Dubai autonomous vehicles regulations have now been formally adopted through executive rules for Law No. 9 of 2023, laying out how self-driving cars, buses, equipment and motorcycles can operate in the emirate. The framework defines vehicle categories, licensing conditions, technical standards and strict obligations for operators and agents to ensure safety, accountability and secure data management.
Six categories and licensing rules
The executive regulations classify autonomous vehicles into six types: light passenger or freight vehicles with up to 13 seats, heavy freight vehicles, public light buses with at least 14 seats, public heavy buses with more than 26 seats, light and heavy equipment (with or without wheels) and self‑driving motorcycles. Each category must meet specific design and operational criteria aligned with how it will be used on Dubai’s roads.
To obtain and renew licences, operators must satisfy eight conditions, including comprehensive UAE insurance, operating only through authorised providers and passing approved technical inspections. Unapproved modifications to autonomous systems are prohibited, and operators must notify authorities immediately of any significant technical faults or incidents.
Technical, safety and security standards
Before deployment, each autonomous vehicle must satisfy seven core technical and operational requirements, such as presenting a manufacturer’s certificate proving successful road trials in the country of origin or another jurisdiction that meets Dubai’s standards. Vehicles must comply with UAE or Gulf technical regulations and complete local tests under Dubai’s climatic conditions, with all trial data shared and any issues resolved.
Safety systems must control permitted speeds, routes and operating areas according to the automation level. Vehicles also need secure communication systems for emergencies, passenger alert features and adherence to detailed RTA-approved technical and operational manuals. Design and structural safety must match the vehicle’s intended purpose, from passenger transport to freight or specialised equipment use.
Infrastructure and operator obligations
The regulations require supporting infrastructure, including traffic-safety features, electronic systems that can communicate with autonomous vehicles, and compatibility with road markings, signals, signage and charging stations. Infrastructure must be future-ready to accommodate advancing technologies and higher automation levels over time.
Operators face 14 obligations, such as ensuring vehicles run only on designated routes and within approved zones, regaining control without delay in case of malfunction or loss of control, and guaranteeing that an adult is present whenever children under 16 are on board. They must maintain an integrated, secure electronic system storing all operational data—movements, maintenance, repairs, faults and accidents—which cannot be altered or deleted without prior approval, and ensure real-time, secure software updates to maintain safety and compliance.
Role of agents and link to Dubai’s wider mobility vision
Agents are barred from activating autonomous systems without prior approval and must disable them immediately if a safety issue emerges, while carrying out regular maintenance to keep vehicles roadworthy. They share responsibility for ensuring that all technical and software aspects remain within approved parameters and that any critical failures are reported promptly.
These regulations accompany Dubai’s ongoing robo‑taxi trials, currently running with safety drivers ahead of fully driverless services expected from early 2026. The move is part of a broader smart mobility strategy that also includes electric air taxis, self‑driving buses and autonomous ferries, with the goal of shifting a significant share of the transport network to autonomous modes by 2030.
Gulf Repost tracks how laws, technology and infrastructure are reshaping mobility across the UAE and wider region. From autonomous-vehicle regulations and air taxi pilots to EV adoption and smart public transport, Gulf Repost explains what new rules mean for residents, businesses and visitors navigating tomorrow’s transport systems.
