Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai has announced new regulating the operations of self-driving cars.
The new law aims to accelerate Dubai’s smart mobility transformation, attract investments in the sector and provide a regulatory environment that facilitates the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in transportation.
The new law is in line with Sheikh Mohammed’s efforts to align Dubai’s legislative framework with his strategic vision to transform the emirate into a model for cities of the future and the best city in the world to live, work and visit.
It outlines the responsibilities of the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) in regulating the sector, including developing policies and plans, identifying categories of autonomous vehicles, and setting safety and operational standards. The RTA will also be responsible for developing infrastructure, managing traffic, and issuing licenses for autonomous vehicles.
Violators of the provisions of the Law face fines between AED500 and AED20,000, which could be doubled in case of repeat violations in the same year. The maximum fine for violations is AED50,000.
According to the Law, all relevant government entities in Dubai are required to cooperate with RTA to help it deliver its responsibilities related to the autonomous vehicles sector.
Provisions of Federal Law No. (21) of 1995 Concerning Road Traffic, its executive regulations and amendments, relevant decisions and any other legislation that replaced them will continue to apply in areas that are not covered by a specific provision of the new law.
The law will come into effect 90 days after its publication in the Official Gazette and will supersede any other legislation that may conflict with it.
