From Jan. 1, 2027, motorists in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) face a nine-hour driving cap within each 24-hour period, while residents registering or renewing a third vehicle pay an added fee, Gulf News reported.
Gulf News linked the changes to Cabinet Decision No. 174 of 2026, which it said implements Federal Decree-Law No. 14 of 2024. For individual residents, the regular vehicle allowance is two. Each vehicle beyond that brings an extra charge at registration or renewal, up to five vehicles in one resident’s name. Gulf News said Article 89 does not set a matching numerical limit for companies.
The nine-hour ceiling applies to drivers generally, not only professional operators, the report said. It also said motorists must stop driving if fatigue makes it unsafe to continue, even if they have not reached the daily cap. The UAE’s Federal Traffic Council may revise the limit. Gulf News said the decision does not explain how driving time will be measured, whether rest breaks will be compulsory or what separate penalty applies to exceeding the cap.
License periods depend first on the applicant’s age: people under 21 receive a temporary license for one year, with a possible one-year renewal, while first-time applicants aged 21 or older receive a two-year term, Gulf News reported. Later renewal terms vary by nationality and residency. UAE and Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) nationals could receive 10-year licenses after qualifying renewals; expatriate residents could receive five-year terms. Someone first licensed before turning 21 could qualify for longer renewals after reaching that age, subject to requirements.
Owners of some light vehicles may request two-year registration, but licensing authorities decide whether to approve it. Gulf News said a vehicle must have been registered new, be individually owned and have a manufacturing age of six years or less. The report said meeting these conditions does not guarantee approval and that the rules do not specify whether the longer registration period carries an additional fee.
The report also said riders must be at least 15 to obtain permits for electric scooters, electric bicycles and small motorized bikes. EconoTimes previously covered the age-15 permit rule for e-scooters. The reported changes are scheduled to take effect Jan. 1, 2027.
