Mohammed bin Rashid enacts legislation governing Dubai
Dubai: On Friday, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE, signed a new rule governing the use of autonomous vehicles in Dubai. He is the Ruler of Dubai.
The new law intends to speed up Dubai's transition to smart mobility, draw investments to the area, and create a legal framework that makes it easier to apply artificial intelligence (AI) to transportation.
The new law is a part of attempts to bring Dubai's legal system into line with Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid's strategic vision to make Dubai the best place in the world to live, work, and travel.
Responsibilities of RTA
According to the law, the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) is responsible for setting technical, operational, and safety standards for the vehicles as well as creating strategic plans and strategies to improve the operation of autonomous vehicles in Dubai.
Along with establishing speed limits and the framework for managing other aspects of autonomous vehicle operations, the Authority is also in charge of defining the roads, regions, and routes that they operate on. Among other things, RTA is responsible with creating the infrastructure required for autonomous vehicle operation and the traffic management strategies required to guarantee road safety and prevent traffic jams.
RTA will grant licences.
Moreover, the RTA is in charge of issuing licences for autonomous vehicles. Any autonomous vehicle-related activity must be licenced by the Director General and Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of the RTA. The law also outlines the prerequisites for acquiring a licence to engage in autonomous vehicle-related activities. The ability to interpret road signs technologically and passing the RTA's technical test are essential conditions for the registration of autonomous vehicles.
The law also specifies licence requirements, operator, agent, and passenger obligations. Additionally, it outlines the responsibilities of autonomous vehicle drivers in the event of accidents. Operators are liable for paying for all accident-related damages.
Licensed agents
Only authorised agencies should be used in Dubai for the sale and transfer of autonomous vehicles. Vehicle transfers between operators are only permitted with prior RTA clearance.
Penalties for breaking the Law's rules range from Dh500 to Dh20,000, and they can be compounded if they happen more than once in a single year. Violations are subject to a maximum fine of Dh50,000.
In accordance with the Legislation, all pertinent Dubai government agencies must work with RTA to fulfil its obligations in the field of autonomous vehicles.
In areas not specifically addressed by a provision of the new law, the provisions of Federal Law No. (21) of 1995 Concerning Road Traffic, its executive rules and revisions, pertinent decisions, and any other legislation that replaced them continue to apply.
Every clause in existing laws that might be in conflict with the new law shall be void. 90 days after being published in the Official Gazette, Law No. (9) of 2023 will go into force.
