Dubai: Authorities are preparing to launch a new special unit to monitor cycling and e-scooter fines and violations Dubai by cyclists and riders, respectively. The primary aim behind the launch of the new Personal Mobility Monitoring Unit is to improve traffic safety on tracks dedicated to cyclists and e-scooter riders and guarantee compliance with relevant safety laws and standards.
A strategic collaboration between Dubai’s RTA and Police has announced the launch of the new unit, which will oversee traffic rules compliance, manage traffic flow on cyclic lanes, and make the public aware of safe riding practices. Anyone who will not follow the rules will be punished and face penalties as per the current regulations. Key bicycle lanes and main streets that link with soft mobility zones will be monitored by personnel from the unit, who will be positioned there to oversee activities and guarantee compliance with standard rules and regulations.
A Joint Initiative Between the Dubai Police and RTA
This joint initiative between the Dubai police and RTA was announced when the two authorities were reviewing the 2022-2026 Traffic Safety Strategy. The authorities noted a significant increase in the use of personal mobility devices. In a joint statement, they said that a 5% growth in bicycle trips from 2023 (44 million) to 2024 (46.6%) has been noted. Also, an 8% increase in e-scooter trips from 30 million to 32.3 million in the same period has been observed.
In the previous year, 10 deaths and 259 injuries, including 17 serious ones, were recorded from 254 tripping accidents involving e-scooter riders and cyclists. In February 2025, two e-scooter-related deaths within just three days in the Emirates made this concern more prominent and visible. A report from Khaleej Times stated that road safety experts are requesting stricter e-scooter usage regulations and their increased implementation. RoadSafetyUAE’s founder and MD, Thomas Edelmann, advocated for a mandatory curriculum for road safety in schools.
He further said that it is difficult to understand what is happening regarding e-scooters. He added that underage children are driving recklessly on roads without helmets, reflective vests, and lights, which are all against the traffic laws. He said that it is hard to see any child complying with the traffic rules.
New Unit is Focused on Traffic Compliance & Pedestrian Safety
The UAE’s most advanced, safest, and luxurious emirate, Dubai, recorded around 40,000 e-scooter fines and cycle violations in 2024, which has made it mandatory for authorities to strengthen enforcement efforts. Anyone found guilty of violating rules, like riding on public roads, driving recklessly on dedicated paths, or riding without a helmet or safety gear, will be punished with an AED 300 fine.
The current regulations have permitted e-scooter riders and cyclists to ride only in designated lanes or paths. Also, they are instructed not to carry passengers or items that can affect their balance, to ride while maintaining compliance with traffic rules, and to wear helmets or other protective equipment to guarantee their safety.
A five-foot-tall and 200 kg robot was recently deployed along Jumeirah 3 beach to oversee and monitor e-scooter and bicycle use. Designed with an innovative technological approach, this robot can detect e-scooter rule violations, which can help guarantee the safer use of personal mobility devices.
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