The UAE’s updated traffic law, Federal Decree-Law No. (14) of 2024, will come into effect on March 29, 2025, bringing significant changes to driving regulations. Among the most notable updates is the reduction of the minimum age for obtaining a driving licence for cars and light vehicles from 18 to 17 years.

To get a licence, applicants must now pass a medical examination, provide an approved medical report, and clear a driving test as per the law’s Executive Regulations. The new rules also outline different licence types, their validity, and conditions for age-specific groups.

The law also introduces stricter measures for licence suspension and cancellation. Authorities can suspend, cancel, or deny renewal if a driver is deemed medically unfit or unsafe to drive. Procedures for suspension and rehabilitation will be detailed in the Executive Regulations.

Drivers committing severe offences like reckless driving, causing injuries or deaths, property damage, or driving under the influence could face jail time. The Traffic Control Authority has the power to arrest offenders in these cases.

Driving without a valid licence or using an unrecognised foreign licence will lead to heavy penalties. First-time offenders may face fines ranging from Dh2 000 to Dh10 000, while repeat offences could result in a jail term of at least three months and/or fines up to Dh100 000.

These changes aim to enhance road safety and enforce stricter accountability for violations.