UAE Traffic Rules 2027: New Driving and Licence Rules

The UAE traffic rules for 2027 are scheduled to take effect on 1 January 2027. The new federal regulations set a nine-hour driving limit within any 24-hour period, cap vehicle registrations for individual expatriate residents at five, and allow eligible light vehicles to qualify for two-year registration. They also set out requirements for driving tests, child car seats, e-scooter permits and delivery riders.

What you need to do depends on how you use the road. If you drive long distances, count all your driving time within a 24-hour window. If you plan to buy a third car, check the additional registration charge before paying a deposit. If you ride an e-scooter, check which routes your emirate allows and how to apply for the relevant permit.

Information checked on 9 November 2026. This guide covers the regulations scheduled to take effect on 1 January 2027.

What changes under the UAE traffic rules in January 2027?

Cabinet Decision No. 174 of 2026 contains the implementing regulations for Federal Decree-Law No. 14 of 2024 on traffic regulation. The decree-law provides the federal framework, while the Cabinet decision sets out more detailed rules on driving, vehicle registration, road safety and personal mobility. Local authorities handle services such as licence renewal, vehicle registration and the designation of routes for e-scooters.

Topic	What drivers and riders should know
Driving hours	Up to nine hours of driving within any 24-hour period, subject to adjustment by the Federal Traffic Council.
Vehicle registration cap	Up to five vehicles per individual expatriate resident, with an additional charge for each vehicle beyond the first two.
Two-year registration	Individual owners of eligible light vehicles can apply. The licensing authority must approve the extension.
Driving test	A minimum score of 75% applies. A dangerous mistake or an intervention to prevent danger can result in failure.
Residential speed	Speed limits in inner residential areas must be set at 40 km/h or below. Follow the posted limit.
Child car seats	Children aged four and under generally need a suitable child seat installed in the rear.
E-scooters and e-bikes	The minimum age for the relevant permit is 15. Riders must use designated routes.

How does the UAE’s nine-hour driving limit work?

Article 7 sets a maximum of nine hours behind the wheel within any 24-hour period. The provision appears under the general obligations of vehicle drivers, so private motorists should account for it alongside professional drivers. The Federal Traffic Council can adjust the limit.

Do breaks or midnight reset your driving time?

Count the time you actually spend driving within the 24-hour window. Taking a meal break interrupts the drive, but hours already driven still count while they fall inside that window. The same principle applies when a trip crosses midnight.

Example: You drive from 8 am to noon, then again from 4 pm to 9 pm. Those two journeys total nine hours. If you plan to leave again at 6 am the next morning, all nine hours are still within the preceding 24 hours. For a trip like this, arrange another eligible driver or change your departure time.

Can you keep driving if you feel tired before reaching nine hours?

The same article prohibits driving when fatigue or exhaustion affects your ability to drive safely. Stop at a safe place if you become too tired to continue. On a long trip, leave room for breaks and unexpected delays, and include any driving you did earlier in the day when planning your return.

UAE vehicle registration rules for expatriate residents

How many cars can an expatriate resident register?

Article 89 allows an individual expatriate resident to register up to five vehicles. The first two vehicles are exempt from the additional charge introduced by this provision. Ordinary registration costs still apply. An extra fee applies to each vehicle beyond the first two when registering or renewing it.

Example: You already have a family car and a second vehicle registered in your name. A third vehicle falls within the five-vehicle cap, but you should budget for the normal registration costs and the additional charge. Confirm the amount with your emirate’s licensing authority before buying.

If you are replacing one of your cars, check whether the sale or transfer appears in your official vehicle record before registering the replacement. A signed sale agreement and a completed registration transfer are separate steps. Check the number of vehicles still registered to you before assuming you have an available slot.

Can you register a right-hand-drive car in the UAE?

The regulations prohibit licensing right-hand-drive vehicles for road use and allow them for display purposes. If you are considering importing a classic or collector car, confirm how the authority will classify it before paying for shipping. This is particularly important if you intend to drive the vehicle on public roads.

Which cars qualify for two-year registration?

Under Article 98, an individual owner may request two-year registration for an eligible light vehicle. The vehicle must have been brand new when first registered and must be no more than six years old from its date of manufacture. The relevant licensing authority decides whether to approve the request.

