Effective November 1 2025, delivery riders will be banned from high-speed lanes as Dubai Police and RTA tighten safety enforcement.
Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) and Dubai Police General Headquarters will implement the new regulations restricting delivery motorcycles from using high-speed lanes across the emirate.
The decision forms part of Dubai’s broader road-safety drive and its commitment under the Traffic Safety Strategy to reduce fatalities and enhance compliance among commercial riders — a fast-growing segment of the city’s transport network.
New rules for delivery riders
- Ban on two leftmost lanes on roads with five lanes or more
- Ban on leftmost lane on roads with three or four lanes
- No restrictions on roads with two lanes or fewer
- AED 500 ($136) fine for first offence, AED 700 ($191) for second
- Permit suspension for third offence
RTA regulations
Hussain Al Banna, CEO of the Traffic and Roads Agency at RTA, said the decision followed months of coordination with government and private-sector partners to ensure safety standards are met.
He said: “The delivery sector plays a key role in driving economic development and contributes effectively to enhancing service standards and achieving health, safety, and sustainability benchmarks.
“This decision aligns with the objectives of Dubai’s Economic Agenda (D33) to double the size of the emirate’s economy in the years ahead, while continuously updating laws and regulations to enhance both the delivery experience and road safety—two of RTA’s top priorities”.
He explained that RTA conducted technical studies to guide the regulation in line with international best practices, and held several consultations with delivery firms, government entities, and consultants.
“The regulation was formulated based on specialised traffic studies to ensure the safety of delivery riders and all road users.” — Hussain Al Banna
Al Banna added that RTA will work with Dubai Police, the Department of Economy and Tourism, and delivery companies to monitor compliance.
New road signs will indicate lanes restricted to commercial motorcycles, complementing existing signage for heavy vehicles and trucks.
A joint public-awareness campaign will run across media and advertising channels to inform riders and operators of the new rules.
Enforcement and penalties
Major General Saif Muhair Al Mazrouei, Assistant Commander-in-Chief for Operations Affairs at Dubai Police, said the regulation supports the five-year executive plan of the Traffic Safety Strategy, built around four pillars:
- Monitoring and enforcement
- road and vehicle engineering
- Traffic awareness
- Systems and administration
He said: “The decision is part of the ongoing collaboration between Dubai Police and RTA to implement the five-year executive plan of the Traffic Safety Strategy.
“It will play a key role in enhancing road safety, promoting compliance with traffic laws, and ensuring better control of road traffic, thereby preventing accidents that could have serious consequences for road users.”
He detailed the penalties: riders who exceed 100kmph on roads with limits of 100 kmph or above will face fines of AED 200 ($54) for a first offence, AED 300 ($82) for the second, and AED 400 ($109) for the third.
Rising accident numbers
Police statistics show a steady rise in accidents involving delivery motorcycles, with 854 incidents in 2024 and 962 in 2025.
Dubai Police recorded 70,166 violations last year, increasing to 78,386 in the first nine months of 2025, reflecting persistent unsafe behaviour among some riders.
Major General Al Mazrouei said: “Motorcycles are among the most vulnerable modes of transport to fatal accidents, given the absence of protective structures and the heightened risk of losing control at high speeds.
“Restricting delivery bike use on high-speed lanes will play a vital role in improving rider behaviour, reinforcing traffic discipline, and reducing fatalities and injuries in the years ahead.”
Rewarding compliance
Both RTA and Dubai Police confirmed that companies adhering to the new rules will be recognised under the Delivery Sector Excellence Award as compliant and distinguished operators.
The initiative aims to foster healthy competition, strengthen adherence to traffic laws, and promote excellence in service delivery.
The new regulations reinforce Dubai’s integrated approach to economic growth and public safety, key pillars of the Dubai Economic Agenda (D33), which targets doubling the emirate’s GDP within the next decade.
By formalising delivery-sector standards, authorities aim to safeguard lives, enhance logistics efficiency, and maintain Dubai’s reputation as a global leader in smart, sustainable transport management.
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