Dubai Establishes a Specific Task Force Focused on Enforcing Laws Against Unlawful E-Scooter and Bicycle Usage
In the bustling city of Dubai, personal mobility devices like e-scooters and bicycles have become a popular mode of transport for many residents. However, with this rise in popularity comes an increase in violations, leading to a significant number of accidents on the roads.
To address this issue, Dubai has introduced a Personal Mobility Monitoring Unit, aimed at enforcing compliance with existing regulations and reducing accidents involving these devices. The unit's introduction signifies a stronger push for safer, more regulated mobility for all road users.
Under current regulations, e-scooter and bicycle riders must adhere to several rules. These include sticking to designated lanes, avoiding carrying passengers or unbalanced loads, never riding against traffic, and always wearing helmets and protective gear. Violators face fines of up to Dh300.
The regulatory framework also includes a minimum riding age of 16, limits on scooter speed to 20 km/h, requirements for riders to have a valid permit from the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), and designated riding zones with specific lanes. Additionally, mandatory safety courses, digital permits, spot checks for helmet use and age verification, and prohibiting riding of foldable e-scooters inside metro stations unless folded and powered off are part of the measures in place.
Despite these measures, safety issues persist. In the first five months of 2025, Dubai recorded 13 fatalities related to unsafe scooter use and jaywalking, prompting some neighbourhoods such as Jumeirah Beach Residences to ban e-scooters outright. The absence of liability insurance covering e-scooter riders means that in accidents where riders are at fault, victims have limited legal recourse, which may affect overall safety accountability.
Community awareness campaigns and stricter enforcement have been launched, with Dubai Police seizing 656 scooters in 2024 due to violations and fines being actively applied.
Residents have welcomed the new Personal Mobility Monitoring Unit as a necessary measure to promote accountability. Mustafa Aldah, a road safety and driving expert, expressed hope that the initiative would bring the number of e-scooter-related deaths and injuries down to zero.
Marco Dante, a 40-year-old software engineer living in Arjan, expressed concerns about nighttime safety. However, the new monitoring unit does not seem to have any specific focus on nighttime safety, although it was mentioned in the context of Dante's concerns.
Fahima Mustafa, a former e-scooter user, echoed similar sentiments. She praised the new unit, stating it reflects the seriousness of the issue. Aldah drew a parallel with efforts from the early 2000s when dedicated task forces and stricter enforcement led to a notable drop in illegal pedestrian crossings and casualties.
As Dubai continues to promote alternative modes of transport, it is clear that the Personal Mobility Monitoring Unit is a step in the right direction towards ensuring the safe use of e-scooters and bicycles on its roads. Expansion of safe riding paths and ongoing enforcement with clear penalties aim to enhance effectiveness, ultimately working towards reducing accidents and violations.
- To further promote the safe use of e-scooters and bicycles, regulations have been implemented in the finance sector, requiring e-scooter riders to have a valid permit from the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) and mandatory safety courses.
- In an effort to address nighttime safety concerns, the Personal Mobility Monitoring Unit needs to focus on enforcing safety regulations during night hours, as stated by Marco Dante, a software engineer living in Arjan.
