The key facts
- From 1 January 2027, new executive rules to the UAE traffic law come into force
- E-scooter permits will become mandatory, with the minimum age lowered to 15
- One person will be able to register no more than five cars, with an additional fee for the third and subsequent ones
What changes from 2027
In the UAE, new traffic rules come into force on 1 January 2027, affecting drivers, vehicle owners and users of personal mobility devices. They are set out in Cabinet Resolution No. 174 of 2026, issued in October as executive provisions to Federal Decree-Law No. 14 of 2024 on the regulation of road traffic, reports The National.
E-scooters: permits and technical requirements
A permit to operate an e-scooter will become mandatory, and the minimum age to obtain one has been lowered to 15. The permit will be valid for three years, and scooters will need to be registered with the licensing authorities of each emirate. The rules also cover other personal mobility devices — e-bikes and mopeds — including requirements for protective gear and permitted routes. Riders are banned from entering roads intended for motor vehicles, crossing intersections on a red light and exceeding the set speed limits: for example, 45 km/h for a moped. Technical requirements for scooters are also being introduced: a front headlight, rear lights, a brake light, a bell and a brake on at least the rear wheel.
Uncertainties in the rules
The resolution does not clarify how the new minimum age of 15 will be reconciled with the existing age limit of 16 in Dubai. Road safety expert Mustafa Aldea called the new rules a significant step forward, noting that they bring the regulations in line with real mobility patterns — scooters, couriers and car rentals. At the same time, road safety advocate Thomas Edelmann believes that lowering the age will change little without stricter enforcement: in his words, children under the permitted age already ride scooters without any consequences, and responsibility for safety should lie not only with the police but also with parents and schools.
Cars: a cap and new fees
A cap is being introduced for vehicle owners: one person will be able to register no more than five cars. Under Article 89, residents may register up to two vehicles, while registering or renewing a third, fourth or fifth will require paying an additional fee for each vehicle. The amount of the fee is not specified in the resolution, nor is how the cap will apply to those who already have more than five cars registered. Registration will remain annual, but for new vehicles a two-year period can be requested — provided the car was new at first registration and no more than six years have passed since its date of manufacture. Basic registration of a new car costs 400 dirhams, renewal 350 dirhams plus 150 dirhams for the technical inspection. Right-hand-drive cars will be licensed only for demonstration purposes, while those that fail to meet safety requirements will not be registered at all.
Context: tighter enforcement is already under way
The new rules continue an already noticeable tightening of control over personal mobility devices. Abu Dhabi Police over ten months confiscated more than 9,230 e-scooters, and Dubai Police previously announced its intention to hold parents responsible for children's unsafe use of scooters. Aldea stressed that before the rules come into force, the priority should be public awareness campaigns so that drivers, riders and employers understand exactly what is changing.
