By Staff Reporter
Fines up to Dh1,500, lane restrictions, and permit suspensions introduced to boost road safety
By Desmond Nleya
Dubai and Sharjah will roll out a new set of stringent traffic regulations effective November 1, 2025, targeting delivery motorcycles, heavy vehicles, and buses in a bid to reduce rising road accidents involving delivery riders.
The initiative, jointly implemented by the Dubai Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) and Sharjah Police, responds to a surge in crashes linked to the booming e-commerce and food delivery sectors. Authorities say the goal is to enhance road discipline, improve safety, and reduce fatalities.
Dubai Restrictions
In Dubai, delivery riders will be banned from using fast lanes on major highways. The RTA, in coordination with Dubai Police, has outlined that:
Delivery bikes are prohibited from the two fastest lanes on roads with five or more lanes.
On roads with three or four lanes, bikes may not use the fast lane.
Smaller two-lane roads remain accessible to delivery motorcycles.
To aid compliance, the RTA has begun installing new traffic signs indicating motorcycle restrictions alongside existing signs for trucks and heavy vehicles.
Violations will attract escalating penalties:
Dh500 for the first offense
Dh700 for a second
Permit suspension upon a third violation
Speeding violations exceeding 100 km/h will also draw fines starting at Dh200, rising to Dh400 for repeat offenses.
Authorities will monitor compliance through field inspections, digital surveillance, and joint operations with the Department of Economy and Tourism and delivery firms.
Sharjah’s New Lane System
In Sharjah, a new lane management system will take effect simultaneously, defining dedicated lanes for motorcycles, buses, and heavy vehicles:
Heavy vehicles and buses must stay in the far-right lane.
Motorcycles may use the third and fourth lanes from the right on four-lane roads, and the middle or right lane on three-lane roads.
On two-lane roads, motorcycles are restricted to the right lane only.
The system will be enforced via smart radars, high-definition cameras, and 24-hour patrols.
Noncompliance will result in stiff penalties under federal law, including fines of up to Dh1,500 and 12 black points for heavy vehicles in the wrong lanes, and Dh500 for riders ignoring road signs or instructions.
These changes are part of a broader five-year road safety strategy focused on enforcement, engineering, awareness, and traffic management — all aimed at making UAE roads among the safest in the world.
Source: Gulf News
