Delivery motorcycle riders in Dubai will be barred from using high-speed lanes starting November 1 under new traffic rules jointly announced on Sunday by the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) and Dubai Police.
Under the regulations, delivery bikes will be prohibited from using the two left-most lanes on roads with five or more lanes, and the left-most lane on three- and four-lane roads. Riders may continue to use either lane on roads with two or fewer lanes. Although left-side “fast lanes” were previously restricted under a 2021 rule, authorities said new enforcement is being rolled out amid a surge in violations and crashes.
Major-General Saif Muhair Al Mazrouei, Assistant Commander-in-Chief for Operations Affairs at Dubai Police, said there has been “a concerning rise” in traffic accidents involving delivery motorcycles due to “reckless and non-compliant riding behaviour” on high-speed lanes.
“Police data recorded 854 traffic accidents last year and 962 in 2025, resulting from violations committed by delivery riders,” he said. “Dubai Police issued 70,166 violations last year alone. The number has risen to 78,386 in the past nine months, reflecting the persistence of unsafe riding behaviours.”
He warned that motorcycles remain “among the most vulnerable modes of transport to fatal accidents” due to the lack of protective structure and the high risk of losing control at speed. “Restricting delivery bikes from high-speed lanes will improve rider behaviour, reinforce discipline and reduce fatalities,” he said.
Hussain Al Banna, CEO of the Traffic and Roads Agency, said RTA will work with Dubai Police, the Department of Economy and Tourism, and delivery platforms to monitor compliance. New prohibitory signs will be added along major corridors, alongside existing restrictions for trucks and heavy vehicles.
A broad public awareness campaign — in coordination with delivery firms — will be launched across media channels ahead of enforcement. Al Banna said the decision follows an “unprecedented boom” in the delivery sector in recent years and is based on technical traffic studies aligned with global best practices.
To incentivise compliance, RTA and Dubai Police said they will recognise delivery companies that adhere to the regulations through a new “Delivery Sector Excellence Award”, aimed at promoting road safety, encouraging responsible rider behaviour, and improving service standards across the industry.
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