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UAE sets nine-hour daily driving limit under new federal traffic rules from 1 January 2027

From 1 January 2027, UAE drivers may not drive more than nine hours in 24 hours or drive while fatigue affects safety, under a new Cabinet Decision.

Source: Khaleej Times
UAE sets nine-hour daily driving limit under new federal traffic rules from 1 January 2027
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From 1 January 2027, drivers in the UAE may not spend more than nine hours driving in any 24-hour period. The cap is part of new federal traffic regulations. The same provision bars motorists from driving when tiredness or exhaustion impairs their ability to drive safely, Khaleej Times reported on 4 November 2026.

The requirement sits in paragraph 2 of Article 7 in Cabinet Decision No. 174 of 2026. That decision is the executive regulation under Federal Decree-Law No. 14 of 2024, the country's law on traffic.

The article lays down general duties for all vehicle drivers. It does not apply only to truck drivers or other professionals behind the wheel. It also lets the Federal Traffic Council change the driving-hours limit.

The nine-hour cap sits alongside a separate ban on driving while dangerously tired. A driver whose fatigue undermines safe driving must stop, even if the day's total is below nine hours.

Fatigue figures and police warning

According to Ministry of Interior figures, 20 road accidents in the UAE in 2025 were attributed to driver fatigue and drowsiness.

On 29 October, Dubai Police issued a warning about driving while tired or drowsy. A truck driver reportedly dozed off and crashed into a metal barrier on Emirates Road (E611) heading towards Abu Dhabi. Police said he became drowsy and lost control. He sustained minor injuries and was treated on site.

Brigadier Juma Salem bin Suwaidan, director of traffic at Dubai Police, called on drivers to get enough rest before setting off and to stop when they feel tired.

The road-safety organisation RoadSafetyUAE advises sleeping seven to eight hours without interruption before a trip, with a 15-minute break at least every two hours. Among the warning signs it names are frequent yawning, sore eyes, slow reactions and drifting between lanes.

The rules apply to every driver, so visitors who hire a car for long trips, for example between Dubai and Abu Dhabi, should plan driving time and breaks accordingly. Vehicles are listed in the DoBy car rental section.

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