New UAE federal traffic rules take effect on 1 January 2027

A new set of federal traffic rules takes effect across the UAE on 1 January 2027. They change the length of a driving licence, the renewal cycle for car registration, the number of vehicles a resident may register and the hours a person may spend driving.

Licences and registration

How long a licence lasts will depend on the driver's age and residency status. Anyone under 21 will be issued a temporary licence for one year. Applicants aged 21 or older who are getting a licence for the first time will be given one for two years. At renewal, UAE and GCC nationals will be eligible for a ten-year licence, while expatriate residents will be eligible for a five-year one. Each vehicle type has its own minimum age, and for cars it is 18.

Article 98 allows owners of light vehicles to apply for a two-year registration instead of an annual one. Three conditions apply: the car was new at first registration, it is at most six years old, and the owner is an individual, not a company. Meeting them does not guarantee approval, as the licensing authority takes the final decision.

Article 89 lets an individual resident register up to five vehicles. Two fall under the standard provision. Every further vehicle will carry an additional fee when registered or renewed. The regulation has not yet set the fee amounts, nor explained how residents who already hold more than five vehicles will be treated.

On the road

Under Article 7, a driver may spend no more than nine hours behind the wheel in any 24-hour period. Below that cap, drivers must still stop if they are too tired to drive safely. Residential internal roads get a 40km/h speed limit. Cyclists are required to wear helmets, and delivery riders may not carry passengers.

There are exceptions for doctors attending medical emergencies and for drivers in essential services, such as crews who maintain roads, recover vehicles or map accident scenes. Outside built-up areas they may exceed the limit by up to 40km/h. They may also use bus lanes, and the road shoulder when traffic is at a standstill. Doctors need approved training and a valid UAE medical licence. Red lights remain off limits for everyone.

For residents, the changes touch licence renewal cycles and the cost of keeping more than two vehicles. Visitors who plan to rent a car should note the residential speed cap and the daily driving-time limit.

Gulf News reported the details on 7 November 2026.