Executive
Council Resolution No. (14) of 2026
Approving
the
Activities
Related to the Use of Autonomous Vehicles and
their
Operational Phases in the Emirate of Dubai[1]
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We,
Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Chairman of
the Executive Council,
After perusal of:
Federal Law by Decree No. (14) of 2024 Regulating Road
Traffic;
Law No. (17) of 2005 Establishing the Roads and Transport
Authority and its amendments;
Law No. (9) of 2023 Regulating the Operation of Autonomous
Vehicles in the Emirate of Dubai and its Implementing Bylaw;
Executive Council Resolution No. (33) of 2011 Regulating the
Transport of Passengers by Buses in the Emirate of Dubai;
Executive Council Resolution No. (6) of 2016 Regulating
Passenger Transport by Cars in the Emirate of Dubai, its amendments, and its
Implementing Bylaw;
Executive Council Resolution No. (47) of 2017 Regulating the
Activities of Transportation by, and Rental of, Vehicles in the Emirate of
Dubai, its Implementing Bylaw, and their amendments; and
Executive Council Resolution No. (107) of 2023 Regulating
the Tourist Transport Activity in the Emirate of Dubai and its Implementing
Bylaw,
Do
hereby issue this Resolution.
The words and expressions mentioned in this
Resolution have the same meanings assigned to them in the above-mentioned Law
No. (9) of 2023. The following words and expressions, wherever mentioned in
this Resolution, have the meanings indicated opposite each of them unless the
context implies otherwise:
|
Operation Phases: |
The phases for operating Autonomous Vehicles as
specified in Article (3) of this Resolution. |
|
Activity: |
Any activity involving the use of Autonomous
Vehicles as specified in Article (2) of this Resolution. |
|
Safety Operator: |
A natural person present on board an Autonomous
Vehicle during its operation and appointed by the Operator or the
manufacturer of the Autonomous Vehicle to assume manual control of the
Vehicle where necessary to prevent the Vehicle from losing control or being
involved in an accident. |
a.
Autonomous Vehicles may be used in any of the
activities specified in the following legislation, to the extent that their use
is compatible with the nature of the activity:
1.
the above-mentioned Executive
Council Resolution No. (33) of 2011;
2.
the above-mentioned Executive Council Resolution No. (6) of 2016;
3.
the above-mentioned Executive
Council Resolution No. (47) of 2017; and
4.
the above-mentioned Executive
Council Resolution No. (107) of 2023.
b.
Without
prejudice to the provisions of the above-mentioned Law No. (9) of 2023, the
provisions of the legislation referred to in paragraph (a) of this Article
apply to Autonomous Vehicles used in the activities specified therein, to the
extent that they are compatible with the nature of the Autonomous Vehicles.
c.
The
Director General will, pursuant to a resolution he issues in this respect,
determine the requirements and controls for the use of Autonomous Vehicles in
the activities specified in the legislation referred to in paragraph (a) of
this Article.
a.
Autonomous Vehicles will be operated
in the following phases:
1.
First Phase: Verification of data and
maps.
2.
Second Phase: Operation with a Safety
Operator on board.
3.
Third Phase: Operation without a
Safety Operator on board.
b.
The RTA will determine the
date on which each of the phases referred to in paragraph (a) of this Article
begins and ends.
During
the
First Phase of the operation of Autonomous Vehicles, an Operator must:
1. ensure
that the Autonomous Driving System is capable of operating safely and
effectively in the transport environment within the Emirate, including on
Roads, at intersections, in urban areas, and in any other locations approved by
the RTA for the operation of Autonomous Vehicles;
2. verify the accuracy of the
data used or collected during the First Phase to ensure the safe and secure
operation of Autonomous Vehicles on Roads. The data and information must
include:
a. data on traffic movement and road-user
behaviour;
b. data
on climatic conditions prevailing in the Emirate;
c. traffic
rules in force in the Emirate;
d. data
on the response of Autonomous Vehicles to emergency Vehicles operated by
government entities, including fire engines, ambulances, and police Vehicles;
e. data on the
response of Autonomous Vehicles to changes in traffic movement and flow caused
by accidents, Road maintenance or repair works, and public events held in the
Emirate; and
f. any other data determined by
the Operator in coordination with the RTA.
