UAE motorists face nine-hour driving limit from January
UAE motorists must not drive for more than nine hours within a 24-hour period under traffic regulations due to take effect on January 1 next year. They are also prohibited from driving if they are tired or exhausted enough for it to affect their ability to drive safely. The restrictions are among requirements introduced under cabinet decision no 174 of 2026. They allow the Federal Traffic Council…
Starting January 1, UAE motorists will be limited to nine hours behind the wheel in a 24-hour period, as per new traffic regulations. This restriction, introduced under Cabinet Decision No 174 of 2026, also prohibits driving if a driver is too fatigued to do so safely. Traffic safety expert Mustafa Aldah expressed optimism, stating it's a positive step towards better regulation of the transportation sector.
The regulations aim to reduce fatal crashes involving lorries and buses, given the shift from road freight to rail services. Aldah hopes this will differentiate between work and personal driving, emphasizing that drivers and their employers share responsibility for safe practices. Countries like the UK and Australia enforce strict driving limits and rest periods for heavy vehicle drivers, supported by tachographs and comprehensive speed limiters, which significantly curtails heavy vehicle accidents.
UAE's new regulations also prohibit driving under the influence of drugs, alcohol, or similar substances. Drivers must adjust their speed according to road and weather conditions, with exceptions only for emergency vehicles and those transporting critically ill individuals. The law further introduces varying validity periods for driving licenses based on age, nationality, and whether the holder is a UAE or GCC national versus an expatriate resident.
Drivers must also meet stringent eyesight standards, with more rigorous checks for bus and heavy machinery operators.
Written by urgent.news from The National UAE's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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