Administrative Resolution No. (97)
of 2025
Issuing the Implementing Bylaw of
Executive Council Resolution No.
(107) of 2023
Regulating the Tourist Transport
Activity in the Emirate of Dubai[1]
ــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــ
The
Director General and Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of the Roads
and Transport Authority,
After perusal of:
Federal Law No. (21) of 1995 Concerning Road Traffic, its
Implementing Bylaw, and their amendments;
Cabinet Resolution No. (45) of 2016 Concerning Mandatory
Standards in the United Arab Emirates;
Law No. (17) of 2005 Establishing the Roads and Transport
Authority and its amendments;
Executive Council Resolution No. (8) of 2006 Establishing
the Agencies Affiliated to the Roads and Transport Authority and Approving
their Corporate and Organisational Structures;
Executive Council Resolution No. (47) of 2017 Regulating the
Activities of Transportation by, and Rental of, Vehicles in the Emirate of
Dubai, its amendments, and its Implementing Bylaw;
Executive Council Resolution No. (57) of 2017 Regulating the
Issuance of Vehicle Drivers’ Licences and Permits in the Emirate of Dubai and
its Implementing Bylaw;
Executive Council Resolution No. (107) of 2023 Regulating
the Tourist Transport Activity in the Emirate of Dubai; and
Administrative Resolution No. (74) of 2011 Prescribing the
Classification and Licensing Criteria for Tourist Bus Transport Establishments
in the Emirate of Dubai,
Does
hereby issue this Resolution.
The following words and expressions, wherever
mentioned in this Resolution, will have the meaning indicated opposite each of
them unless the context implies otherwise:
UAE: |
The United Arab Emirates. |
Emirate: |
The Emirate of Dubai. |
Executive Council Resolution: |
Executive Council Resolution No. (107) of 2023
Regulating the Tourist Transport Activity in the Emirate of Dubai. |
RTA: |
The Roads and Transport Authority. |
DET: |
The Department of Economy and Tourism in the Emirate
of Dubai. |
Director General: |
The Director General
and Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of the RTA. |
PTA: |
The Public Transport Agency of the RTA. |
Activity: |
The transport of passengers by Tourist Vehicles to
and from airports; hotels; tourist resorts; and heritage, archaeological, and
tourist landmarks and areas within and outside of the Emirate. |
Establishment: |
A company or firm authorised by the RTA to conduct
the Activity in the Emirate. |
Tourist Vehicle: |
A bus, car, motorcycle, or other motorised machine
or carriage licensed by the RTA and designated for use in conducting the
Activity. |
Permit: |
A document issued by the RTA pursuant to the
Executive Council Resolution and this Resolution authorising an Establishment
to conduct the Activity, or to use or operate Tourist Vehicles. |
For the purposes of this Resolution, the PTA
will issue the following Permits:
1.
a
Permit to conduct the Activity;
2.
a Permit to conduct the Activity on
demand via telecommunications, electronic media, smart applications, or any
other electronic means;
3.
a Permit for a heavy Tourist
Vehicle;
4.
a Permit for a light Tourist
Vehicle;
5.
a Permit for a tourist motorcycle;
6.
a Permit to operate other types of
Tourist Vehicles; and
7.
a Permit for a Tourist Vehicle
driver.
a.
Establishments will be classified into the
following three (3) categories: three-star, four-star, and five-star.
b.
The
Classification Criteria of Establishments are set out in Schedule (1)
attached hereto.
c.
The
mandatory
and optional services that an Establishment must provide for the purposes of
determining its classification category are set out in Schedule (2) attached hereto.
In addition to the requirements
stipulated in Article (7) of the Executive Council Resolution, a Permit to
conduct the Activity will be issued subject to the following technical
conditions and requirements:
1. Where
required by the PTA, the Permit applicant must submit an undertaking to provide
offices or principal place of business,
Vehicles, and parking spaces that meet the standards applicable to the Activity
to be conducted, as published on the RTA website.
2. The
Establishment must provide a website or any similar online platform.
3. The
Establishment must provide various communication channels, including an email
address, telephone number, or any other online contact method.
4. The
Establishment must provide information about the services it offers and the
applicable service charges.
5. The
Establishment must have in place a system for handling complaints and
suggestions submitted by service users.
6. The
Permit applicant must meet any other technical requirements related to the
Activity to be conducted, as determined by the PTA and published on the RTA
website.
In issuing a Permit, the following
procedures will apply:
1.
