Administrative Resolution No. (939) of 2025 Issuing the Implementing Bylaw of Law No. (9) of 2023 Regulating the Operation of Autonomous Vehicles in the Emirate of Dubai

المادة 1

The words and expressions mentioned in this Resolution will have the same meanings assigned to them in the above-mentioned Law No. (9) of 2023. The term “Law”, wherever it appears in this Resolution, means Law No. (9) of 2023.

المادة 2

The categories and types of Autonomous Vehicles are hereby specified as follows: 1. Light Autonomous Vehicle: A Vehicle designed for the transport of persons or goods, with a seating capacity not exceeding thirteen (13) seats and a gross weight not exceeding three and a half (3.5) tonnes. 2. Heavy Autonomous Vehicle: A Vehicle designed for the transport of goods, with a gross weight exceeding three and a half (3.5) tonnes. 3. Autonomous Bus: A Vehicle designed for the transport of Passengers and classified into the following two types: a. Light Public Bus: A Vehicle with a seating capacity of not less than fourteen (14) Passengers and not exceeding twenty-six (26) Passengers. b. Heavy Public Bus: A Vehicle with a seating capacity of more than twenty-six (26) Passengers. 4. Light Equipment and Machinery: Equipment or machinery, wheeled or non-wheeled, with a kerb weight not exceeding seven and a half (7.5) tonnes. 5. Heavy Equipment and Machinery: Equipment or machinery, wheeled or non-wheeled, with a kerb weight exceeding seven and a half (7.5) tonnes. 6. Autonomous Motorcycles: Motorcycles equipped with Autonomous Driving Systems.

المادة 3

An Autonomous Vehicle must have the following certificates, systems, and specifications: 1. a certificate of compliance issued by the Competent Entity in the country of manufacture, covering all components of the Autonomous Vehicle, including its metal frame; autonomous driving functions; durability; propulsion and braking assemblies; technical systems and their components that ensure the integrated functioning of the Autonomous Vehicle's movement and its safe operation; and which demonstrates that it has undergone all required safety tests and has satisfied the standards of those tests; 2. a certificate issued by the manufacturer confirming that the Autonomous Vehicle, in its category and class, has undergone test runs on public Roads in the country of manufacture or any other country, in accordance with the technical requirements prescribed by the RTA; and has successfully passed those test runs; 3. a certificate of conformity for the Autonomous Vehicle, in its category and class, issued by the Competent Entity in the UAE, and confirming compliance with the applicable UAE or Gulf Standard Specification; 4. proof that the Autonomous Vehicle has undergone operational test runs in the Emirate, demonstrating the Vehicle's performance under the prevailing climatic conditions, providing the RTA with the resulting test data, and confirming that all observations recorded during those test runs have been addressed; 5. proof that the construction and design of the Autonomous Vehicle comply with the operational safety requirements for its designated Activity; 6. proof that the Autonomous Vehicle is programmed for compliance with applicable legislation, including all rules and controls relating to its operation, movement on Roads, and use of public car-park spaces; and 7. a system for determining the permitted speeds, the authorised traffic lanes, and the districts and Roads on which the Autonomous Vehicle may operate, in accordance with its automation level and technical capabilities. This system must include criteria for assessing Road readiness and digital infrastructure, the requirements for communication and interaction with traffic management systems, and the safe-operation controls. The system must be approved by the RTA.

المادة 4

Without prejudice to the technical specifications adopted by the Competent Entity in the UAE, an Autonomous Vehicle must satisfy the following security and safety standards: 1. a system for communication with the Operator in the event of an emergency, including any malfunction of the Autonomous Vehicle; 2. a system for alerting the Operator to respond to Passenger emergencies; and 3. any additional safety and security requirements specified in the operational and technical manual approved by the RTA for the Autonomous Vehicle.

المادة 5

An Operator, in accordance with the authorised Activity, must implement and meet the performance evaluation standards related to quality and to operational and technical efficiency and competence as published on the RTA's official website.

