 metre or a 10 metre mast, the battery you choose, and whether you want the cab or the stand-up configuration. Tell us your racking height and aisle width and we will confirm the exact price the same working day. For a fuller breakdown of what drives the figure, read our reach truck cost guide.

What it costs to run

A 2 to 3 tonne electric truck on a single shift costs under AED 3,000 a year to keep running, servicing, wear parts, consumables and charging. There is no fuel bill, no exhaust system, and considerably less to go wrong than on a diesel machine.

The traction battery sits outside that figure. It is a capital item, replaced every five to seven years depending on how it is charged and cared for, and it is worth budgeting for separately rather than folding into a yearly cost.