Electric scooters have quietly become one of the most practical ways to get around Abu Dhabi. Short commutes, leisure rides, last-mile connections to public transport — they fit naturally into daily life in a way that has made them genuinely popular across the emirate.
But as the number of riders has grown, so has the number of incidents. Abu Dhabi Police have issued a fresh safety reminder, outlining nine rules that every e-scooter and electric bicycle rider needs to be following. The campaign is a direct response to recent accidents — some of them serious — and a reminder that convenience doesn’t exempt anyone from the rules that keep shared public spaces safe.
Why Abu Dhabi Police Are Strengthening E-Scooter Safety
The push for greater awareness comes after a string of incidents involving electric scooters and e-bikes across the emirate. Authorities have released video footage of actual crashes — not as scare tactics, but as concrete evidence of what happens when riders use unauthorised roads, ignore traffic rules or skip the protective gear.
The consistent message from officials is that most of these accidents were preventable. Riding in the right places, wearing the right equipment and paying attention to the road around you — these basics account for the majority of what keeps riders safe. The nine rules below are built around that principle.
The 9 Abu Dhabi E-Scooter Safety Rules Every Rider Should Follow
1. Always Wear Protective Equipment
This is the single most effective thing you can do to reduce the consequences of a fall or collision. A properly fitted helmet, knee pads and elbow pads should be on before you start any journey — not considered optional when the route seems short or the speed seems low. Accidents don’t announce themselves in advance.
2. Use Designated Cycling Paths
E-scooters and electric bicycles belong on approved cycling tracks and dedicated bike lanes, not on roads built for motor vehicles. Ride in the same direction as traffic within those designated paths, and stay within the boundaries of where you’re actually permitted to be. Roads with fast-moving vehicles are not suitable environments for scooters, and riding on them is both illegal and genuinely dangerous.
3. Follow the Speed Limits
Respecting posted speed limits isn’t just a legal requirement — it’s what keeps your reaction time meaningful. At higher speeds, the margin between a close call and a serious accident narrows very quickly. Ride at a pace that gives you time to respond to pedestrians, other riders and unexpected obstacles.
4. Do Not Carry Passengers or Heavy Loads
Electric scooters are built for one person. Adding a passenger or piling on heavy bags shifts the weight distribution, affects how the scooter steers and makes braking less predictable. What feels manageable at low speed becomes a stability problem the moment something unexpected happens. Ride solo, and keep loads light.
5. Avoid Using Earphones While Riding
Music and podcasts are fine in most situations, but not on a scooter. Earphones cut off one of your most important sources of information about what’s happening around you — the sound of an approaching vehicle, a warning horn, or a pedestrian calling out. Keep your ears clear so your reactions can actually keep up with your surroundings.
6. Obey Traffic Signals and Road Signs
Traffic lights, stop signs and pedestrian crossings apply to e-scooter riders exactly as they apply to everyone else on the road. Running a red light or ignoring a crossing on a scooter carries the same risk of a collision as it does in any other vehicle — and considerably less protection when that collision happens.
7. Stay Away from Mobile Phones and Other Distractions
Looking at your phone for even a few seconds while moving is long enough to miss something that matters. No call, message or navigation adjustment is worth the distraction. If you need to check your phone, stop first. Hands-free devices that pull your attention away from the road aren’t significantly safer in practice.
8. Check Your Scooter Before Every Ride
A two-minute check before you set off can prevent a lot of problems mid-journey. Brakes, tyres, lights and any other components that affect control or visibility should be in working order before you go anywhere. A scooter with unreliable brakes or a flat tyre is a hazard regardless of how carefully you ride it.
9. Ride Carefully in Crowded Areas
Pedestrian-heavy areas require a different level of attention. Slow down, give way to people on foot, and avoid the kind of sharp turns, sudden acceleration or risky overtaking that might seem manageable in open space but becomes genuinely dangerous in a crowd. Stunts and shows of speed have no place near pedestrians.
Police Warn Riders After Recent E-Scooter Accidents
The safety videos released by Abu Dhabi Police weren’t produced for dramatic effect — they show real crashes involving real people, many of which happened on roads where scooters simply shouldn’t have been. The footage makes the consequences of ignoring these rules difficult to look away from.
The guidance is clear: stay on approved cycling tracks and away from roads where motor vehicles travel at speed. Helmets and protective pads remain the most important physical barrier between a rider and serious injury when something goes wrong.
Parents are specifically encouraged to supervise children using e-scooters and electric bicycles. Road safety awareness isn’t something children absorb on their own — it needs to be taught, and making sure young riders are properly equipped and understand the rules before they head out is the responsibility of the adults around them.
Common E-Scooter Violations and Fines in Abu Dhabi
Under Executive Council Resolution No. (13) of 2022, breaking the rules comes with financial consequences. The fines are designed to reinforce the seriousness of these regulations, not just generate revenue.
The most frequently issued penalties include:
- Riding without a valid permit: Dh200 fine
- Carrying a passenger on an e-scooter: Dh300 fine
- Riding on roads with speed limits above 60 km/h: Dh300 fine
- Riding outside designated cycling lanes: Dh200 fine
- Parking an e-scooter in a way that blocks traffic or pedestrians: Dh200 fine
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Legal Experts Highlight the Importance of Following the Rules
Legal specialists have made the point that fines are only part of the picture. Riding on roads intended for motor vehicles or breaking traffic rules doesn’t just put you at risk of a penalty notice — it puts you at risk of serious injury, and potentially at legal liability if an accident injures someone else.
The regulations exist because electric scooters, for all their convenience, are not toys and they’re not exempt from the responsibilities that come with using shared public spaces. Understanding and following the rules isn’t just about avoiding fines. It’s about making Abu Dhabi’s roads and cycling paths safer for everyone using them — riders, pedestrians and motorists alike.