UAE Caps Driving Time at Nine Hours Daily Under New Traffic Regulations

The United Arab Emirates has introduced a federal rule setting a hard limit on daily driving hours across the country, Time Out Dubai reported. Beginning on Friday, January 1, 2027, motorists will be prohibited from spending more than nine hours behind the wheel in any 24-hour period.

The requirement is enacted under Article 7, paragraph 2, of Cabinet Decision No. 174 of 2026, which supplements Federal Decree Law No. 14 of 2024 on traffic regulation. According to the report, the rule applies broadly to all motorists across Dubai and the other emirates, rather than being limited to truck drivers or professional commercial operators.

The regulatory update is designed to improve road safety by curbing driver fatigue. In Dubai, motorists currently face a Dhs400 fine and four black points on their driving licence if caught operating a vehicle while suffering from physical or mental exhaustion, though it remains unconfirmed whether this specific penalty structure will be altered when the new cap takes effect.

The measure follows repeated safety warnings from Dubai Police concerning drowsy driving, including an incident on Emirates Road (E611) where a truck crashed into a metal safety barrier after the driver reportedly fell asleep. Brigadier Juma Salem bin Suwaidan, Director of the General Department of Traffic at Dubai Police, cautioned that exhaustion significantly diminishes concentration and reaction times, heightening the risk of collisions.