A
Permit
applicant must submit his application, accompanied by the required supporting
documents, using the form and the channels prescribed by the RTA for this
purpose.
2.
The
PTA will consider the application to verify that it meets all the relevant
conditions and requirements prescribed for the issuance of the Permit.
3.
The PTA will determine the
application once all the relevant conditions and requirements prescribed for
the issuance of the Permit have been met.
4.
Where the Permit application is
approved, the applicant will pay the Permit issuance fees prescribed by the
Executive Council Resolution.
5.
Where the application is rejected,
the PTA will notify the applicant of the reasons for rejection. An applicant
whose application is rejected may submit to the PTA a new Permit application
after addressing the stated reasons for rejection.
To be issued with a Permit to conduct
the Activity on demand via telecommunications, electronic media, smart
applications, or any other electronic means, an applicant must:
1.
submit
a written undertaking, addressed to the RTA, to provide the electronic systems,
electronic media, and smart applications required for conducting the Activity
within the time frame prescribed by the PTA.
2.
submit a written undertaking,
addressed to the RTA, to link the applicant’s electronic systems, electronic
media, and smart applications to the RTA's electronic systems, as prescribed by
the PTA in this respect.
3.
submit a written undertaking,
addressed to the RTA, confirming that the Activity will not adversely affect
other transport activities in the Emirate.
4.
pay the fee prescribed for issuing
the Permit to conduct the Activity.
5.
submit an undertaking to comply with
the circulars, procedures, and conditions prescribed by the PTA in respect of all
matters related to conducting the Activity.
A Tourist Vehicle Permit will be issued
and renewed subject to the following:
1.
The Tourist Vehicle must conform to
the relevant technical specifications and the technical inspection standards
adopted by the RTA and published on the RTA website.
2.
The Tourist Vehicle must
successfully pass the technical inspection prescribed by the RTA.
3.
The Tourist Vehicle must conform to
the GCC and UAE specifications as prescribed by the legislation in force in the
UAE.
4.
The Tourist Vehicle must meet the
mandatory security and safety requirements stipulated in the above-mentioned
Cabinet Resolution No. (45) of 2016.
5.
Where a Tourist Vehicle is adapted to provide
services to persons with
mobility impairments, it must be equipped with a boarding
lift for wheelchairs and designated seating for accompanying persons.
A Tourist Vehicle driver’s Permit
will be issued and renewed subject to the following:
1.
The
driver
must hold a driving licence issued by the competent authority in the UAE for
the same category of Vehicles for which the Permit is requested.
2.
The driver must be of good character
and repute and not have been convicted of any felony or other crime affecting
honour or trustworthiness, unless he has been rehabilitated.
3.
The driver must be employed by an
Establishment.
4.
The driver must be medically fit.
5.
The driver must successfully pass
the theory and practical tests and the training courses administered by the
PTA.
6.
The driver must submit an
undertaking to comply with the circulars, procedures, and conditions prescribed
by the PTA in respect of all matters related to conducting the Activity.
a.
The
RTA may, upon the request of a Permit holder, authorise the assignment of the
Permit, subject to the following:
1.
The fees or fines owed by the
assigning Establishment must be paid.
2.
The Establishment to which the
Permit is assigned must sign a written undertaking not to commence the Activity
before the RTA's approval of the Permit assignment is issued.
3.
The Establishment to which the
Permit is assigned must meet all conditions and requirements prescribed by the
Executive Council Resolution and this Resolution for the issuance of the
Permit.
b.
In
submitting
a Permit assignment application, the following procedures will apply:
1.
A Permit assignment application, will
be submitted to the RTA, together with the required supporting documents, using
the form and through the channels it prescribes for this purpose.
2.
The RTA will consider the Permit
assignment application and verify that it meets all the relevant conditions and
requirements, and that it is accompanied by all the required documents.
3.
The RTA will determine the Permit
assignment application within three (3) working days from the date of
completing the application process, including the submission of all required
information and documents.
4.
Where the Permit assignment
application is approved, the relevant prescribed fees must be paid, and the
concerned economic activities licensing authority will be notified accordingly.
5.
Where the Permit assignment
application is rejected, the RTA will notify the applicant of the reasons for
rejection. An applicant whose application is rejected may submit a new Permit
assignment application to the RTA after addressing the stated reasons for rejection.
