The new UAE e-scooter rules take effect on 1 January 2027, and they change how electric scooters, e-bikes and small motorised bikes may be used on public roads. The executive regulations of the federal traffic law classify personal mobility devices into six categories, require a permit before you ride, and set a minimum age of 15 for permit applicants.
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The six categories covered
The regulations sort personal mobility devices by their specifications, so the category your device falls into decides what applies to you:
- Conventional bicycles, pedalled by the rider with no motor or hybrid drive
- Electric bicycles fitted with a power unit that assists pedalling
- Electric scooters, driven by an electric motor and ridden standing or seated
- Small motorised bikes with an engine capacity up to 50cc and a top speed of 45 km/h
- Skateboards designed for personal travel, pushed by the user or motorised
- Mobility devices for older people and people with disabilities
The same package of regulations also introduces a cap on how many vehicles one resident can register.
Permits and the minimum age
Three types of permit are issued: one for electric scooters, one for electric bicycles and one for small motorised bikes. Permits are issued by local licensing authorities, the applicant must be at least 15 years old, and a permit runs for three years and can be renewed. Your device must also be registered with the licensing or traffic authority, and riding without the permit is not allowed once the rules are in force.
Safety equipment your device must have
- A front lamp to light the road at night
- A rear lamp with a red brake light that activates when you brake
- An audible warning device fitted to the handlebars
- Brakes on at least the rear wheel
- Tyres securely fitted and roadworthy, with wheel spokes complete and properly tensioned
Licensing authorities may add further requirements, so it is worth checking locally before buying a new device.
Where you can and cannot ride
Riding personal mobility devices on roads set aside for motor vehicles is prohibited. You must keep to the routes your licensing or traffic authority designates and observe the speed limits set for them. The regulations also define the signals that apply to you: red means do not cross, green means you may cross, and a flashing green means do not start crossing, although anyone who has already begun may finish. These duties apply to rented devices as well, so hire operators and their customers are both covered. Motorists should separately note the recent changes to speed limits on five Dubai roads.
What the new UAE e-scooter rules do not say
No permit fee, registration fee or fine amount has been confirmed, and nothing has been announced on compulsory helmets or insurance. Several emirates already run their own e-scooter age limits and lane schemes, and it has not been clarified how those sit alongside the federal provisions, so treat your emirate rules as the ones that still apply today.
If you ride daily, use the coming weeks to prepare: check your device against the equipment list, find out where your emirate will issue permits, and watch for fee announcements. Federal updates are published on u.ae and by the Ministry of Interior, while your local licensing authority will confirm how and where to apply once registration opens.
