Delivery riders in Dubai will soon face new traffic restrictions as the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) and Dubai Police move to prohibit delivery motorcycles from using high-speed lanes on major roads beginning November 1, 2025.
The decision comes amid a surge in road accidents involving delivery bikes and aims to improve safety and traffic discipline across the emirate. Under the new rules, delivery riders will be barred from using the two leftmost lanes on roads with five lanes or more, and the leftmost lane on roads with three or four lanes. Roads with two lanes or fewer will not be affected.
Hussain Al Banna, CEO of RTA’s Traffic and Roads Agency, said the rule was developed in coordination with both public and private sector stakeholders to ensure the well-being of delivery riders and other motorists.
“The delivery sector plays a key role in driving economic development and contributes effectively to enhancing service standards and achieving health, safety, and sustainability benchmarks,” Al Banna said. “This decision aligns with the objectives of Dubai’s Economic Agenda (D33) to double the size of the emirate’s economy in the years ahead, while continuously updating laws and regulations to enhance both the delivery experience and road safety.”
He added that the regulation is based on extensive traffic studies and technical standards within RTA’s governance framework, designed to meet global best practices. RTA will coordinate with Dubai Police, the Department of Economy and Tourism, and private sector partners to monitor compliance. Prohibitory signs will soon be installed to mark restricted lanes for commercial motorcycles.
A citywide awareness campaign will also roll out across traditional and digital media, developed in partnership with delivery companies operating in Dubai.
Major General Saif Muhair Al Mazrouei, Assistant Commander-in-Chief for Operations Affairs at Dubai Police, said the initiative supports Dubai’s Traffic Safety Strategy and its goal of reducing road fatalities.
“The decision is part of the ongoing collaboration between Dubai Police and RTA to implement the five-year executive plan of the Traffic Safety Strategy,” he said. “It will play a key role in enhancing road safety, promoting compliance with traffic laws, and ensuring better control of road traffic.”
Police data revealed 962 accidents involving delivery motorcycles this year—up from 854 last year—mainly due to speeding and reckless driving on high-speed lanes. Over 78,000 violations have already been recorded against delivery riders in the first nine months of 2025.
Violators will face fines starting at Dh500 for the first offence and Dh700 for the second, with permits suspended on the third violation. Riders caught exceeding 100km/h on high-speed roads will also face separate fines ranging from Dh200 to Dh400 depending on the number of offences.
To encourage compliance, RTA and Dubai Police will recognise companies that meet safety and lane-discipline standards through the “Delivery Sector Excellence Award,” an initiative designed to reward responsible operators and improve overall service quality in the sector.
