Asan Tata— November 3, 2026From 1 January 2027, riding an electric scooter in the UAE will work differently. New federal traffic rules will require a permit for e-scooters, electric bicycles and mopeds, set a minimum age of 15 for permit applicants, and lay down clear rules on where these devices can be used and what safety equipment they must carry. If you ride an e-scooter to work, to the Metro station or around your neighbourhood, these changes will affect you directly.
The rules come from Cabinet Resolution No. 174 of 2026, which sets out the executive regulations for the UAE’s federal traffic law. They were reported on 2 November 2026, giving riders about two months to get ready before they take effect. This article explains what the new rules say, who needs a permit, where you can ride, and what you should do now.
Quick Answer
From 1 January 2027, anyone who wants to ride an electric scooter, electric bicycle or moped in the UAE must first hold a permit from the relevant licensing authority. Applicants must be at least 15 years old, and permits are valid for three years. Riders may use only routes designated by the licensing or traffic authorities, must obey the speed limits set for those routes, and may not ride on roads designated for motor vehicles. Devices must also be registered and fitted with mandatory safety equipment, including lights, brakes and an audible warning device.
What Changes on 1 January 2027
Cabinet Resolution No. 174 of 2026 is the executive regulation of Federal Decree-Law No. 14 of 2024 on traffic regulation. It creates a single federal framework for personal mobility devices, a category that covers electric scooters, electric bicycles and mopeds. Until now, rules for these devices have varied by emirate, leaving many riders unsure which rules applied to them.
The new framework covers permits, registration, safety equipment, permitted routes and traffic signals. It applies to both privately owned devices and commercially rented ones, so hiring a scooter from a sharing service does not remove the rider’s responsibility to follow the rules. The regulations also formally define an electric scooter as a device with two or more wheels, powered by an electric motor, that can be operated in either a standing or a seated position.
The rules take effect on 1 January 2027. That date matters because it is the point from which the permit requirement, the route restrictions and the equipment rules all apply together. Riders who already use e-scooters should use the time before that date to check how their emirate’s licensing authority will issue permits.
Who Needs a Permit
Under the new provisions, the permit requirement applies to all three categories of personal mobility devices: electric scooters, electric bicycles and mopeds. Users must obtain a permit from the relevant licensing authority before operating any of them. The regulations do not draw a distinction between occasional riders and daily commuters, so the requirement covers everyone who rides.
Permits will be valid for three years. The regulations do not yet publish the application steps or fees in the reporting available so far, and those details are expected to come from each emirate’s licensing or traffic authority. Because the permit comes from the relevant licensing authority, the practical process may differ slightly from one emirate to another, and riders should confirm the procedure with their local authority rather than assuming one national application form.
Devices must also be registered in accordance with procedures established by the licensing or traffic authorities. Registration and the rider permit are separate ideas: one concerns the device, and the other concerns the person riding it. Both are part of the new framework, and riders should expect to deal with both.
The Minimum Age Rule: 15 Federally, 16 in Dubai
The federal regulations set 15 as the minimum age for applying for a personal mobility device permit. A 15-year-old may therefore apply for a permit under the federal rules, and the permit then lasts for three years.
There is, however, an important difference in Dubai. Dubai’s existing rules prohibit anyone under 16 from riding an e-scooter. The new federal regulations do not explicitly clarify how the federal minimum age of 15 will interact with Dubai’s existing age restriction of 16. Until the authorities clarify this point, the safest reading for riders in Dubai is that the stricter local rule still matters: a 15-year-old who holds a federal permit should still check Dubai’s rules before riding there.
Parents should take note of this gap. The rider’s age, the permit and the local rules all have to line up, and where a local rule is stricter, it is the one to follow until an official clarification says otherwise.
Where You Can Ride
The new regulations are strict about routes. Riders must use only routes designated by the relevant licensing or traffic authorities, and they must comply with the speed limits established for those routes. In practice, this means cycle tracks and other designated paths, not whichever road looks convenient.
Electric scooters are not permitted on roads designated for motor vehicles. This is one of the clearest rules in the new framework, and it closes a common grey area.
The route rule also explains why riders should learn their local designated network before 1 January 2027. Designated routes are set by the licensing or traffic authority in each emirate, so a route permitted in one area may not be permitted in another. Checking the local authority’s published routes is the only reliable way to know where you may ride.
Safety Equipment Your Scooter Must Have
The regulations set out several technical requirements that electric scooters must meet. These are not optional extras. A scooter that lacks them does not comply with the new rules, even if the rider holds a valid permit.
The required equipment includes:
- A front headlight to illuminate the road at night.
- A rear light.
- A red brake light that activates when the brakes are applied.
- An audible warning device fitted to the handlebars.
- Brakes on at least the rear wheel.
