Dubai: Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) and Dubai Police General Headquarters have announced new regulations governing the movement of delivery bikes on high-speed lanes across Dubai, effective from 1 November 2025. Under the new rules, delivery riders will be prohibited from using the two leftmost lanes on roads with five lanes or more, and from using the leftmost lane on roads with three or four lanes. On roads with two lanes or fewer, there will be no restrictions on which lanes delivery bikes may use.
According to Emirates News Agency, Hussain Al Banna, CEO of Traffic and Roads Agency at RTA, stated that the decision to regulate delivery bike movement on high-speed lanes was the result of ongoing and extensive coordination with public and private sector partners to ensure rider safety. He emphasized the critical role of the delivery sector in economic development and the importance of aligning the decision with Dubai’s Economic Agenda (D33) to double the size of the emirate’s economy while enhancing road safety and the delivery experience.
Al Banna highlighted the significant growth in the delivery sector, noting that the regulation was based on specialised traffic studies and technical standards. Meetings and consultations with various stakeholders were conducted to establish safety criteria for delivery riders and all road users. RTA plans to work with Dubai Police and other partners to monitor compliance, installing prohibitory signs and conducting a public awareness campaign to inform delivery companies of the new restrictions.
Major General Saif Muhair Al Mazrouei, Assistant Commander-in-Chief for Operations Affairs at Dubai Police, lauded the strategic partnership between Dubai Police and RTA. He explained that the decision is part of a collaboration to implement the Traffic Safety Strategy, which aims to reduce road fatalities through monitoring, enforcement, and traffic awareness. Riders who violate the rules will face fines, and repeated offenders may have their permits suspended.
Statistics reveal a concerning rise in traffic accidents involving delivery motorcycles due to non-compliant riding behaviour. Police data recorded 854 traffic accidents last year and 962 in 2025, with a significant number of traffic violations issued against delivery motorcycle riders. The new regulations aim to address these challenges by restricting delivery bike use on high-speed lanes to improve rider behaviour and reduce accidents.
In conclusion, RTA and Dubai Police will recognize companies that comply with the new regulations through the ‘Delivery Sector Excellence Award.’ This initiative seeks to promote healthy competition, enhance traffic safety, and improve service quality across the delivery sector.