1. Check that the vehicle is registered to an individual.
2. Confirm that it was brand new when first registered.
3. Check the manufacture date to see whether it is within the six-year limit.
4. Ask the licensing authority whether you can request two-year validity for your next registration or renewal.
5. Use the expiry date shown in your official vehicle record until the extension is approved and recorded.

Used-car example: You buy a four-year-old car from another owner. For the two-year option, check whether the car was new at its first registration. Your purchase date and the date you transfer it into your name are separate from the manufacture date used for the six-year check.

UAE driving licence age, validity and test requirements

What is the minimum driving licence age?

Federal Decree-Law No. 14 of 2024 sets 17 years as the general minimum age for issuing a driving licence. Applicants must also satisfy the conditions for the vehicle category, meet the medical requirements and pass the driving test. If you are applying at 17, confirm the minimum age and conditions for the specific licence category before enrolling.

How long is a UAE driving licence valid?

Licence validity depends on your age, whether you are applying for the first time or renewing, and whether you are a UAE or GCC national or an expatriate resident.

Driver or application type	Licence validity
Eligible drivers under 21	One-year temporary licence, renewable for another year.
First-time applicants aged 21 or older	Two years.
UAE and GCC nationals on qualifying renewal	Ten years.
Expatriate residents on qualifying renewal	Five years.

Renewal example: A 25-year-old expatriate receiving a first UAE driving licence falls under the two-year first-issue period. The five-year period applies on a qualifying renewal. If you first received your licence before turning 21, check which period applies at your next renewal and follow the expiry date on your current licence.

Can you fail the UAE driving test with a score above 75%?

Yes. The regulations set a minimum passing score of 75%, but an error that creates actual or potential danger can lead to failure. This also applies if the examiner has to intervene verbally or physically to prevent danger. An applicant who scores well on other parts of the test can still fail after a serious error, such as proceeding towards a red light and forcing the examiner to intervene.

When practising, pay particular attention to the points where your decisions affect others. Check traffic and blind spots before changing lanes, slow down in time for crossings and junctions, and wait for a safe gap before pulling out. These habits matter throughout the test, including during otherwise routine manoeuvres.

Speed limits, overtaking and pedestrian crossings

Does the UAE have a 40 km/h residential speed limit in 2027?

The regulations set 40 km/h as the maximum limit that may be posted in inner residential areas. Follow the sign for the road you are using, including any lower limit. The 40 km/h provision applies to inner residential areas. Motorways and other roads have their own posted limits.

Example: You turn off a main road into a residential street and see a 30 km/h sign. Follow the 30 km/h limit. Slow down further if parked vehicles reduce visibility near a crossing or children are close to the road.

When driving between Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah and other emirates, use the posted limit as your reference. A speed you have seen other drivers use on another road tells you little about the rules or enforcement on your current route.

Can you overtake on the right?

Articles 20 and 21 set out the conditions for overtaking. Drivers generally pass on the left and return to the right when they can do so safely. A limited exception allows passing on the right when the vehicle ahead has moved left and signalled a turn into another road, provided there is enough space to pass without danger.

Check your mirrors, blind spot and the space ahead before overtaking. Wait if visibility is poor, oncoming traffic makes the manoeuvre unsafe or signs and road markings prohibit it. Restrictions also apply at locations such as intersections, roundabouts and near pedestrian crossings.

If you have finished passing, return to the right when there is enough room. If another vehicle approaches quickly from behind, make room when it is safe. Moving over abruptly or speeding up to complete a pass can create a second hazard.

What should drivers do at pedestrian crossings?

The federal traffic law requires drivers to slow down at pedestrian crossings and stop until pedestrians who have started crossing have cleared the road. It also requires drivers to slow down at entrances and exits of schools and healthcare facilities, in crowded areas and when visibility is poor.

A common situation is a car stopping in the adjacent lane before a crossing. Its driver may have seen a pedestrian you cannot yet see. Slow down and check the crossing before proceeding.

Child car seat rules in the UAE from January 2027

Article 11 requires an appropriate child restraint for children aged four and under. The seat must meet applicable national standards, suit the child’s height and weight, and generally be fitted in the rear of the vehicle.

What if the vehicle has no rear seats?

For a vehicle without rear seats, the regulations allow a child seat in the front if it faces rearward and the front passenger airbag is deactivated. A separate medical exception requires an official medical certificate and an attendant accompanying the child in the rear.

