RTA E-Scooter Permit Online: Complete Application in 20 Minutes (Photos)
You need an e-scooter permit in Dubai. You know it’s free and done online. But the RTA app isn’t exactly intuitive — and if you upload the wrong photo or miss a step, your application gets rejected and you have to start over.
Most guides online say “just go to the RTA website” and leave it at that. Not helpful. The app layout changes, the upload requirements are specific, and one blurry selfie sends you back to square one. People have told us they spent an hour on this because they couldn’t find the right section.
This is the exact walkthrough — every screen, every upload, every common mistake. Follow this and you’ll have your permit approved in under 20 minutes.
Before You Start: What You Need Ready
Get these ready before you open the app. If you’re missing any of them, the application will stall and you’ll waste time.
Documents Needed
Prep Checklist| Document | Format | Common Mistake |
|---|---|---|
| Emirates ID (front) | Photo or scan — clear, flat | Photographing it at an angle |
| Emirates ID (back) | Same as front | Forgetting this one entirely |
| Selfie | Clear, well-lit, facing forward | Blurry or shadowy |
| Passport (alternative) | If no Emirates ID yet | Using an expired passport |
A blurry or poorly lit selfie. This single issue causes more rejections than everything else combined. Take it in natural daylight or near a bright window. No filters. No sunglasses. Look directly at the camera. If it looks even slightly unclear on your phone screen, take another one.
Step-by-Step: The Full Application
This is the exact sequence. Don’t skip ahead — the app has a specific flow and jumping around causes issues.
- 1
Download the RTA Dubai app
Search “RTA Dubai” in your App Store or Google Play. It’s the official one — blue icon with the RTA logo. Free download, around 200MB.
- 2
Create your account
Sign up with your email. Enter your Emirates ID number or passport number during registration. The app verifies it — takes about 30 seconds to a minute.
- 3
Tap “Services” on the home screen
It’s on the main navigation bar at the bottom. Don’t use the search bar — it sometimes returns outdated results when you search “riding permit.”
- 4
Find “Riding Permit” under Permits
Scroll down to the “Permits” category. It’s listed simply as “Riding Permit” — not under “Licenses” and not under “E-Scooter.” Don’t tap “Driving Licence” by mistake. That’s a completely different process.
- 5
Upload Emirates ID — front side
Tap the upload icon. You can take a photo directly or upload from your gallery. Lay your Emirates ID flat on a dark surface — the contrast helps the system read it. A dark table or black notebook under the card works perfectly.
- 6
Upload Emirates ID — back side
Same process as the front. The app won’t remind you if you skip this — it’ll just fail at submission. This is the most commonly forgotten step.
- 7
Take your selfie
The app opens your front camera directly. Stand near a window or bright light. Look straight at the camera. No smile required — neutral expression is fine. If it looks even slightly blurry on your screen, hit retake. This is where most applications fail. Take your time here.
- 8
Review everything before submitting
The app shows a summary screen. Check all three uploads are there — ID front, ID back, selfie. Zoom into each one. What looks fine at thumbnail size might be blurry when you zoom in. This is your last chance to fix anything.
- 9
Submit — it’s free
Tap submit. No payment screen — the permit is completely free. You’ll get a confirmation immediately. Approval usually comes within 24 hours. Some people get it instantly. You’ll get a notification when it’s approved.
After Approval: What to Do Next
Here’s the thing…
The permit is approved. Now sort these before you ride.
Download the permit PDF to your phone. Screenshot it as backup. You don’t need to print it — showing it on your phone when stopped by police is accepted. But keep it somewhere you can find it in 10 seconds, not buried in your downloads folder.
What the Permit Lets You Do
Permit Rules| Activity | Allowed? | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Cycle tracks | ✓ Yes | All designated cycle tracks in Dubai |
| Shared pedestrian paths | ✓ Yes | Keep speed under 20 km/h |
| Main roads | ✗ No | Need a driving licence for this |
| Sharjah or Abu Dhabi | ✗ No | Dubai permit only. Separate rules apply. |
| Speed limit | 20 km/h max | On shared paths. Cycle tracks may vary. |
What If Your Application Gets Rejected?
Now here’s what most people miss…
Rejections happen. They’re almost always fixable. Here’s why applications fail and how to fix each one.
Rejection Reasons and How to Fix Them
Troubleshooting| Rejection Reason | Why It Happened | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Photo unclear | Blurry selfie or ID photo | Retake in better light. Dark background for ID. |
| Missing document | ID back side not uploaded | Reapply with all three documents. |
| ID expired | Emirates ID renewal overdue | Renew ID first at nearest Tajawal centre. |
| Age under 16 | Permit not available for under 16 | Cannot apply. Under 16 cannot ride on public roads. |
| Account mismatch | ID number doesn’t match account | Log out, log back in. Verify your ID number is correct. |
A customer came into the shop frustrated — he’d been trying for three days. Every submission got rejected with a vague “photo unclear” message. Turned out he was taking the selfie in his bathroom with the light behind him. Shadow on his face every time. One photo taken outside in daylight and it went through instantly. The app doesn’t tell you exactly what’s wrong — it just says “unclear.” If you’re unsure, take it outside.
Already Have a Driving Licence? Skip This Entirely
If you already have a valid UAE driving licence, you don’t need the riding permit at all. Your driving licence covers e-scooter use in Dubai automatically. No extra step, no extra application.
The riding permit only exists for people who don’t have a driving licence yet. If you’re planning to get one eventually, it might make more sense to just go straight for the licence — it covers everything across all seven emirates.
Riding permit vs driving licence — which one makes sense for your situation? E-Scooter License Dubai: How to Apply, Cost, Requirements
Permit Done — Now Where Can You Actually Ride?
Having the permit is step one. Knowing where you’re legally allowed to ride is step two. Not every path or track in Dubai is the same.
Cycle tracks are fully open to you. Shared pedestrian paths are allowed but keep it under 20 km/h — pedestrians have priority. Main roads are off-limits without a driving licence. Residential streets are a grey area — some areas are fine, others aren’t.
Full breakdown of where you can and can’t ride in Dubai: E-Scooter Legal in Dubai 2026: Where You Can Ride, Fines, Speed Limits
The permit itself is simple. The mistakes that slow people down are always the same.
Good selfie in natural light. ID front AND back. Don’t search for “e-scooter” — find “Riding Permit” under Permits. Submit. Wait up to 24 hours. Done.
If it gets rejected, it’s almost certainly the selfie or a missing document. Fix it and resubmit. Don’t waste time calling RTA — the fix is on your end 95% of the time.
Your Quick Checklist
- Already have a UAE driving licence? Skip this. You’re already covered.
- Emirates ID ready? Front AND back photos on a dark surface.
- Selfie taken in natural light? Clear, no shadows, facing the camera directly.
- Found “Riding Permit” under Permits — not Licenses, not E-Scooter.
- Reviewed all uploads on the summary screen before submitting.
- Permit approved? Save PDF + screenshot on your phone. Keep it accessible.
Permit sorted. Now where can you actually ride?
Cycle tracks, shared paths, residential streets — the rules are different in every area of Dubai.
