Three Key Conditions Determine Eligibility for Two-Year Car Registration in the UAE.
Dubai: UAE motorists will be able to apply for two-year registration for eligible light vehicles under new federal traffic regulations coming into effect on January 1, 2027. The change offers an alternative to the standard annual renewal, but only vehicles meeting three specific conditions will qualify.
The provision is outlined in Article 98 of Cabinet Decision No. 174 of 2026, which approves the Executive Regulation of Federal Decree-Law No. 14 of 2024 on the Regulation of Traffic.
Under the new rules, vehicle registration will generally remain valid for one year and be renewable for the same period. However, licensing authorities may approve a two-year registration for light vehicles at the owner’s request, provided the vehicle meets the prescribed criteria.
Who qualifies for two-year vehicle registration?
Article 98 specifies three conditions for obtaining the extended registration period.
First, the vehicle must have been newly manufactured at the time of its initial registration.
Second, it must be no more than six years old from its date of manufacture.
Third, the vehicle must be registered in the name of an individual, rather than a company or another legal entity.
All three conditions must be satisfied for the licensing authority to consider an application for two-year registration.
However, meeting these requirements does not guarantee approval. The regulation gives licensing authorities the discretion to grant the extended registration period following an owner’s request.
The provision does not specify whether additional fees or other requirements will apply to motorists opting for two-year registration.
Right-hand-drive vehicles prohibited
The new regulations also prohibit the registration of right-hand-drive vehicles for road use in the UAE, although such vehicles may be permitted for display purposes.
Vehicles that fail to meet prescribed road safety requirements will also be ineligible for registration.
Owners, or their legally authorised representatives, must submit vehicle registration applications through the channels or digital platforms approved by the relevant licensing authority and comply with its procedures.
Vehicles with registration expired for more than five years
Article 117 empowers licensing authorities to remove vehicles from traffic records if their registration has remained expired for more than five years.
The measure is not automatic. Licensing authorities may exercise this power in accordance with their approved procedures and requirements.
The same article allows authorities to suspend vehicle registration if an owner modifies the vehicle’s body, engine or colour without obtaining prior approval. Registration may also be suspended following a court order.
Cancellation is permitted if the vehicle’s chassis or body is damaged beyond repair, or if it is involved in a serious traffic accident that leaves it unfit for use, as determined by the licensing authority.
Other grounds for cancellation include a court order or a decision to sell the vehicle through a public auction in accordance with the applicable procedures.
Authorities may also refuse to renew registration if a vehicle fails to meet the prescribed registration conditions, does not comply with safety standards or is deemed unroadworthy during an approved technical inspection.
Registration fee exemption for people with disabilities
Article 104 provides an exemption from prescribed vehicle registration fees for one vehicle owned by a person with a disability.
The exemption is limited to a single vehicle and is separate from the eligibility requirements for the two-year registration option.
Minimum driving ages and licence validity
The new regulations also specify the minimum ages for obtaining driving licences for different vehicle categories under Article 54.
The minimum age for a light vehicle driving licence is 18, while applicants must be at least 20 to qualify for a heavy vehicle licence.
For motorcycles, the minimum age is 17 for a Category 1 licence and 21 for a Category 2 licence.
Applicants seeking light or heavy bus licences must be at least 21. Those applying for licences to operate light or heavy mechanical equipment must be at least 20.
Article 55 also sets out the validity periods for driving licences.
Licences issued to applicants below the age of 21 are temporary and generally valid for one year, with the option to renew for another year.
First-time licence holders aged 21 and above receive licences valid for two years.
For subsequent renewals, UAE and Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) nationals qualify for licences valid for 10 years, while expatriate residents receive five-year licences. Both categories can renew their licences for equivalent periods.
The new executive regulations will come into force on January 1, 2027, introducing revised provisions governing vehicle registration, roadworthiness standards and driving licence requirements across the UAE.
