New federal traffic rules from 1 January 2027 cap driving at nine hours in any 24-hour period and ban driving while fatigued.
News Today Desk
From 1 January 2027, drivers in the UAE must not exceed nine hours of driving in any 24-hour period.
The requirement appears in Article 7 of Cabinet Decision No. 174 of 2026, which sets out the executive regulation of Federal Decree-Law No. 14 of 2024 on traffic. It is written as a general obligation for vehicle drivers, not a rule aimed only at truck or delivery drivers. The Federal Traffic Council is allowed to amend the driving-hours limit later.
If you drive for work or for long stretches, plan your shifts so you stay under nine hours in any 24-hour window. Whatever your hours, do not drive when you feel tired, even before you reach the limit.
From 1 January 2027, drivers in the UAE must not exceed nine hours of driving within any 24-hour period. The rule sits in new federal traffic regulations and is intended to curb driver fatigue. The same provision also bans driving when tiredness affects your ability to drive safely.
The nine-hour ceiling does not replace the separate prohibition on dangerous tiredness. If you feel fatigue affecting your driving, you must stop, even if you have been on the road for fewer than nine hours.
| Rule | What it says |
|---|---|
| Maximum driving | Nine hours within any 24-hour period |
| Fatigue | Driving is banned when tiredness impairs safe driving |
| Start date | 1 January 2027 |
The UAE recorded 20 traffic accidents attributed to driver fatigue and drowsiness in 2025, according to Ministry of Interior figures. Dubai Police issued a warning on 29 October after a truck driver reportedly fell asleep at the wheel and crashed into a metal safety barrier on Emirates Road, E611, towards Abu Dhabi. The driver suffered minor injuries and was treated at the scene.
Brigadier Juma Salem bin Suwaidan, director of the General Department of Traffic at Dubai Police, urged motorists to rest properly before driving and to stop as soon as they feel tired or drowsy.
The new regulations cover more than driving hours. Residents can register up to two vehicles without extra fees, with a maximum of five in total, and light vehicle owners may extend registration from one year to two. Electric scooters and e-bikes will need a permit, and applicants must be at least 15. These permits last three years and can only be used on designated routes.
Children aged four and under must use a child seat that suits their weight and height, fitted in the rear seats. Delivery riders can no longer carry a passenger on a motorcycle while working, and they must use approved equipment instead of backpacks.
RoadSafetyUAE says fatigue is especially risky because it can stop you noticing how tired you are. Warning signs include repeated yawning, sore eyes, slower reactions and difficulty keeping your head up. Drifting between lanes, changing speed without meaning to, and struggling to recall the last few kilometres can also point to fatigue.
The organisation says music or fresh air only helps for a short time, and that sleep is the only real cure. If you feel tired, pull over somewhere safe and rest.
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