New driving limits, vehicle ownership restrictions and licence regulations explained.
Dubai: From the number of cars residents can register to the time motorists can spend behind the wheel each day, major changes to the UAE’s traffic regulations will take effect on January 1, 2027.
The new rules will affect motorists, vehicle owners, e-scooter riders and people applying for or renewing a driving licence.
Under Cabinet Decision No. 174 of 2026, which implements Federal Decree-Law No. 14 of 2024 on traffic regulation, the changes introduce new vehicle ownership limits, restrictions on driving hours, revised licence validity periods and the option of two-year registration for eligible cars.
1. UAE residents can register up to five vehicles
Planning to buy a third car? Under the new regulations, individual residents can register up to five vehicles in their names, although registering more than two will involve additional fees.
The standard allowance is two vehicles per resident. Anyone wishing to register or renew additional vehicles must pay an extra fee for each one, subject to a maximum of five registered vehicles.
Other vehicle registration rules include:
- Applications must be submitted through the electronic channels approved by the relevant licensing authority.
- Right-hand-drive vehicles cannot be licensed for road use, although they may be permitted for display.
- Vehicles that fail to meet prescribed road safety requirements will not qualify for licensing.
The five-vehicle limit applies specifically to individual residents. Article 89 does not specify an equivalent limit for companies.
2. Minimum age of 15 for e-scooter permits
Electric scooter and e-bike riders will face new permit and safety requirements under the regulations.
Riders must be at least 15 years old to apply for permits covering electric scooters, electric bicycles and small motorised bikes. Permits will be valid for three years and can be renewed.
The regulations cover six categories of personal mobility devices: bicycles, electric bicycles, electric scooters, small motorised bikes, skateboards and mobility devices designed for elderly people and people with disabilities.
What safety requirements will apply?
Devices must meet prescribed technical standards, including:
- Front lights for visibility at night.
- Rear red lights linked to braking.
- Audible warning devices.
- Brakes fitted to at least the rear wheel.
- Securely fitted, roadworthy tyres and components.
Riders must also obtain permits and register their devices where required, use designated routes and follow applicable speed limits.
3. Drivers limited to nine hours behind the wheel
One of the most significant changes concerns the amount of time motorists can spend driving. Under the new regulations, drivers must not exceed nine hours of driving within a 24-hour period.
The provision appears under the general obligations of vehicle drivers, rather than rules specifically limited to professional drivers, delivery workers or truck operators.
Motorists are also prohibited from driving when fatigue or exhaustion affects their ability to operate a vehicle safely.
This means drivers must stop if they become dangerously tired, even if they have not reached the nine-hour limit.
The Federal Traffic Council has the authority to amend the driving-hour limit. However, the regulations do not specify how driving hours will be monitored, whether mandatory rest breaks will apply or whether a separate penalty will be imposed for exceeding the limit.
4. Driving licences valid for one, two, five or ten years
How long a UAE driving licence remains valid will depend on the holder’s age, nationality and residency status, as well as whether it is their first licence.
Here is how the validity periods will work:
- Under 21: A temporary driving licence valid for one year, renewable for another year.
- First-time applicants aged 21 or above: A licence valid for two years.
- UAE and GCC nationals: A ten-year licence upon qualifying renewal, renewable for equivalent periods.
- Expatriate residents: A five-year licence upon qualifying renewal, renewable for equivalent periods.
For drivers who receive their first licence before turning 21, the longer validity periods apply once they reach 21, subject to the relevant requirements.
5. Some car owners can get two-year vehicle registration
Vehicle registration generally lasts one year, but the new regulations introduce the possibility of extending this to two years for eligible light vehicles.
Under Article 98, owners can request a two-year registration period if their vehicle meets all three conditions:
- It was newly manufactured when first registered.
- It is no more than six years old from its manufacturing date.
- It is owned by an individual, rather than a company or another legal entity.
Meeting these requirements does not guarantee approval. Licensing authorities will have the discretion to grant the extended registration period.
The regulations also do not specify whether additional fees will apply.
