Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai has issued a new law in Dubai for self-driving or autonomous vehicles operating in the emirate.
Law No. (9) of 2023, outlines the regulatory framework for autonomous vehicles operating in the city, and aims to accelerate Dubai’s smart mobility transformation and attract investments in the sector, as per a statement by the office of Sheikh Mohammed.
The new law is part of Sheikh Mohammed’s “strategic vision to transform Dubai into a model for cities of the future and the best city in the world to live, work and visit.”
New Dubai law for driverless cars
Under the new law, the Dubai Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) will be responsible to develop strategic plans and policies to improve the operations of autonomous vehicles in emirate.
According to the statement, RTA will also set technical, operational and safety benchmarks for the vehicles and identify categories of autonomous vehicles, and will also be responsible for demarcating the roads, areas, and routes that autonomous vehicles operate in, setting their speed limits, and developing the infrastructure necessary for their operation.
Conditions for obtaining autonomous vehicles in Dubai
The statement said that the law mandates that a license issued by the Director General and Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of the RTA is mandatory for conducting any activity related to autonomous vehicles.
The conditions for obtaining a license for activities related to autonomous vehicles include passing RTA’s technical test and having the technological capability to read road signs.
The law also defines the obligations of operators, agents and passengers, and outlines licensing procedures. Operators of autonomous vehicles are responsible for covering all damages caused by accidents.
Selling and transferring a self-driving car in Dubai
The sale and transfer of autonomous vehicles in Dubai should only be done through “authorised agents,” and the transfer of vehicles from one operator to another is “subject to RTA’s pre-approval.”
Violators of the provisions of the law face fines between AED500 and AED20,000, which could be doubled in case of repeat violations in the same year, the statement said, adding that the maximum fine for violations is AED50,000.
All relevant government entities in Dubai must cooperate with RTA to help it deliver its responsibilities related to the autonomous vehicles sector.
“Provisions of Federal Law No. (21) of 1995 Concerning Road Traffic, its executive regulations and amendments, relevant decisions and any other legislation that replaced them will continue to apply in areas that are not covered by a specific provision of the new law,” the statement said, adding any provision of other legislations that may conflict with the new law will be annulled.
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