3. generate and maintain
up-to-date high-definition maps for the areas of operation approved by the RTA;
4. conduct all necessary
virtual testing to validate the ability of the Autonomous Driving Systems to
collect and process data effectively, record all testing findings, and submit
them to the RTA for approval before the operation of Autonomous Vehicles progresses
to the next phase;
5. fulfil any
other obligations determined pursuant to the relevant resolution of the
Director General.
During the Second Phase of the operation of
Autonomous Vehicles, an Operator must:
1.
operate an Autonomous Vehicle only with a
Safety Operator on board until the success criteria specified by the RTA have
been achieved;
2.
obtain
the
RTA’s approval before progressing to the Third Phase of operation; and
3.
fulfil
any
other obligations determined pursuant to the relevant resolution of the
Director General.
During the Third Phase of
the operation of Autonomous Vehicles, an Operator must:
1.
not
operate Autonomous Vehicles without first obtaining the relevant Permit;
2.
comply with the operational standards and
performance and safety indicators specified by the RTA for Autonomous Vehicles;
3.
provide
the RTA with an undertaking that Autonomous Vehicles will not obstruct traffic
or compromise the safety of Road Users during its operation;
4.
provide
the RTA and the Competent Entities in the Emirate, upon request, with the
necessary data and information related to the operation of Autonomous Vehicles;
and
5.
fulfil
any other obligations determined pursuant to the relevant resolution of the
Director General.
a.
An individual who owns an Autonomous
Vehicle intended for personal use must not activate the Autonomous Driving
System except during the Third Phase of the operation of Autonomous Vehicles,
and only after obtaining the relevant approval of the RTA.
b.
An Autonomous Vehicle may only be used in accordance with paragraph (a) of this
Article if, at the time of its initial registration in the Emirate, the Vehicle
was supplied by the approved local Agent for that specific type of Vehicle.
c.
Where the RTA approves the activation of
the Autonomous Driving System, the owner of the Autonomous Vehicle must:
1.
activate the Autonomous Driving
System in coordination with, or under the direct supervision of the Agent;
2.
use the Autonomous Vehicle on the
Roads and lanes, and in the areas, specified by the RTA;
3.
where a child is on board, ensure
that the child is accompanied by another person, subject to the age
requirements prescribed for the child and the accompanying person by resolution
of the Director General;
4.
comply with the safety requirements
and standards approved by the RTA for the use of Autonomous Vehicles;
5.
immediately notify the RTA of any
malfunctions in the Autonomous Driving System; and
6.
fulfil any other obligations
determined pursuant to the relevant resolution of the Director General.
d.
Where
the Autonomous Driving System is not activated, the Autonomous Vehicle will be
registered and licensed as a conventional Vehicle in accordance with the
conditions and procedures prescribed for the registration and licensing of
Vehicles under the relevant legislation applicable to the RTA.
e.
In any event, the owner of the Autonomous Vehicle must submit an
undertaking to the RTA not to activate the Autonomous Driving System after the
registration and licensing of the Vehicle without first obtaining the RTA’s
approval, and to bear legal liability for any damage arising out of the activation
of that system without that approval.
The Chairman of the Executive Council
will issue a resolution determining the acts that constitute violations of this
Resolution and the applicable fines to be imposed on those who commit such
violations.
The Director General will
issue the resolutions required for the implementation of this Resolution. These
resolutions will be published in the Official Gazette of the Government of
Dubai.
This Resolution will be
published in the Official Gazette and will come into force on the day on which
it is published.
Hamdan bin
Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum
Crown Prince of Dubai
Chairman of the Executive Council
Issued in
Dubai on 12 May 2026
Corresponding to 25 Thu al-Qidah 1447 A.H.
©2026 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.