UAE introduces new rules for expat driving licences

April 16, 2017

Dubai, Apr 16: Lt. General Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior issued Ministerial Decree for the year 2017 amending the Implementing Regulations of the Federal Law for the year 1995 regarding traffic laws.

licens

Under the new law, Emiratis will have to renew their driving license every 10 years and expats every five years.

Sheikh Saif issued the ministerial decree No (177) of 2017 amending the executive bylaw of the federal law No (21) of 1995 on traffic.

The decree has been published in the last issue of the federal gazette.

The amendments in detail:

Article No (84): The amended article states that the new driving licenses mentioned in article No (83) shall be valid for two years, while those drivers' license, which will be renewed will be valid for five years extendable license for expatriates residents and 10 years for Emirati nationals to be extended and renewed for the same period given.

Article No (1) of the decree stipulated that texts of articles No 33-71 and No 84-85 of the ministerial decree No 130 of 1997 are to be replaced with the following texts:

Article No (33): It is not allowed to drive a motor vehicle in the internal residential areas and around the educational institutions and hospitals in a way that may disturb or jeopardize people's lives.

Speed must NOT exceed 40kmph, which to be shown on clearly visible signboards.

Other than amendments to driver's licenses, the law also adds that motorists are not allowed to drive a motorbike without proper license and permit. The same goes for electric scooters, tricycles and quad bikes.

The law emphasised that electric scooters or and quads are for entertainment purposes only and as such allowed only in the the desert - with proper licensing.

Article No (71) states that drivers of the public transport and vehicles transporting students (school buses), while stopping to pick up or drop passengers or students, MUST stop the vehicles in parallel with the pavement and at authorised places only.

Drivers must also turn on the front and rear flash lights and open the side 'STOP' sign walk arm. Drivers of other cars must stop upon opening the 'STOP' sign walk arm, no less than five meters away from the school bus.

Without prejudice to provisions of items No 1-2 of repeated article No (17) on driving a motor bike and article No (188), it is prohibited to use entertainment bikes "three wheelers bikes and above" at the carriageway and hard shoulder of the road and to be used only at sandy areas and deserts.

Users of such bikes must sign an undertaking to promise that they won't use their three wheelers or quad bikes on the road or its hard shoulder.

Generally, the licensing authority should specify the places where users of entertainment bikes 'three wheelers and above' in coordination with the local authorities in the emirate.

Article No (31): Repeated article No (31) states that driver of a motor vehicle is permitted to seat a child in the passenger seat if the child is 10 years or 145 cm tall while driving. The driver must provide a child aged 4 years and less with a car chair to be fixed in the rear seat.

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coastaldigest.com news network
December 20,2025

Mangaluru, Dec 20: City Police Commissioner Sudheer Kumar Reddy has issued a high-alert warning to vehicle owners regarding a surge in cyber fraud targeting those looking to pay traffic violation fines. Fraudsters are reportedly exploiting recent government discount schemes on traffic penalties to deceive citizens.

The Scam: How Fraudsters Strike

Criminals are using SMS, WhatsApp, and social media to circulate suspicious links and APK files (Android application packages). They claim these apps allow users to pay e-challans at a discount.

•    Device Hacking: Downloading these unauthorized apps gives hackers full access to the victim's smartphone.

•    Financial Theft: Once the phone is compromised, fraudsters intercept OTPs and personal data to drain bank accounts.

•    Phishing Sites: Fake websites mimicking official portals are also being used to harvest banking credentials.

Already, two residents within Mangaluru city limits have reported significant financial losses after falling victim to these fraudulent apps.

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News Network
December 7,2025

Mangaluru, Dec 7: A 34-year-old fruit and vegetable trader in Mangaluru has reportedly lost ₹33.1 lakh after falling victim to an online investment scam run through a fake mobile app.

Police said the scam began in September, when the victim received a link on Facebook. Clicking it connected him to a WhatsApp number, where an unidentified person introduced a high-return investment scheme and instructed him to download an app.

To build trust, the fraudster asked him to invest ₹30,000 on September 24. The trader soon received ₹34,000 as “profit,” convincing him the scheme was genuine. Over the next two months, he transferred money in multiple instalments via Google Pay and IMPS to different scanner codes and bank accounts shared by the scammers. Between September 24 and December 3, he ended up sending a total of ₹33.1 lakh.

When he later requested a refund of his investment and promised returns, the scammers demanded additional payments, claiming he needed to pay a “service tax” first. Even after he paid a small amount, no money was returned, and the scammers continued pressuring him for more.

A case has been registered at the CEN Crime Police Station.

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News Network
December 15,2025

Mangaluru police have arrested a 27-year-old NRI on his return from Saudi Arabia in connection with an Instagram post allegedly containing derogatory and provocative remarks about the Hindu religion, officials said on Monday.

The accused, Abdul Khader Nehad, a resident of Ulaibettu in Mangaluru, was working in Saudi Arabia when the post was uploaded, police said.

A suo motu case was registered at the Bajpe police station on October 11 after an allegedly offensive post circulated from the Instagram account ‘team_sdpi_2025’. Police said the content was flagged for being provocative and derogatory in nature.

During the investigation, technical analysis traced the Instagram post to Nehad, who was residing abroad at the time, a senior police officer said. Based on these findings, a Look Out Circular (LOC) was issued against him.

On December 14, Nehad arrived from Saudi Arabia at Calicut International Airport in Kerala, where he was taken into custody on arrival. Police said further investigation is underway.

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