Electric Scooter Rules in UAE (2025 Guide)

Last year in 2024, Dubai recorded 254 accidents involving e-scooters and bicycles, which led to 10 deaths and 259 injuries, including 17 serious cases. Just months into 2025, the city reported two deaths both involving minors aged 15 and 9.

Recently, one incident that drew widespread attention in the UAE involved a 13-year-old girl injured while crossing a road on her e-scooter. Her parents were taken to court for negligence — a stark reminder that allowing minors to ride unsupervised can carry legal consequences.

Electric scooters are everywhere in the UAE now, and as their popularity continues to rise, especially among young riders, this raises a wave of serious safety concerns, including injuries and fatalities. That’s why the authorities have stepped in with clear regulations about electric scooter rules in UAE to protect both riders and pedestrians.

Safety Requirements and Electric Scooter Rules in UAE

For public safety, the RTA has outlined the following important rules every e-scooter rider must follow:

Age Limit: Riders must be at least 16 years old.
Safety Gear: A helmet is mandatory, along with appropriate clothing and shoes.
No Passengers: Only one person is allowed per scooter.
Designated Parking: Always park in marked areas without blocking pedestrian or vehicle paths.
Safe Driving: Maintain a safe distance from others and avoid reckless riding.
No Distractions: Using both earphones or mobile phones while riding is not allowed.
Pedestrian Crossings: Riders must dismount and walk the scooter across pedestrian crossings.
Accident Reporting: Any accident, even if minor, should be reported to the proper authorities.

Before riding, you should also check that your scooter:

Has working front and rear lights.
Is equipped with a horn.
Has properly working brakes and tires.

Also, all e-scooters must:

Be manufactured for UAE weather and safety standards.
Have a maximum speed limit of 20 km/h.
Comply with all specifications set by local authorities.

Note: These regulations are based on the official safety stipulations issued by the RTA to ensure public well-being and road safety.

New Regulations in 2025: Personal Mobility Monitoring Unit

In April 2025, Dubai launched a dedicated Personal Mobility Monitoring Unit — a joint effort between the RTA and Dubai Police. This team has one main goal: to make e-scooter and bicycle travel safer for everyone.

What do they do?

They actively patrol popular scooter and cycling routes across the city, checking for:

Helmet use
Speed limit violations
Riders breaking traffic rules
Unsafe or reckless behavior

They also educate the public about safe riding and issue fines or confiscate scooters when necessary.

Why was this unit created?

Because personal mobility in Dubai is booming. In just one year, e-scooter trips jumped from 30 million in 2023 to 32.3 million in 2024 — that’s an 8.7% increase. Bicycle trips also rose by 5%. But with that growth came issues: over 40,000 violations were reported in 2024, leading to hundreds of scooter and bike confiscations.

Part of a Bigger Safety Push

This unit isn’t working alone. It’s part of Dubai’s broader Traffic Safety Strategy 2022–2026, which aims to reach Zero Fatalities on the roads. So far, 53 safety programs have been rolled out, from better infrastructure to education campaigns. And the results speak for themselves: road deaths have dropped by over 90% since 2007.

Also read: E-scooter vs E-bike if you are stuck between choosing one of them, plus check the pros and cons of electric scooters as well.

FAQs

Electric bikes in the UAE must follow similar rules to e-scooters. Riders must wear helmets, follow designated cycling lanes, and obey traffic laws. Some areas may require a permit, and only one person is allowed per bike. Reckless riding and riding on footpaths or highways are prohibited.

No, riders must be at least 16 years old to legally ride an e-scooter in the UAE. Children under 16 are not allowed to use electric scooters, even in parks or residential areas.

Yes, electric scooters are legal in the UAE, but only in approved areas and under certain conditions. Riders must follow all RTA rules, wear safety gear, and be at least 16 years old.

Currently, personal e-scooters are not allowed inside RTA public buses.

The minimum legal age to ride an e-scooter in the UAE is 16 years old.

Fines for violating e-scooter rules in Dubai vary depending on the offense. Some common penalties include:

AED 200 to AED 500 for riding in prohibited areas
Scooter confiscation for repeated violations
Legal action may apply if underage riders are involved

You don’t need a full driving license, but you do need a permit from the RTA to ride an e-scooter in most areas unless you already hold a valid UAE driving license. The permit can be obtained online by completing a short training course and test.

You can ride your e-scooter in 21 designated zones across Dubai. These include popular areas like Jumeirah Lake Towers, Downtown, Al Rigga, and Dubai Internet City. Riding on highways, footpaths, or roads with a speed limit over 60 km/h is strictly prohibited.

Tip: Check the full list of designated electric scooter zones.

Final Thoughts

UAE, especially Dubai welcomes innovation, and e-scooters are here to stay. But with the freedom to ride comes the responsibility to do it safely. So if you are exploring the UAE, or riding for fun or to work, understanding and following the rules is not just about avoiding fines, it’s about protecting lives, including your own.

Before you hit the road, ask yourself:

Do I know the rules? Am I ready to ride responsibly?

If the answer is yes, then gear up, ride smart, and respect the lane.

Quick Summary

In the UAE, electric scooter riders must be at least 16 years old, wear a helmet, and follow designated riding zones. Riding on footpaths, highways, or in non-approved areas is prohibited. A permit from the RTA is required unless you hold a valid UAE driving license. Common violations may result in fines ranging from AED 200–500, and repeated offenses can lead to confiscation of the scooter.

In 2025, Dubai launched a Personal Mobility Monitoring Unit—a joint task force by the RTA and Dubai Police—to enforce scooter and bicycle regulations. The move follows a sharp rise in usage and over 40,000 violations reported in 2024, including accidents involving minors. The initiative supports Dubai’s Traffic Safety Strategy 2022–2026, aiming for Zero Fatalities.