- Tyres that are securely fitted and suitable for use.
- Wheel spokes, where applicable, properly secured and tensioned.
- All components properly fastened to ensure safe operation.
Licensing authorities may introduce additional safety requirements on top of these. That means the list above is a minimum, not a ceiling. Before buying a new scooter, or before continuing to ride an existing one, check that it carries the lights, brakes and warning device the rules require, and keep an eye on any extra requirements your local authority publishes.
Traffic Signal Rules for Riders
The regulations also specify how users of personal mobility devices must respond to traffic signals. Riders are prohibited from crossing at a red light. They may cross when the light turns green, subject to the applicable rules.
When the green light begins flashing, riders must not start crossing. Those who have already begun crossing during the permitted period may complete their crossing. This is a practical rule that protects both riders and pedestrians: it stops a rider from starting a crossing they cannot finish in time, while allowing someone already on the crossing to get clear safely.
Why the Rules Are Coming Now
The federal provisions arrive amid growing concern about e-scooter safety. An analysis of Ministry of Interior data by RoadSafetyUAE found that major e-scooter accidents almost doubled in 2025, rising 97 per cent compared with 2024.
A survey of 1,010 residents conducted by RoadSafetyUAE and Al Wathba Insurance found that 93 per cent had witnessed unsafe or reckless e-scooter riding, while 89 per cent had seen riders using areas where they were not permitted. Despite these concerns, 60 per cent of respondents believed e-scooters served an important transportation need.
What Riders Should Do Before 1 January 2027
First, check your age against the permit rule. If you are under 15, you cannot apply for a permit under the federal rules. If you ride in Dubai, remember that the local minimum age is 16, and the interaction between the two rules has not yet been clarified.
Second, contact your emirate’s licensing authority or check its published channels for how permits will be issued. Application steps and fees have not been published in the reporting so far, so the licensing authority is the correct source for that detail. Do not pay any third party that claims to sell a federal e-scooter permit before the official process is announced.
Third, inspect your scooter against the equipment list. Make sure it has a front headlight, a rear light, a working red brake light, an audible warning device on the handlebars and brakes on at least the rear wheel. Replace worn tyres and tighten any loose components, and keep the scooter in a condition that meets the rules.
Fourth, learn your designated routes. Stop riding on roads designated for motor vehicles, and plan your regular trips along cycle tracks and other permitted paths. If your usual route has no designated path, raise it with the local authority rather than continuing to ride on a motor-vehicle road.
Fifth, if you rent scooters from a sharing service, remember that the rules apply to rented devices too. Ask the operator how permits and registration will work for rented rides, and do not assume that hiring a scooter removes your own responsibility as the rider.
What Is Still Unclear
Several practical details have not yet been published: the permit application process and any fees, how the federal age of 15 interacts with Dubai’s age of 16, and any extra safety requirements licensing authorities may add. None of this changes the core rules already clear: a permit is required, the minimum age is 15, permits last three years, riders must stick to designated routes, e-scooters are banned from motor-vehicle roads, and the equipment and signal rules apply from 1 January 2027. Where a detail is still missing, wait for the licensing authority’s announcement rather than relying on rumours or unofficial sellers.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to ride an e-scooter in the UAE from 2027?
Yes. From 1 January 2027, under Cabinet Resolution No. 174 of 2026, users of electric scooters, electric bicycles and mopeds must obtain a permit from the relevant licensing authority before operating them.
What is the minimum age for an e-scooter permit?
The federal minimum age is 15. Permits are valid for three years. Note that Dubai’s existing rules prohibit anyone under 16 from riding an e-scooter, and how the two rules will work together has not yet been clarified.
Can I ride my e-scooter on the road?
No. Electric scooters are not permitted on roads designated for motor vehicles. Riders must use only routes designated by the licensing or traffic authorities and must obey the speed limits set for those routes.
What safety equipment must my e-scooter have?
Your scooter must have a front headlight, a rear light, a red brake light that activates when braking, an audible warning device on the handlebars, brakes on at least the rear wheel, securely fitted and suitable tyres, and properly secured components. Licensing authorities may add further requirements.
Do the rules apply to rented e-scooters?
Yes. The rules apply to both privately owned and commercially rented personal mobility devices, and riders must follow the applicable safety requirements in both cases.
What happens at traffic lights?
Riders must not cross at a red light. They may cross on green. When the green light starts flashing, riders must not start crossing, but those already crossing may finish.
Disclaimer
This article is for general information only and is not legal advice. The rules described here come from Cabinet Resolution No. 174 of 2026 as reported on 2 November 2026, and practical details such as permit application steps and fees may still be announced by the licensing authorities. Always confirm the current requirements with your emirate’s licensing or traffic authority before riding.
Last Updated: 3 November 2026
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