UAE Traffic Rules: What Changed in 2026 and What Starts on 1 January 2027

The biggest traffic news of 2026 arrived late in the year: the executive regulations of the federal traffic law, which start on 1 January 2027. Before that, the changes were local: speed limits, toll gates and tax on tolls. Here is each one, with its date, who announced it and where it applies.

From 1 January 2027: the new federal regulations

Cabinet Decision No. 174 of 2026 sets out the executive regulations of Federal Decree-Law No. 14 of 2024, the traffic law in force since 29 March 2025. Gulf News reports that it was issued on 6 October 2026 and replaces the regulations of 1997; Khaleej Times says it appeared in the official gazette on 21 October. It is federal, so it applies in every emirate. The points below come from press reports of the text.

On the road

• Nine hours. No more than nine hours of driving in any 24 hours, and no driving when fatigue affects safe driving (Article 7). The Federal Traffic Council may change the limit. Gulf News and Khaleej Times note that the article covers all drivers; The National has asked how it will apply to private motorists. The reports give no penalty or enforcement method.
• 40 km/h. Limits on internal residential roads must not exceed 40 km/h (Article 8).
• Seat belts for the driver and every passenger, front and rear.
• Child seats for children aged four and under, in the rear (Article 11). See our child seat guide.

Licences

• A pass needs at least 75 per cent in both the theory and the road test, and one dangerous mistake still fails (Article 68). Learners who started before January are not exempt.
• Learner permits may run for up to six months, up from three (Article 82).
• A licence that expired more than ten years ago needs new theory and practical tests (Article 76).
• Validity: one year under 21; two years for a first licence at 21 or over; then ten years for UAE and GCC nationals and five for residents (Article 55).

The renewal steps are in our licence guide.

Registration

• Two-year registration becomes possible for a light vehicle that was new when first registered, is no more than six years old and belongs to an individual. The licensing authority decides, and one year remains standard (Article 98).
• Right-hand-drive vehicles cannot be registered for road use, only for display (Article 89).
• Renewal can be refused if a vehicle is found unroadworthy at an approved inspection. See our Mulkiya and inspection guides.
• Postponed: the five-vehicle cap. Article 89 also limited a resident to five vehicles, with extra fees beyond two. On 9 November the Ministry of Interior said this limit is postponed pending a review. It gave no new date.

E-scooters and delivery riders

• Permits for e-scooters, e-bikes and small-wheeled cycles from age 15, valid for three years, on designated routes only (Article 59). Dubai's own minimum age is 16; the reports do not say whether that changes.
• Delivery riders may not carry a passenger or use a backpack for orders (Article 10).

Apart from these regulations, we found no other traffic change officially announced for 2027 as of 12 November 2026.

Speed limits that changed in 2026

• Abu Dhabi, 9 February. Abu Dhabi–Al Ain Road (E22): 160 to 140 km/h from Al Nahda to Baniyas interchange, and 140 to 120 km/h from Baniyas to the Bridges Complex. Al Rawdah Road (E30): 120 to 100 km/h (Joint Traffic Safety Committee). Aletihad's report of 6 February instead lists Al Aamerah to Al Sad interchange (160 to 140) and Al Maqam Underpass to Al Maqam Palace interchange (120 to 100), so read the signs.
• Abu Dhabi, 14 September. E311 between the At Turoush Street junction and the Al Khayr Street interchange: 120 to 100 km/h (Abu Dhabi Mobility). Gulf News adds that Abu Dhabi has no speed buffer: 101 km/h in a 100 zone is speeding.
• Fujairah, 13 October. Fujairah–Khorfakkan Road: 120 to 100 km/h (Fujairah Police with the Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure).
• Dubai, 1 November. RTA and Dubai Police, on named stretches: Al Asayel Street 60 to 80; Al Mustaqbal Street 60 to 70; Latifa bint Hamdan Street 60 to 70; Al Rebat Street 100 to 90; Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmad Al Jaber Al Sabah Street 80 to 70 km/h.

Tolls and parking

• Abu Dhabi, 4 May. Two new Darb gates, Ghantoot and Al Qurm, charge AED 4 per crossing 24 hours a day (Integrated Transport Centre).
• Dubai, 1 June. 5 per cent VAT on Salik and Parkin: a peak Salik crossing went from AED 6 to AED 6.30, and AED 4 became AED 4.20 for an off-peak crossing or an hour's parking.
• Dubai, November. Parkin introduced paid parking in parts of Jebel Ali Industrial (AED 4.20 an hour, 8am to 10pm) and Al Furjan, as reported on 7 November.

How the accounts and violations work is in our Salik and Darb guide.

Riders and trucks: local changes

• Dubai, 1 May. The RTA and Dubai Police announced a Personal Mobility Monitoring Unit to police e-scooters and bicycles from that date.
• Abu Dhabi, 15 May. Delivery motorcycles are banned from roads with limits of 120 km/h or more (Abu Dhabi Mobility).
• Sharjah, 23 June. Trucks are barred from Al Rahmaniya Tunnel on Emirates Road and rerouted (Sharjah Roads and Transport Authority).

Fines and black points: no new table

We found no official announcement in 2026 of a new federal fines and black-points table. On 1 October 2026 the federal portal still listed Ministerial Resolution No. 178 of 2017, the current table, among the rules in force, and none of the reports on the 2027 regulations mentions fines for the new duties. Our fines guide explains the present system.

What to do before January

• Learning to drive? Expect the 75 per cent rule from 1 January.
• Licence expired years ago? Renew before the ten-year mark.
• Check the limits on roads you drive daily, especially in Abu Dhabi.
• Watch the Ministry of Interior and your licensing authority for how the nine-hour rule and two-year registration will work.

Last checked on 12 November 2026.

Sources

• Gulf News, 2027 regulations — five-vehicle limit and issue date (1 November 2026); nine-hour limit, Articles 7 to 10 (4 November); licence validity (4 November); two-year registration (5 November); cap postponed (9 November).
• Khaleej Times, 2027 regulations — 75 per cent pass mark (27 October 2026); nine-hour limit (4 November); expired licences and learner permits (6 November); e-scooters and delivery riders (9 November).
• The National, 2027 regulations — nine-hour limit and child seats (4 November 2026); ten new rules (5 November, updated 10 November); vehicle cap postponed (9 November).
• Speed limits — Gulf News, Abu Dhabi (9 February 2026) and E311 (14 September); Aletihad, Abu Dhabi (6 February); Khaleej Times, E311 (11 September), Fujairah (11 October) and Dubai (21 October).
• Abu Dhabi Mobility (Integrated Transport Centre) — two new Darb gates (23 April 2026).
• The National — VAT on Salik and Parkin (22 May 2026); new Parkin zones (7 November 2026).
• Gulf News — Dubai personal mobility unit (27 April 2026); Abu Dhabi delivery motorcycles (18 June 2026); Sharjah truck routes (22 June 2026).
• u.ae — Road safety (updated 1 October 2026; laws in force).

PartMate sells car parts and accessories. This article is general information, not legal advice: the official text of the regulations and the traffic authorities in your emirate decide how the rules are applied. Fines and rules can change; check the Ministry of Interior for the current position.