UAE to allow two-year car registration for eligible vehicles from 1 January 2027

The UAE will let owners of eligible light vehicles apply for two-year registration from 1 January 2027. The option comes from new federal traffic regulations approved by Cabinet Decision No. 174 of 2026, which set out the executive rules for the 2024 federal traffic law, Decree-Law No. 14.

Registration will generally stay valid for one year and be renewable for the same period. Licensing authorities may approve a two-year term for a light vehicle if the owner asks for it.

Three conditions apply, and all must be met:

• The vehicle was new when it was first registered.
• Six years or less have passed since its manufacture date.
• The owner is an individual, not a company or other legal entity.

Approval is discretionary, so qualifying vehicles will not automatically receive the longer term. The regulations do not specify whether extra fees or requirements apply. Owners or their authorised representatives must apply on the platforms or channels that the licensing authority has approved.

Other changes

Right-hand-drive vehicles may not be registered for road use, though they may be allowed for display. Vehicles that fail road safety requirements are not eligible for registration.

Authorities may remove a vehicle from traffic records if its registration has stayed expired for over five years. This is not automatic. Registration may be suspended if the body, engine or colour is changed without authorisation, or by court order. Renewal may be refused if a vehicle fails an approved technical inspection.

A person with a disability is exempt from registration fees for a single vehicle they own. This is separate from the two-year option.

The regulations also set minimum licence ages: 18 for light vehicles, 20 for heavy vehicles, 17 for Category 1 motorcycles and 21 for Category 2.

For private owners of newer cars in Dubai, the change could mean fewer renewals if the authority approves an application. Anyone choosing a vehicle in the cars section should note that the age and ownership conditions apply.

Gulf News reported the details on 5 November 2026.