The UAE has approved a new set of traffic regulations due to take effect on 1 January 2027, under Cabinet Resolution No. 174 of 2026, which implements Federal Decree-Law No. 14 of 2024 on traffic regulation. Under the new rules, individuals will be limited to registering a maximum of five vehicles in their name, with additional fees applying to the third, fourth and fifth vehicles.

The regulation sets new vehicle registration fees at 400 dirhams, with renewal costing 350 dirhams plus a 150-dirham inspection fee. Vehicles that were new when first registered and are no more than six years old from their manufacturing date will be eligible for two-year registration instead of the standard one-year period. Right-hand-drive vehicles will only be licensed for display purposes, and any vehicle that fails to meet safety requirements will be ineligible for registration.

Separately, the rules lower the minimum age for riding e-scooters to 15, even though some local authorities, including Dubai, currently require riders to be at least 16 — a discrepancy that may need to be reconciled once the federal rule takes effect. Riders will need a valid permit, renewable every three years and registered with the relevant emirate. E-scooters must be fitted with front and rear lights, brake lights and audible warning devices, and may only be used on designated routes, with moped-style vehicles capped at 45km/h. Running red lights and riding on roads reserved for motor vehicles will remain prohibited under the new framework.