E-Scooter Laws Changed in 2026: What Dubai Riders Must Know Now
You got your e-scooter. You ride it to work. Maybe to the gym. You think you know the rules.
Then you see the news. 13 people dead in five months. 40,000 violations last year. Police stopping riders at Kite Beach. Parents getting sued.
Things changed. Fast.
Here’s what you need to know right now if you’re riding in Dubai in 2026.
The big news: enforcement just got serious
April 2025. Dubai launched something new.
It’s called the Personal Mobility Monitoring Unit. Joint task force. RTA and Dubai Police working together.
Their only job? Make sure e-scooter and bike riders follow the rules.
They patrol the popular routes. They check for permits. They issue fines. They confiscate scooters.
Numbers don’t lie:
- 32.3 million e-scooter trips in 2024 (up from 30 million in 2023)
- Over 40,000 violations reported in 2024
- 254 accidents involving e-scooters in 2024
- 10 deaths, 259 injuries (17 serious)
- 13 more deaths between January-May 2025
That last one matters. 13 deaths in five months. Four of them were kids—ages 9 and 15.
The government had to respond.
New in January 2026: permit now available on apps
This just changed.
Before? You could only get your e-scooter permit through the RTA website.
Now? Three ways to apply:
- RTA Website – rta.ae
- RTA Dubai App – Download from App Store or Google Play
- Dubai Now App – Same platforms
Same process. More options. Faster access.
I’ve had three customers this week show me their permits on their phones. All got it done in under 20 minutes while waiting at the shop.
Who needs a permit (and who doesn’t)
✓ You DON’T need a permit if:
- You have a valid UAE driving license
- You have an international driving license
The license counts as your permit. Done.
✗ You NEED a permit if:
- You’re 17+ and don’t have any driving license
- You’re a tourist without a license
- You only have a learner’s permit
Age minimum: 17 years old for the permit. 16-year-olds can ride in some contexts with adult supervision, but to get the permit yourself, you must be 17+.
How to get your permit in 15 minutes
Here’s the actual process. I walked three customers through this last week.
- Open RTA Dubai app or Dubai Now app (or go to rta.ae)
- Create account or log in
- Emirates ID holders: Your details auto-fill
- Tourists: Use passport number, enter UAE mobile number for OTP
- Search for “E-Scooter Riding Permit” service
- Complete the training
- Watch short video lessons
- Learn traffic signs
- Understand safety rules
- Takes about 10-15 minutes
- Take the test
- 20 multiple-choice questions
- 30 minutes time limit
- You can retake if you fail
- Pass and receive permit instantly
- Sent to your email
- Sent via SMS
- Saved in “My Docs” section of app
- No expiry date
Cost: Free. Zero AED.
Screenshot your permit. Save it to your phone’s photos. Easier to show police than fumbling with the app.
Where you can ride (and where you’ll get fined)
This is where most people mess up.
Allowed zones (21 designated areas)
- Downtown Dubai
- Jumeirah Lakes Towers (JLT)
- Al Rigga
- Al Mankhool
- Al Karama
- Dubai Internet City
- City Walk
- Palm Jumeirah
- Jumeirah Beach Residence (JBR) – BUT NOT on Marina Walk
- Dubai Marina
- Business Bay
- Al Barsha
- DIFC
- Bluewaters Island
- Al Quoz
- Dubai Design District (d3)
- Dubai Silicon Oasis
- Jumeirah 1, 2, 3
- Plus any dedicated cycling tracks (390 km total)
Speed limit: 20 km/h maximum in designated zones. Even if your scooter can go 40 km/h, you stick to 20 km/h.
Banned zones (don’t even think about it)
- Any road where cars go over 60 km/h (highways, main roads)
- Al Meydan cycling track – Specifically excluded
- Saih Al Salam track – Banned
- Al Qudra track – Not allowed
- Dubai Marina Walk – Heavy foot traffic, banned
- Pedestrian-only footpaths
- Inside Metro/Tram stations (you can carry folded scooter, but not ride it)
I see this violation daily. Someone rides down Sheikh Zayed Road. Gets stopped. Scooter confiscated. 300 AED fine.
Don’t be that person.
That RTA map looks great online. In real life? Not every designated zone has actual dedicated lanes. Sometimes it’s a shared path with pedestrians. Sometimes it’s just a painted line. Use common sense. If it looks unsafe, walk your scooter.
The fine breakdown: what each violation costs
Police don’t give warnings anymore. They issue fines immediately.
Here’s what each violation costs:
| Violation | Fine |
|---|---|
| No permit | 200 AED |
| Riding outside designated zones | 200 AED |
| No helmet | 200 AED |
| Carrying passenger | 300 AED |
| Riding on road over 60 km/h speed limit | 300 AED |
| Parking in non-designated area | 200 AED |
| Blocking pedestrian path | 200 AED |
| Ignoring traffic signals | 200 AED |
Multiple violations = Multiple fines.
Stopped without permit, no helmet, carrying a friend? That’s 200 + 200 + 300 = 700 AED in one stop.
For serious violations (highway riding, repeated offenses), police confiscate your scooter. You pay the fines + 3,000 AED release fee to get it back.
In my workshop, I’ve seen customers lose 1,500 AED scooters to confiscation. Never got them back. Too expensive to retrieve.
