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.

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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Major facelift for Mangaluru's sporting heart: Mangala Stadium set for 2-month closure to upgrade synthetic track

News Network

December 15,2025

Mangaluru, Dec 15: Educational institutions in Mangaluru that rely on the popular Mangala Stadium for their annual sports events are bracing for an inconvenience as the city's key sporting venue is set to close its gates for a significant upgrade. The stadium is expected to be unavailable for approximately two months starting from January 15, 2026.

The closure is necessitated by a proposed overhaul of the stadium's facilities, with a special focus on upgrading the synthetic track. Pradeep Dsouza, Assistant Director of the District of Youth Empowerment and Sports (DYES), Dakshina Kannada, confirmed the development.

"Experts have visited the stadium, conducted a thorough inspection, and have given the go-ahead for a complete makeover," Dsouza stated. "Funds have been allocated for the project, and we are currently awaiting the final green signal from state officials to commence the work. We anticipate that the work will likely begin in the second week of January. Consequently, we have stopped renting out the stadium to colleges and other organizations in preparation for the upgrade."

The timing presents a logistical challenge for colleges, as many schools have already concluded their sports meets.

"Colleges will now be organizing their events and will need to find alternative locations to host their sports meets," Dsouza added. He suggested a few potential venues, including the Dakshina Kannada police ground, University College grounds, Panambur grounds, Swaraj Maidan in Moodbidri, and the Mangalore University sports grounds in Konaje.

However, many institutions note that finding a comparable venue will be difficult. While the DK police ground and University College grounds are closer to the city center, they do not possess the extensive facilities and infrastructure offered by Mangala Stadium.

Dr. P Dayananda Pai - P Satisha Govt First Grade College, Carstreet, is one such institution dependent on the stadium. Principal Jayakar Bhandary expressed hope for a swift completion of the work. "We expect the work to be completed at the earliest. If not, we will be forced to look for other venues to host the sports day for our students," Bhandary said, highlighting the pressing need for the city's main sporting facility.

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