Authorities seize over 13,600 electric scooters in eight months as the force launches its ‘Ride Safely’ campaign targeting reckless users
DUBAI, Sept. 5, 2026 : Electric scooter riders in Dubai who breach safety protocols or endanger pedestrians face on-the-spot fines of Dh300, Dubai Police announced on Saturday as part of a renewed road safety initiative.
The warning coincides with the rollout of the force’s “Ride Safely” campaign, an enforcement and awareness drive aimed at curbing accidents linked to personal light electric vehicles across the emirate.
Official figures released alongside the campaign show that Dubai Police confiscated 13,657 electric scooters during the first eight months of 2026. The seizures follow stepped-up field inspections across key urban districts, commercial zones, and residential quarters where e-scooter usage has surged.
According to traffic officials, the most frequent violations behind the impoundments include riding against the direction of vehicular traffic, mounting pedestrian footpaths, cutting through crowded traditional markets, and darting across multi-lane carriage roads outside marked crossings. Officers also cited dangerous weaving across central dividers and riding on prohibited highways.
Under Dubai’s executive regulations governing non-motorized and micro-mobility transit, riding in a manner that jeopardizes personal safety or the safety of other road users carries a Dh300 fine. The same financial penalty applies to carrying unauthorized pillion passengers and riding without mandatory personal protection.
Dubai Police stressed that e-scooters are designed strictly for single riders. Carrying another person alters the vehicle’s center of gravity, sharply degrading braking efficiency and steering control.
Officers are also targeting digital distractions. Operating an e-scooter while holding a mobile telephone or wearing noise-canceling headphones is strictly prohibited. Traffic investigators noted that auditory isolation prevents riders from hearing approaching vehicles, emergency sirens, or pedestrian warnings.
To legally navigate the emirate’s network, riders must remain confined to officially designated cycle tracks and shared lanes demarcated by the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA). Riding on pedestrian paths, dedicated running tracks, and athletic circuits remains outlawed.
Protective equipment remains compulsory across all public corridors. Commuters must wear a secured safety helmet and are advised to use joint pads. During low-light hours and night transit, riders must wear reflective vests or clothing to ensure visibility to motorists.
Dubai Police described the electric scooter as a practical, eco-conscious option for first-and-last-mile connectivity. However, the force maintained that expanding infrastructure must be matched by user discipline to prevent serious collisions and safeguard public spaces.
