Authorised drivers can also use bus lanes and road shoulders when responding to emergencies.
Dubai: Doctors authorised to respond to medical emergencies and drivers of certain essential service vehicles in the UAE can exceed speed limits by up to 40km/h on roads outside built-up areas under a ministerial decision outlining the conditions for granting road priority.
The decision introduces exemptions from three categories of traffic violations for authorised drivers when exercising their road-priority privileges.
According to Arabic-language daily Al Khaleej, the exemptions include exceeding the speed limit by up to 40km/h on roads outside built-up areas, using road shoulders and lanes reserved for emergency vehicles during traffic congestion or standstills, and driving in designated bus lanes.
However, authorised drivers must continue to follow traffic regulations, exercise caution around other road users and never cross red traffic signals. They are also required to observe posted speed limits in areas surrounding schools, hospitals and residential neighbourhoods.
The decision identifies four categories of essential services eligible for road priority. It also outlines six responsibilities for authorised drivers and four eligibility conditions doctors must meet to obtain emergency response permits.
Who qualifies for priority on UAE roads?
The decision covers four categories of vehicles providing essential services:
- Emergency medical response: Vehicles operated by doctors responding to medical emergencies.
- Public road services: Vehicles operated by government entities or their contractors.
- Vehicle recovery services: Recovery vehicles travelling to accident or breakdown locations.
- Traffic accident mapping services: Vehicles involved in documenting and mapping accident scenes.
These vehicles may be granted road priority under four circumstances: partial or general road restrictions, traffic congestion or obstructions, emergencies and adverse weather conditions, and road traffic accidents.
For doctors, the priority applies to emergency medical response services at hospitals and healthcare facilities approved to receive patients when an urgent response is required.
This also includes medical emergencies requiring a doctor to travel between emirates.
Three traffic exemptions for authorised drivers
The ministerial decision provides exemptions from three specific traffic violations when authorised drivers meet the conditions for exercising road priority.
1. Exceeding speed limits
Authorised drivers may exceed the prescribed speed limit by up to 40km/h on roads outside built-up areas.
2. Using road shoulders and emergency lanes
Drivers may use road shoulders and lanes designated for emergency vehicles when traffic is stationary or heavily congested.
3. Driving in bus lanes
Authorised vehicles may also use designated bus lanes when exercising their road-priority privileges.
These exemptions are not blanket permissions for all drivers or journeys. They apply only to eligible vehicles and authorised personnel responding to qualifying situations under the decision.
Six obligations for authorised drivers
The decision outlines six key requirements that drivers of vehicles authorised to exercise road priority must follow.
Drivers are required to complete a training programme approved by the relevant traffic enforcement or licensing authority before receiving a road-priority permit.
They are prohibited from using UAE-approved warning signs unless they have obtained the necessary authorisation in accordance with the applicable regulations.
Drivers must also comply with all traffic rules and exercise caution around other road users. In particular, they are not permitted to cross red traffic signals, given the serious safety risks involved.
Authorised drivers must give way to emergency and priority vehicles, including fire engines, vehicles transporting patients and injured people, police vehicles, civil defence units and ambulances. They must also give way to official motorcades travelling to carry out their duties.
In addition, they are required to observe posted speed limits in areas surrounding schools, hospitals and residential neighbourhoods.
Four conditions for doctors seeking authorisation
Doctors wishing to obtain permission to use the emergency response service must meet four specific requirements.
They must belong to one of the essential medical specialties covered by the service and approved by the committee established for this purpose.
Applicants must also complete a training course approved by the traffic enforcement or licensing authority, secure the necessary approval to use the service and hold a valid medical licence in the UAE.
Operations room notification mandatory
Under the decision, drivers of authorised essential service vehicles must notify the relevant operations room whenever they are carrying out an emergency response.
They must also obtain road-priority authorisation through the relevant traffic enforcement authority.
These provisions establish the procedures and safety requirements governing the use of road priority by authorised essential service vehicles across the UAE, ensuring that emergency responses can be carried out while maintaining road safety.
