Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has announced the adoption of issuing an additional front license plate for motorcycles and electric vehicles used for company delivery activities, after they were limited to a rear license plate only, starting from the end of this December. The additional plates will be added gradually upon license renewal, within the regulatory framework adopted by the RTA to govern this vital sector, in line with best global practices and the approved roadmap that regulates all areas of security and safety in delivery operations.
The issuance of additional front plates for delivery bikes comes as part of a package of joint solutions and initiatives between the Authority and the Dubai Police General Command, and after holding a series of meetings with partners from government and private entities and consulting firms, to discuss and review procedures to develop the regulation of this sector and to determine requirements that ensure the safety of drivers and road users, thus enhancing safety on the emirate’s roads.
Ahmed Mahboob, Executive Director of the Licensing Agency at the Roads and Transport Authority, confirmed that the decision to issue the additional front plate will be applied to delivery bikes, as two plates (front and rear) have been allocated, in gold color and black writing bearing the symbol (9) in order to distinguish the delivery bike category. They will be issued with a new unified number that differs from the previous plate number, and gradually upon licensing or renewing the license of each bike, according to its renewal date or in case of damage or loss.
Mahboob explained: “The decision does not include non-commercial bicycles (individual bicycles), and the issuance of the additional front plate is limited to bicycles used in parcel, letter and document transport activities, order organization and delivery services, managing transport and delivery requests via electronic platforms and smart applications, and renting motorcycles and electric bicycles if they are used in any of the aforementioned activities.”
Mahboob pointed out that this measure comes in response to the rapid growth witnessed by the delivery sector in recent years, in terms of both demand and the increasing number of motorcycles operating on the emirate’s roads. He emphasized that the regulations established by the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) to organize and govern this sector will significantly contribute to raising the level of traffic discipline, in addition to enhancing the transportation and delivery service experience, in line with the RTA’s priorities of maintaining the safety of road users.
It is worth noting that the RTA, in coordination with the Dubai Police General Command, recently announced a decision to regulate the use of delivery motorcycles on Dubai’s express lanes. Delivery motorcycle drivers are prohibited from operating in the two far left fast lanes on roads with five or more lanes, and from operating in the far left fast lane on roads with three or four lanes. However, there are no restrictions on delivery motorcycle drivers operating on roads with two lanes or fewer.