What happens if police stop you
Real talk. This happened to a customer last week.
He was riding in JLT. No helmet. Police patrol stopped him.
- Emirates ID or passport
- Permit or driving license
- Why no helmet
What happened:
- 200 AED fine issued on the spot
- Warning about helmet
- Let him go with the scooter
Why he was lucky: First offense. Had his permit. Cooperative attitude. They could have confiscated the scooter.
Don’t. Police use the “Police Eye” service—public can report dangerous riding through Dubai Police app. If you’re rude, they add extra violations. Just be polite, accept the fine, fix the issue.
If your scooter gets confiscated
- Go to police station that confiscated it (they’ll tell you which one)
- Pay all fines
- Show proof you understand the rules
- Pay 3,000 AED release fee
- Wait for processing (can take days)
Some people just buy a new scooter. Cheaper than the release fee.
The Metro rule everyone gets wrong
Good news came in late 2024.
E-scooters ARE NOW ALLOWED on Dubai Metro and Tram.
But there are strict rules.
- ✓ Must be foldable (no seat attached)
- ✓ Must be folded before entering (stations, platforms, trains)
- ✓ Maximum size: 120cm x 70cm x 40cm
- ✓ Maximum weight: 20 kg
- ✓ Must be clean and dry (no mud, no water)
- ✓ Only 2 e-scooters per journey
- ✗ Riding inside stations
- ✗ Riding on platforms
- ✗ Riding inside trains/trams
- ✗ Charging at stations
- ✗ Wet or dirty scooters
- ✗ Scooters with seats
- ✗ E-scooters on intercity buses
Use wide-access doors when boarding. Store in designated areas only. Security will stop you if you try to ride inside.
Most Xiaomi and Ninebot scooters fit these dimensions. Bigger models like Dualtron? Too heavy. Won’t be allowed.
Parents: you’re legally responsible
This changed everything in 2025.
A 13-year-old girl got injured crossing the road on her e-scooter. Her parents were taken to court for negligence.
The law is clear now:
- Minimum age: 16 to ride independently
- Under 16: Not allowed to ride at all in most areas
- Parents are criminally liable if kids get hurt or cause accidents
Four deaths in 2025 involved minors ages 9 and 15. All cases under investigation. Parents facing legal consequences.
If your 14-year-old takes your e-scooter and:
- Gets hurt → You’re liable
- Hits someone → You’re liable
- Causes property damage → You’re liable
- Violates traffic rules → You’re liable
I tell every parent who comes to my shop: Lock it up. Don’t let kids ride unsupervised. Not worth the legal risk.
What I tell every customer at the shop
Every week, someone comes in asking about the rules. Here’s what I say:
- Get the permit. Takes 15 minutes. Free. No excuse. Even if you have a driving license, download the training materials. Learn the rules. Know the zones.
- Buy a helmet before you ride anywhere. Not optional. 200 AED fine if caught without one. But more importantly? Your skull doesn’t grow back.
- Know your zone. Don’t assume every street is okay. Check the RTA map. When in doubt, use the cycling tracks.
- Don’t carry passengers. Ever. I don’t care if it’s your girlfriend, your kid, or your gym bag. One rider only. 300 AED fine + unstable scooter = bad idea.
- Keep your permit on your phone. Screenshot it. Police can scan it. Don’t rely on internet connection when they stop you.
- If you’re a parent, lock the scooter. Kids will ride it if they can. You’ll face legal consequences if something happens.
- Rental scooters follow the same rules. Lime, Tier, Arnab, Skurtt—all the rental apps require you to follow RTA rules. You get fined, not them.
Here’s what changed and what hasn’t
What’s NEW in 2026:
- ✓ Permit available on mobile apps (RTA Dubai, Dubai Now)
- ✓ Stricter enforcement by Personal Mobility Unit
- ✓ Metro/tram access allowed (with restrictions)
- ✓ Public reporting through Police Eye service
- ✓ Parents held liable for minors
What STAYED THE SAME:
- Age limit: 16+ (17+ for permit)
- Permit requirement (if no license)
- 21 designated zones
- 20 km/h speed limit
- Helmet mandatory
- No passengers allowed
- Same fine structure
One more thing: insurance doesn’t cover you if you break rules
This surprised a lot of people.
If you get into an accident while violating rules—wrong zone, no permit, no helmet—your insurance won’t pay.
Motorists aren’t liable either. You were breaking the law, you take the hit.
Legal experts confirmed this. If you’re riding illegally and get hurt, you’re on your own.
Even worse? If you hurt someone else while breaking rules, you face civil claims AND criminal charges.
The 13 deaths I mentioned earlier? Some involved riders in unauthorized areas. Families lost everything. Legal battles. Medical bills. Criminal records.
It’s not worth it.
So—are you legal?
Quick self-check:
- ✓ Do you have a permit or driving license?
- ✓ Do you have a helmet?
- ✓ Are you riding in a designated zone?
- ✓ Is your speed under 20 km/h?
- ✓ Are you riding alone (no passengers)?
- ✓ Do you know the fine structure?
If you answered yes to all of these, you’re good.
If not? Fix it before your next ride.
The crackdown is real. The fines add up fast. The confiscations are permanent.
But more than that—13 people died in five months. Most violations were preventable. Most accidents happened in illegal zones.
Follow the rules. They exist for a reason.
