A new rule taking effect in the UAE from January 1, 2027 will limit every driver, private and professional alike, to a maximum of nine hours behind the wheel per day. The regulation directly targets the long shifts common among taxi and delivery drivers, some of whom currently work 12-hour days or longer.

Road safety specialists have welcomed the move. Thomas Edelmann, founder of Road Safety UAE, said the new rules will benefit both drivers and other road users. Joseph Salem of Arthur D Little called it a clear step forward for safety, noting that fatigue impairs reaction time much like certain substances do. Dr Iuliana Hartescu of Loughborough University described it as a solid way to address driver fatigue on the roads.

For transport and taxi companies, the change means reworking shift schedules and likely hiring additional drivers to cover the same workload within fewer hours per driver. Industry watchers expect short-term operating costs to rise as fleets adjust, but argue that fewer fatigue-related accidents over time should offset some of that cost through lower insurance claims and fewer disruptions.

The nine-hour cap is part of a broader package of UAE traffic reforms set for 2027, aimed at tightening road-safety standards as the country's population and traffic volumes in major cities continue to grow quickly.