UAE Sets Nine-Hour Daily Driving Limit in 2027 Traffic Rules
Starting January 1, 2027, drivers across the UAE will have to cap their time behind the wheel at nine hours within any 24-hour period. Codified under Article 7, paragraph 2, of Cabinet Decision No. 174 of 2026, which details the executive regulations for Federal Decree-Law No. 14 of 2024, the new mandate covers general vehicle operators rather than just commercial truck drivers.
The policy arrives as authorities push to clamp down on drowsy driving. Ministry of Interior figures show the UAE recorded 20 traffic accidents linked directly to driver fatigue and drowsiness in 2025.
Hitting the road for fewer than nine hours doesn’t give motorists a free pass if exhaustion catches up with them. The regulation includes a strict safety catch: motorists must stop driving immediately if fatigue impairs their ability to operate a vehicle safely, regardless of how many hours remain in their daily quota. The Federal Traffic Council also retains the authority to adjust the driving-hours limit as needed.
Road safety advocates point out that exhaustion tricks drivers into misjudging their own alertness. RoadSafetyUAE highlights red flags like repeated yawning, sore eyes, delayed reactions, difficulty keeping the head upright, and drifting between lanes. Experts advise getting seven to eight hours of uninterrupted sleep before a journey and taking a regular 15-minute break at least every two hours.
Music and fresh air only mask tiredness for a few minutes, meaning sleep remains the only real fix. Brigadier Juma Salem bin Suwaidan, director of the General Department of Traffic at Dubai Police, urges drivers to pull over safely the moment they feel drowsy.