To be appointed
as an Establishment manager, a candidate must meet the following qualifications
and experience requirements:
1.
hold a “Tourism Expert” certificate
issued by an educational institution within or outside of the UAE;
2.
have a minimum of two (2) years of
experience as a manager in a company or establishment within or outside of the
UAE; and
3.
must have completed at least one (1)
training course or programme related to the Activity.
The RTA has the authority to license the Tourist Vehicles
of Hotel Establishments that transport their guests, and the Tourist Vehicles of
Tourist Establishments that transport natural persons to any location within
the Emirate, to be operated and used for purposes of transporting
their guests, clients, and staff, where such staff are, by the nature of their
duties, required to accompany guests/clients or provide them
with essential services during tourist trips. These
Establishments must comply with the licensing conditions, rules, procedures,
and technical requirements applicable to their Tourist Vehicles, as determined
by the RTA in coordination with the DET.
In
addition to the obligations stipulated in Article (14) of the Executive Council
Resolution, an Establishment must:
1.
establish an electronic connection with the RTA's
electronic systems, as prescribed by the PTA in this respect;
2.
notify the RTA in case of cessation
of the Activity;
3.
renew the Tourist Vehicle Permits
within the prescribed time frames;
4.
enter and update all relevant data
of the Establishment in the electronic systems determined by the RTA, to ensure
the availability of an accurate database of its Tourist Vehicles and Tourist
Vehicle drivers;
5.
fulfil the requirements prescribed
by the RTA for the Smart Control System; and
6.
comply with the instructions issued
by the PTA in respect of using and operating Tourist Vehicles on the Roads of
the Emirate.
The
Chief
Executive Officer of the PTA will issue the instructions required for the
implementation of this Resolution.
The above-mentioned Administrative
Resolution No. (74) of 2011 is hereby repealed. Any provision in any other administrative resolution is also hereby
repealed to the extent that it contradicts the provisions of this Resolution.
This Resolution will be published in
the Official Gazette and will come into force sixty (60) days after the date of
its publication.
Mattar Al Tayer
Director General and Chairman of the Board of Executive
Directors
Roads and Transport Authority
Issued in
Dubai on 6 February 2025
Corresponding
to 7 Shaaban 1446 A.H.
Criterion |
Category |
||
Three-star |
Four-star |
Five-star |
|
Number of Tourist Vehicles of an
Establishment |
From one (1) and up to five (5)
Tourist Vehicles |
From six (6) and up to twenty (20)
Tourist Vehicles |
More than twenty (20) Tourist
Vehicles |
Services Offered |
All mandatory services and at
least one (1) optional service from those listed in Schedule (2) are offered. |
All mandatory services and at
least three (3) optional services from those listed in Schedule (2) are
offered. |
All mandatory services and at
least five (5) optional services from those listed in Schedule (2) are
offered. |
SN |
Service |
Classification Category |
||
Three-star |
Four-star |
Five-star |
||
1 |
Providing a website and/ or a smart application for
the Establishment |
Optional |
Optional |
Mandatory |
2 |
Providing service-related information |
Mandatory |
Mandatory |
|
3 |
Providing electronic services |
Optional |
Optional |
Mandatory |
4 |
Providing service-related information and fees |
Optional |
Optional |
Mandatory |
5 |
Providing a prebooking service |
Optional |
Mandatory |
Mandatory |
Providing
multiple payment channels (e-payment gateways, credit cards, cash) |
Mandatory |
Mandatory |
Mandatory |
|
7 |
Providing multiple means of communication with the
Establishment (telephone, email, website) |
Mandatory |
Mandatory |
Mandatory |
8 |
Mandatory |
Mandatory |
Mandatory |
|
9 |
Providing academic and work experience certificates
of employees |
Optional |
Optional |
Mandatory |
10 |
Engaging qualified tour guides |
Mandatory |
Mandatory |
Mandatory |
11 |
Providing any additional services not listed in this
Schedule |
Optional |
Optional |
Optional |
12 |
Providing employees and drivers with uniforms and identification
badges |
Mandatory |
Mandatory |
Mandatory |
13 |
Maintaining a logbook of tour and customer numbers
updated on a daily basis |
Mandatory |
Mandatory |
Mandatory |
©2025 The Supreme Legislation Committee in the
Emirate of Dubai
[1]Every effort has been made to produce an
accurate and complete English version of this legislation. However, for the
purpose of its interpretation and application, reference must be made to the
original Arabic text. In case of conflict, the Arabic text will prevail.