News

Dubai bans delivery bikes from using fast lanes starting November 1

Published

9 months ago

October 20, 2025

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Delivery bike riders in Dubai face sweeping new lane restrictions from November 1 as authorities crack down on a sector that recorded 962 traffic accidents in 2025 alone.

The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) and Dubai Police have announced strict regulations prohibiting delivery motorcycles from using high-speed lanes, with penalties escalating to permit suspension for repeat offenders.

The new rules explained

Roads with 5+ lanes: Delivery bikes banned from the two leftmost lanes

Roads with 3-4 lanes: Delivery bikes are banned from the leftmost lane

Roads with 1-2 lanes: No restrictions, all lanes permitted

The restrictions take effect on November 1, 2025, with enforcement through fines, penalties, and eventual permit suspension for violators.

Why the crackdown

Major General Saif Muhair Al Mazrouei, Assistant Commander-in-Chief for Operations Affairs at Dubai Police, said data shows “a concerning rise in traffic accidents involving delivery motorcycles due to reckless and non-compliant riding behaviour on high-speed lanes.”

The numbers tell an alarming story of escalating danger:

Accidents:

2024: 854 traffic accidents involving delivery motorcycles
2025 (9 months): 962 accidents – already exceeding last year’s total

Violations:

2024: 70,166 traffic violations by delivery riders
2025 (9 months): 78,386 violations – 12% increase

The penalties

Violators face escalating fines and consequences:

Lane violations:

1st offence: Dh500 fine
2nd offence: Dh700 fine
3rd offence: Permit suspension

Speeding over 100 km/h:

1st offence: Dh200
2nd offence: Dh300
3rd offence: Dh400

The three-strike system means delivery riders who repeatedly violate lane restrictions will lose their ability to work entirely.

“Motorcycles are among the most vulnerable modes of transport to fatal accidents, given the absence of protective structures and the heightened risk of losing control at high speeds,” Major General Al Mazrouei explained.

Unlike cars with airbags, seatbelts, and protective frames, delivery riders are exposed to direct impact in crashes. High-speed lane accidents often result in severe injuries or fatalities due to the velocity involved.

The ban on fast-lane usage aims to reduce exposure to the most dangerous road conditions where speed differentials between vehicles are greatest.

How enforcement will work

Dubai Police and RTA will coordinate with the Department of Economy and Tourism and delivery companies to monitor compliance through:

Prohibitory signage on directional signboards indicating restricted lanes for commercial motorcycles
Traffic monitoring systems tracking lane usage
Violation recording linked to rider permits
Company accountability for rider behaviour

Signs will be installed alongside existing heavy vehicle restrictions, clearly marking which lanes are off-limits to delivery bikes.

The economic context

Hussain Al Banna, CEO of the Traffic and Roads Agency at RTA, emphasised that the regulations support rather than hinder the delivery sector’s growth.

“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.

Based on traffic studies

The lane restrictions weren’t arbitrary; they resulted from “specialised traffic studies and technical standards developed within RTA’s governance framework for this vital sector, ensuring alignment with global best practices,” according to Al Banna.

Over recent months, RTA held consultations with government entities, private sector partners, and consultancy firms to review procedures and establish safety criteria.

RTA will launch a “comprehensive public awareness campaign using diverse media and advertising channels, in collaboration with delivery companies operating in the emirate.”

The campaign aims to ensure all riders understand the new restrictions before enforcement begins on November 1.

Excellence awards for compliance

In a carrot-and-stick approach, Dubai Police and RTA announced that companies whose riders consistently comply with lane restrictions will be recognised in the “Delivery Sector Excellence Award” under the companies category.

The initiative aims to “foster healthy competition among delivery operators, enhance traffic safety for all road users, and strengthen adherence to traffic laws.”

What delivery riders must do

Before November 1:

Understand which lanes are restricted on routes you regularly use
Plan alternative routes if necessary
Attend any company briefings on the new rules
Review safe riding practices

From November 1:

Stay out of the restricted leftmost lanes
Maintain speeds appropriate for your lane
Follow all traffic laws to avoid a permit suspension
Report any unclear signage to the authorities

With accidents involving delivery bikes already up 13% year-over-year and violations climbing, Dubai authorities are taking decisive action to protect riders and other road users.

The lane restrictions represent a balance between supporting a vital economic sector and ensuring that growth doesn’t come at the cost of lives.

Michael Gomes

With over 35 years of experience in journalism, copywriting, and PR, Michael Gomes is a seasoned media professional deeply rooted in the UAE’s print and digital landscape.