Before a trip, check that the seat fits the child and is compatible with the vehicle. If you are borrowing or renting a car, check how the restraint will be installed before collecting the vehicle. When moving a child seat between cars, follow the restraint and vehicle instructions each time.

E-scooter and e-bike permit rules in 2027

Article 59 sets a minimum permit age of 15 for electric scooters, electric bicycles and covered small-wheeled cycles. The permit is valid for three years. Riders must use routes designated by the relevant licensing or traffic authority in their emirate.

What should you check before riding an e-scooter?

1. Device category. Confirm whether your model is treated as an e-scooter, electric bicycle or another type of personal mobility device.
2. Permit. Check the application process with the relevant authority and confirm whether your current permit covers your planned use.
3. Route. Check where you can legally ride, including each segment of a commute or school journey.
4. Equipment. Check the brakes, lights, tyres and audible warning device against the applicable requirements.

Commute example: Your building is near a designated scooter route, but the last section to your workplace runs along a road outside the approved route. Check whether there is another designated connection before using the scooter for the entire journey.

New requirements for delivery drivers and motorcycle riders

Article 10 of the implementing regulations requires delivery drivers to wear the prescribed uniform, carry a valid professional permit and use approved systems installed in their vehicles. Motorcycle delivery riders are prohibited from carrying passengers while performing deliveries or transporting orders in backpacks. Orders must go in approved delivery equipment.

For a rider starting a shift, the practical checks are whether the permit is valid, the delivery equipment is approved and secure, and the required systems are working. Businesses assigning vehicles and shifts should account for those requirements when dispatching riders.

What should you do after a traffic accident in the UAE?

Federal Decree-Law No. 14 of 2024 requires a driver involved in an accident to report it to police or an approved reporting party within three hours, unless the traffic authority accepts an excuse for the delay. If someone is injured or there is an immediate danger, contact emergency services promptly. For a minor collision, follow the approved reporting process in the emirate where it occurred.

1. Check for injuries and immediate hazards. Follow the directions of police or emergency responders.
2. Report the collision through the police or the approved local service.
3. Provide the location, vehicle details and any other information the reporting service requests.
4. Keep the accident report or reference number for your insurer or rental company.

Example: If you scrape another vehicle in a car park and agree with the other driver on what happened, still use the approved reporting process. The official report or reference is the record you can share with your insurer.

How to check UAE traffic fines and black points

Check any fine through the issuing authority’s official service. In Dubai, Dubai Police and RTA provide traffic fine inquiry services. The Ministry of Interior also offers services for viewing traffic fines, paying them and registering black points. Look up the specific violation to see the amount due and whether the record requires an additional step.

1. Open the official service for the authority shown on your notice or traffic record.
2. Enter the plate details, driving licence number or traffic file information requested.
3. Check that the date, vehicle and offence match the notice.
4. Review the amount due and any black points or other action shown before paying.
5. Save the payment receipt or the reference for any review request.

If a fine appears on a shared vehicle or a rental car, check the date and time against who was driving and follow the authority’s instructions for assigning the violation. For more help, see UAEHelper’s guide to UAE traffic fines and traffic file numbers or its Arabic guide to checking Dubai fines by plate or licence number.

Frequently asked questions about the UAE traffic rules

Can tourists drive in the UAE with a foreign licence in 2027?

Eligible visitors may drive using a valid recognised foreign licence, an international driving permit or a temporary driving permit, subject to the applicable conditions. Before booking a rental car, confirm which documents are accepted for your licence’s country of issue. Ask the rental company which original documents you must present and which drivers will be covered under the agreement.

Can I let a friend drive my car in the UAE?

Check that your friend holds a valid licence that authorises them to drive that type of vehicle. Federal law places a duty on the person responsible for the vehicle to ensure that the driver is properly licensed. Check your insurance terms as well. If the vehicle is rented, review the agreement’s rules for adding another driver.

Does the five-vehicle limit apply to company fleets?

The five-vehicle provision discussed here applies to vehicles registered to individual expatriate residents. If you are buying vehicles for a business, check the registration and licensing requirements for the company with the relevant authority before making the purchase.

Should I renew my registration early to get two-year validity?

Check your existing expiry date and ask your licensing authority when it will accept applications for the two-year option. Eligibility depends on the vehicle’s original registration status, manufacture date, ownership and authority approval. Plan your renewal around the expiry date already on record.

Official source: Emirates News Agency announcement on the UAE traffic regulations taking effect on 1 January 2027.