Dubai is set to launch a new Personal Mobility Monitoring Unit to curb e-scooter and bicycle violations across the city. This initiative comes in response to rising safety concerns and a growing number of personal mobility users on city roads.
Formed through a collaboration between the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) and Dubai Police, the unit will enhance road safety. In particular, the team will monitor e-scooter and bicycle use on key tracks, soft mobility zones, and major streets. Moreover, officers will regulate traffic flow, enforce rules, and promote public awareness of safe riding practices.
Offenders will face penalties, with fines reaching up to Dh300 for violations like reckless driving and ignoring safety gear. Additionally, riders must use designated lanes, avoid passengers, wear helmets, and never ride against the flow of traffic.
The announcement followed a joint review of Dubai’s Traffic Safety Strategy 2022–2026 by the RTA and Dubai Police. Officials noted a steady rise in personal mobility trips across the city, especially for bicycles and e-scooters. For example, bicycle trips rose from 44 million in 2023 to 46.6 million in 2024—a 5 percent increase. Meanwhile, e-scooter trips jumped by 8 percent, climbing from 30 million to 32.3 million in the same period.
However, safety incidents have grown as well. Dubai recorded 254 e-scooter and bicycle accidents in 2024 alone. These accidents caused 10 deaths and injured 259 individuals, including 17 serious cases, raising serious public concern. Even more alarming, two e-scooter-related deaths occurred in just three days in February 2025.
As a result, road safety experts are calling for stronger enforcement and education around e-scooter usage. Thomas Edelmann, founder of RoadSafetyUAE, urged authorities to introduce a mandatory road safety curriculum in schools. He emphasized that many children ride without helmets, vests, or lights and often violate basic traffic rules. Some even ride against traffic flow or carry passengers, risking lives and ignoring public safety standards.
To strengthen enforcement, Dubai recorded nearly 40,000 e-scooter and cycle violations in the past year alone. Accordingly, the city has taken steps to support the monitoring process with advanced technology and robotics. For instance, a five-foot-tall, 200kg robot now patrols Jumeirah 3 beach to detect violations and enhance safety.
With these efforts, Dubai aims to encourage safe, sustainable transport while reducing accident risks citywide. Further updates are expected as the Personal Mobility Monitoring Unit becomes fully operational in the coming weeks.