Food

Abu Dhabi to ban junk food from supermarket checkouts and entrances

Published

2 hours ago

July 31, 2026

Michael Gomes

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Shoppers in Abu Dhabi will soon see fewer chocolates, crisps, sugary drinks and other unhealthy snacks at supermarket entrances, checkout counters and other high-visibility locations under a new policy aimed at encouraging healthier eating habits.

From January 1, 2027, supermarkets larger than 4,000 square feet and online grocery platforms will no longer be allowed to prominently display food and drinks classified as high in fat, salt and sugar (HFSS) under the Abu Dhabi Public Health Centre’s SEHHI nutrition classification system.

The initiative, led by Healthy Living in collaboration with the Abu Dhabi Registration Authority (ADRA) and supported by several government entities, is designed to make healthier choices easier without restricting what people can buy.

Under the new rules, HFSS products cannot be displayed at store entrances, end-of-aisle promotions or checkout areas. Online retailers must also remove these products from homepage promotions, search recommendations, pop-up advertisements and checkout pages.

Authorities stressed that the products are not being banned. They will remain available in their usual aisles, allowing shoppers to purchase them while reducing impulse buying driven by prominent placement.

Officials said the policy is based on behavioural science and international best practices to create shopping environments that naturally encourage healthier decisions.

Retailers across Abu Dhabi are preparing for the changes ahead of the mandatory deadline, with some stores already implementing the new placement standards across their stores in the emirate.

The initiative forms part of Abu Dhabi’s wider preventive health strategy, which focuses on reducing lifestyle-related diseases by embedding healthier choices into everyday life.

Announcements

August fuel rates announced: UAE petrol prices go up

Published

3 hours ago

July 31, 2026

Michael Gomes

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UAE motorists will pay more at the pump from Saturday after the UAE Fuel Price Committee announced higher petrol and diesel prices for August 2026.

The revised rates, which take effect from August 1, are:

Super 98: Dh3.60 per litre (up from Dh3.40)
Special 95: Dh3.49 per litre (up from Dh3.29)
E-Plus 91: Dh3.41 per litre (up from Dh3.21)
Diesel: Dh3.80 per litre (up from Dh3.60)

The increase reverses July’s price reduction and comes after volatility in global oil markets during the past month.

The UAE Fuel Price Committee reviews retail fuel prices at the end of each month, with rates determined in line with movements in international oil markets.

The new prices will remain in effect throughout August 2026.

Education

Emirates recruits UAE students to turn retired aircraft into new products

Published

22 hours ago

July 30, 2026

Michael Gomes

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Emirates Engineering has launched a new programme giving UAE university students the chance to transform retired aircraft materials into innovative products while gaining hands-on experience with the airline’s engineering teams.

Called Material Futures Studio, the six-week initiative is led by Emirates Engineering’s Upcycling department. It aims to inspire the next generation of aviation engineers by challenging students to find creative new uses for materials recovered from retired aircraft.

The first edition brings together 23 students from Khalifa University, Emirates Aviation University and the University of Sharjah.

Students began the programme with an orientation session and a behind-the-scenes tour of Emirates Engineering’s facilities in Dubai, where they met senior leaders, explored aircraft maintenance operations and visited the airline’s upcycling workshop to see how retired aircraft materials are already being turned into new products.

How the programme works

Over six weeks, participants will develop concepts and prototypes using materials recovered from retired aircraft, with guidance from Emirates Engineering specialists throughout the design and development process.

The programme will conclude with a showcase where students present their final ideas and prototypes.

According to Emirates, the initiative is designed to bridge the gap between academia and industry by giving students practical engineering experience while enabling the airline to tap into fresh ideas and emerging talent.

Part of Emirates’ sustainability efforts

Material Futures Studio builds on Emirates’ wider sustainability strategy and its multi-billion-dollar aircraft retrofit programme.

The airline is currently refurbishing 219 Airbus A380 and Boeing 777 aircraft, one of the largest retrofit projects in the aviation industry. Rather than discarding materials removed during the upgrades, Emirates Engineering has been repurposing them into new products through its in-house upcycling projects.

These include the Aircrafted by Emirates collection of limited-edition luggage, bags and accessories made from reclaimed aircraft materials, as well as Aircrafted KIDS, which transforms retired aircraft fabrics into backpacks for children. Emirates says more than 4,000 backpacks have already been donated to children in 11 countries.