Dubai bans delivery riders from fast lanes starting November 1 amid spike in accidents and violations

Starting November 1, delivery motorcyclists in Dubai will be barred from using high-speed lanes across major roads, as authorities respond to a surge in traffic accidents and violations. The move, announced jointly by the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) and Dubai Police , is part of a broader strategy to enhance road safety and curb reckless riding behaviour within the rapidly growing delivery sector.

Scope of the new lane restrictions

Under the new traffic regulation, commercial delivery riders — primarily on motorcycles — will be restricted from using specific fast lanes on multi-lane roads:

• On roads with five or more lanes:
  Delivery riders will be prohibited from using the two leftmost lanes.
• On roads with three or four lanes:
  They will be restricted from the leftmost lane.
• On roads with two lanes or fewer:
  No restrictions will apply; riders may use either lane freely.

These rules are being implemented citywide starting November 1, 2025, and will be enforced through both signage and active patrols.

#RTA and Dubai Police General Headquarters have announced a ban on delivery bikes across #Dubai’s high-speed roads, effective from 1 November 2025. Delivery riders will be prohibited from using the two leftmost lanes on roads with five lanes or more, and from using the leftmost… pic.twitter.com/NkulNOjO4w

— RTA (@rta_dubai) October 19, 2025

Accident and violation statistics driving the decision

Authorities pointed to a consistent rise in traffic accidents and law violations involving delivery motorcycles as the key reason behind the move.

According to Dubai police data:

• In 2024, there were 854 traffic accidents involving delivery riders .
• This figure increased to 962 accidents in 2025 (up to October).
• In 2024, 70,166 traffic violations were issued to delivery motorcyclists for non-compliance with traffic laws.
• In the first nine months of 2025, this number rose to 78,386 violations, reflecting ongoing issues with safe riding practices.

Major General Saif Muhair Al Mazrouei, Assistant Commander-in-Chief for Operations Affairs at Dubai Police, attributed many of these accidents to “reckless and non-compliant riding behaviour”, especially on high-speed lanes.

He emphasized that motorcycles are inherently vulnerable due to their lack of protective structures, and the probability of losing control increases significantly at high speeds.

Penalties for violating the new rules

Delivery riders who breach the new lane restrictions or speed limits will face a stepped penalty structure:

Lane restriction violations:

• First offence: AED 500 fine
• Second offence: AED 700 fine
• Third offence: Suspension of delivery permit
  

Speed limit violations (100 km/h):

• First offence: AED 200 fine
• Second offence: AED 300 fine
• Third offence: AED 400 fine

The enforcement aims to deter repeated violations and instill a culture of compliance among commercial riders.

Implementation and road safety measures

To support the enforcement of these rules, authorities are rolling out several supporting measures:

• New signboards will be installed to indicate lanes restricted for delivery motorcycles. These will be placed alongside existing signs that already bar heavy vehicles and trucks from high-speed lanes.
• A multi-channel public awareness campaign will be launched to educate both delivery companies and riders about the new regulations, ensuring they fully understand the changes and penalties involved.

Hussain Al Banna , CEO of the Traffic and Roads Agency at RTA, said that the signage and campaigns are aimed at ensuring widespread compliance and improving discipline on the roads.

The initiative is part of broader efforts by Dubai's government to enhance safety for all road users while addressing challenges posed by the rapid growth in the delivery sector, particularly food delivery services, in recent years.