If you ride an e-scooter or electric bike in Abu Dhabi, it’s worth knowing where you’re allowed to go, and where you’re not.

The Abu Dhabi Department of Municipalities and Transport has outlined designated areas where electric bikes and scooters are permitted, along with clear restrictions aimed at improving safety, easing traffic flow and supporting smarter urban mobility.

According to the department, e-bikes and scooters are allowed on internal roads with speed limits below 40km/h, dedicated cycling and e-bike lanes, and shared paths designed for both pedestrians and cyclists.

However, riding is strictly prohibited on highways, pedestrian-only paths, and roads outside the city where speed limits are 60km/h or higher.

The Integrated Transport Centre (ITC) said the rules are part of a broader plan to create a safe, connected network of cycling and e-bike routes across the emirate, encouraging active transport and better integration with public transport.

Pedestrian safety remains a top priority. Riders are required to follow traffic laws, obey road signs and markings, ride in the direction of traffic, keep a safe distance from pedestrians and use designated cycling lanes whenever available.

Cyclists are also reminded that riding on roads with speed limits above 60km/h requires a special permit. On roads with speed limits of 60km/h or below and no cycling lanes, riders should keep to the right-hand side.

Parking is only allowed in designated areas to avoid blocking pedestrians or vehicles. Riders must also maintain at least a five-metre distance from school buses when warning lights are on, and the stop arm is extended. Group cycling tours must obtain prior approval from Abu Dhabi Police.

Authorities say the measures are designed to keep everyone, riders, pedestrians and motorists,  safe while supporting a more active and sustainable transport culture in the capital.

Sharjah authorities have warned that strict legal action, including hefty fines, will be taken against any vehicle entering Mleiha National Park without official authorisation.

The Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq) said the park is a protected national site established by Emiri decree and governed by a strict legislative framework aimed at preserving its archaeological, cultural and environmental significance.

Shurooq stressed that unauthorised access by any type of vehicle, without exception, constitutes a direct violation of the park’s protected status and will result in financial penalties and other legal measures. The enforcement is intended to prevent damage to the park’s fragile terrain and irreplaceable archaeological remains, which cannot be restored once disturbed.

Mleiha National Park forms part of the Al Faya Site, which was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2025. The designation places additional responsibility on local authorities to ensure the long-term protection of the site as a rare and continuous record of early human history.

Public access to the park is therefore strictly limited to approved, organised activities supervised by the Mleiha Archaeological Centre. All visits must be booked exclusively through the centre and conducted along designated routes in accordance with established guidelines designed to safeguard the site.

Residents across the UAE can expect a cool and rainy start to the week, as the National Centre of Meteorology (NCM) forecasts light rainfall on Monday morning, January 26, amid an ongoing cold spell.

According to the NCM, temperatures are set to dip slightly, with generally comfortable conditions across the country. Monday’s weather will be partly cloudy to cloudy, particularly over coastal, northern, and eastern regions, as well as over the sea. Light rain is expected during the morning hours.

Temperatures are not expected to exceed 26°C nationwide. Dubai may see lows of around 16°C, while Abu Dhabi temperatures could drop to 15°C.

Humidity levels will increase at night and into Tuesday morning in some coastal and internal areas, raising the possibility of mist formation.

Winds will be light to moderate, blowing from the northeast to northwest at speeds of 10–25 km/h, occasionally strengthening and causing blowing dust. Sea conditions will be rough in the morning, easing to moderate in the Arabian Gulf and becoming moderate to slight in the Oman Sea.

RTA warn motorists of wet conditions

Meanwhile, Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has urged motorists to exercise caution while driving in wet conditions, stressing that simple safety measures can help protect road users during periods of heavy rainfall.

The advisory comes as rain and strong winds are expected to affect parts of the UAE on Monday, according to the National Center of Meteorology (NCM). Hail was reported early in the morning in Al Rams and northern areas of Ras Al Khaimah, with videos circulating on social media showing hail showers at dawn.

Overnight rainfall was also recorded in parts of Ras Al Khaimah and Fujairah, while scattered showers in Al Ain brought cooler temperatures and some relief as unstable weather conditions continued across the country’s northern and eastern regions.