E-scooters have gained popularity among Dubai residents in the last few years. But incidents are also rising in tandem with this. Earlier this week, the Dubai Police issued a safety advisory regarding e-scooters after revealing that 32 incidents involving e-scooters and cycles had resulted in five fatalities in the past eight months. On Tuesday, October 24, Dubai Police disclosed the figures, which included the 10,031 fines that had been imposed on e-scooters and electric bicycles during this time.

The Dubai police have released a set of guidelines that e-scooter riders must adhere to in order to ensure their safety and that they do not pose a risk to other drivers. An e-scooter rider cannot carry a passenger and they can only ride an e-scooter in places designated for e-scooters.

Breaking the rules can result in penalties and having your e-scooter impounded. Here is a thorough introduction to the laws governing the usage of e-scooters in Dubai to protect your safety.

Safety Guidelines for E-scooters in Dubai

You need to have a valid driving licence, if you do not have a driving licence, you will need to apply for an e-scooter permit. You can apply for the permit through RTA’s official website – rta.ae, which comes free of cost. You just need to complete online training courses and take a test.

Once you pass the test, you will get an electronic permit for the e-scooter licence through the RTA website. You can download it and save it on your phone. It is also required if you are renting an e-scooter.

According to RTA, the speed limit on bicycle and e-scooter paths changes based on the location:

  • 20 km/h on designated paths in residential areas and beaches.
  • 30 km/h on the Meydan track and streets shared with vehicles.

There are some specific areas that have designated lanes for cycles and e-scooters which include Kite Beach, Dubai Water Canal, Jumeirah Street, and Al Marsa Street in Dubai Marina.

It is also important to note that places like Al Qudra Cycling Track, Mushrif Mountain Bike Trail, and Meydan Track are only for cyclists. So riders should avoid riding the e-scooter in undesignated areas as per RTA.

Also, riders must be 16 years old and above to ride an e-scooter in Dubai. This is as per Executive Council Resolution No. (13) of 2022 issued by Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of the Executive Council of Dubai in March 2022. According to RTA, there are specific ground markings and traffic signs that e-scooter riders have to follow.

Apart from this, e-scooter riders have to keep some basic rules in mind  to ensure they stay safe which includes –

  • Wearing a helmet and reflective jacket.
  • Do not carry anything or any passenger that can cause the e-scooter to lose its balance.
  • When they reach a pedestrian crossing, get off the e-scooter and cross the strip walking.
  • Ride the e-scooter individually.
  • Refrain from using headphones.