A new set of UAE traffic regulations will come into effect on January 1, 2027, introducing licensing requirements for e-scooters, child seat safety rules, limits on driving hours and special requirements for delivery riders. RoadSafetyUAE welcomed the changes, saying its research demonstrated the need for stronger safety measures in all four areas.

According to a Khaleej Times report published on Monday, November 9, 2026, the new rules form part of UAE Cabinet Resolution No. 174 of 2026 on the executive regulations of Federal Decree-Law No. 14 of 2024 concerning traffic regulation.

RoadSafetyUAE said implementing the regulations would place greater responsibility on drivers, fleet operators, businesses and educational institutions to help improve road safety across the country.

Thomas Edelmann, founder and managing director of RoadSafetyUAE, welcomed the new regulations and thanked the relevant government authorities for adopting the rules and clarifying their requirements.

He stressed that the private sector, educational institutions, fleet managers and other road users must also play their part in implementing the new regulations.

1. E-scooter licence required, with a minimum age of 15

Under Article 59 of the new regulations, licensing authorities will issue permits for electric bicycles, e-scooters and certain small-wheeled light vehicles, including mopeds.

Applicants must be at least 15 years old, and the permits will be valid for three years.

These vehicles may be used only on routes and streets designated by the relevant authorities in each emirate.

RoadSafetyUAE called for these routes to be clearly defined and for widespread public awareness campaigns on where such vehicles may be used.

According to UAE Ministry of Interior figures cited by the organisation, the number of e-scooter accidents rose by about 97 per cent in 2025 compared with 2024.

In a joint study conducted by RoadSafetyUAE and Al Wathba Insurance in June 2026, involving 1,010 participants, 93 per cent said they had witnessed unsafe or careless e-scooter use.

A further 90 per cent said e-scooter riders’ behaviour had made them feel unsafe, 89 per cent had seen the vehicles used in prohibited areas, and 88 per cent called for expanded infrastructure and dedicated routes.

RoadSafetyUAE said the licensing requirement could improve users’ understanding of the rules, particularly among younger riders.

The organisation also urged adults to set a good example for younger users by complying with safety requirements.

2. Safety seats mandatory for children aged four and under

Under Article 11 of the new regulations, drivers must use an appropriate safety seat for children aged four and under.

The seats must be suitable for the child’s height and weight, installed in the rear of the vehicle, and compliant with national standards and technical specifications.

Medical exemptions will be accepted only when a child’s physical condition prevents the use of a safety seat, an official medical certificate is provided, and an accompanying adult sits with the child in the rear seat.

In vehicles without rear seats, a child seat may be installed in the front only if it is rear-facing and the passenger-side airbag has been disabled.

RoadSafetyUAE said renewed attention to the issue was particularly important given the rate of child seat use in the country.

A joint study by RoadSafetyUAE and Al Wathba Insurance in May 2026, involving 1,010 participants, found that 72 per cent had safety seats for children aged four and under.

However, among those who owned a child seat, only 79 per cent said they always used it.

Only 52 per cent of respondents said they always used a child safety seat when travelling by taxi, limousine or in a friend’s vehicle.

The main reasons for not using the seats included children resisting being placed in them, parents being overly confident in their driving abilities, and the belief that safety equipment was unnecessary for short journeys.

RoadSafetyUAE recommended that hospitals, nurseries and primary schools play a more active role in educating families.

Its proposals included educating parents before their child’s birth and introducing hospital discharge procedures requiring parents to provide a car safety seat for newborns.

3. Driving limited to nine hours in any 24-hour period

Under Article 7 of the new regulations, driving is prohibited when fatigue or physical and mental exhaustion reduces a person’s ability to operate a vehicle safely.

The article also sets a maximum total driving time of nine hours in any 24-hour period.

However, the Federal Traffic Council has the authority to amend this time limit.

The ban on driving while fatigued applies independently of the nine-hour limit. Drivers who become too tired to operate their vehicles safely before reaching that limit must stop driving.

Although the restriction is included under drivers’ general obligations, further clarification is still needed on how it will apply to private and professional drivers and how driving hours will be monitored.

RoadSafetyUAE welcomed the time limit but called for more details on enforcement and the related technical requirements.

In particular, it stressed the need to clarify how driving data recording devices, known as tachographs, will be used to monitor drivers’ working hours.

The organisation said training fleet managers, owner-drivers and others covered by the regulations would play an important role in ensuring effective implementation.

According to UAE Ministry of Interior figures, 20 traffic accidents in the country were attributed to driver fatigue and drowsiness in 2025.

4. New rules for motorcycle couriers and delivery riders

Under Article 10 of the new regulations, delivery riders must wear the designated uniform, carry a valid professional permit and present it when requested by the relevant authorities.

They must also use approved systems installed on their vehicles.

The new regulations prohibit riders from carrying a passenger on the back of a motorcycle while making deliveries.

Couriers are also prohibited from carrying orders in backpacks and must use dedicated delivery equipment approved by the relevant authorities.

RoadSafetyUAE said monitoring technology could help improve the safety of delivery riders.

The organisation cited the results of a 2018 pilot programme conducted with MiX Telematics and a delivery fleet operator.

The programme found that the use of driver monitoring systems was associated with a 43 per cent reduction in recorded unsafe driving behaviour.

However, RoadSafetyUAE stressed that companies must also reduce the pressure placed on couriers to deliver orders quickly.

Proposal to reduce time pressure on delivery riders

According to a joint survey conducted by RoadSafetyUAE and Al Wathba Insurance in January 2025, a significant proportion of delivery customers would accept a short delay in receiving their orders.

The survey found that 80 per cent of customers would accept an order arriving two minutes later than estimated, while 64 per cent would accept a five-minute delay.

Based on these findings, RoadSafetyUAE recommended that delivery companies move away from commission-based employment contracts and avoid prioritising delivery speed over rider safety in their advertising.

The organisation also called for stronger training programmes for couriers and greater awareness of the risks associated with high-speed driving.

These recommendations represent RoadSafetyUAE’s views and should not be confused with the new legal requirements.

Focus on effective implementation from January 2027

RoadSafetyUAE described the new regulations as a positive step towards improving road safety in the country but stressed that legislation alone would not be enough to reduce accidents.

The organisation said safer roads would depend on clear communication of the rules, effective enforcement and responsible participation by drivers, companies, educational institutions and other road users.

The UAE’s new traffic regulations are scheduled to take effect on January 1, 2027, under the new executive regulations of the country’s traffic law.