المادة 6

The infrastructure for operating Autonomous Vehicles must be prepared and equipped in accordance with the following standards and specifications: 1. All prescribed Road safety elements applicable to all Road users must be incorporated into the infrastructure. 2. The infrastructure must be fit for use by various categories, classes, and types of Autonomous Vehicles permitted to operate on Roads, taking into account traffic volumes, and Road classification and speed limits. 3. The electronic infrastructure must be capable of communicating with the Autonomous Vehicle to provide data on its operation, performance, interaction with Road Elements, distances travelled, travel times, and risk assessments, to ensure safe operation of the Autonomous Vehicle and Road safety. 4. The infrastructure must be fit for use, taking into account the technical capabilities and speeds of the Autonomous Vehicle and other operational factors relating to the safe operation of the Autonomous Vehicle on the Roads. 5. Information signs, road markings, traffic signals, and the locations and specifications of charging devices must be provided. 6. The infrastructure must be equipped to ensure the adaptability of Autonomous Vehicle technologies to any potential or anticipated changes to infrastructure specifications and Traffic Control Systems within the Emirate.

المادة 7

In addition to the requirements prescribed by the Law, for an Autonomous Vehicle to be licensed, it must: 1. fall within the categories and types specified in Article (2) of this Resolution; 2. comply with all the standards, requirements, and conditions set out in Articles (3) and (4) of this Resolution; 3. be covered by a comprehensive insurance policy issued by an insurance company licensed to operate in the UAE; 4. be operated by an Operator holding a valid Permit; and 5. not have been modified, upgraded, or updated in respect of any features related to the Autonomous Driving System, operational design domain, or electronic applications without first obtaining the approval of the RTA.

المادة 8

For an Autonomous Vehicle licence to be renewed, the following requirements must be satisfied: 1. The Autonomous Vehicle must successfully pass the technical inspection conducted in accordance with the standards and requirements approved by the RTA. 2. The Autonomous Vehicle must be covered by a comprehensive insurance policy issued by an insurance company licensed to operate in the UAE. 3. The relevant Activity Permit must be valid.

المادة 9

The same procedures adopted by the RTA for licensing Vehicles will apply to issuing and renewing Autonomous Vehicle licences, in addition to the requirements prescribed in the Autonomous Vehicle Licensing Procedures Manual approved by the RTA and published on its official website.

المادة 10

a. Autonomous Vehicles are subject to the following types of technical inspection: 1. initial registration inspection; 2. registration renewal inspection; 3. temporary travel/export inspection; 4. possession and temporary suspension inspection; and 5. recall inspection. b. The standards, controls, conditions, and schedules applicable to the inspections specified in paragraph (a) of this Article will be prescribed in the manuals approved by the RTA and published on its official website. c. Technical inspections of Autonomous Vehicles will be conducted periodically once or as often as required. d. Reports on the inspection of Autonomous Vehicles' systems and technical components will be submitted within the time frames prescribed by the RTA. e. The RTA may delegate the responsibility of conducting the technical inspections of Autonomous Vehicles to any qualified entity.

المادة 11

A Permit will be issued subject to the following: 1. The Permit applicant must have a commercial licence issued by the competent commercial licensing authority in the Emirate. 2. The Permit applicant must submit proof of authorisation from the Competent Entities to conduct the Activity, where such authorisation is required under the legislation enforceable by these entities. 3. The Permit applicant must, in the cases specified by the RTA, provide an undertaking to provide premises for conducting the Activity and car-park spaces for Autonomous Vehicles that comply with the controls and standards applicable to the Activity the applicant intends to carry out.

المادة 12

In issuing a Permit, the following procedures will apply: 1. The Permit application will be submitted to the RTA, together with the supporting documents required for its issuance, through the channels and on the forms prescribed by the RTA. 2. The RTA will register the Permit application and notify the applicant accordingly. 3. The RTA will consider the application from a technical perspective to verify that it meets all relevant conditions and requirements. 4. Where the application meets the relevant conditions and requirements, the RTA will determine the same within ten (10) working days from the date of its submission. 5. Where the application is rejected, the RTA will notify the applicant of its decision and the reasons for rejection. 6. Where the application is approved, the RTA will require the Permit applicant to pay the prescribed fees.

المادة 13

a. In transferring the ownership of an Autonomous Vehicle from one Operator to another, the following requirements must be satisfied: 1. The Autonomous Vehicle must pass the technical inspection prescribed by the RTA, in accordance with the relevant standards approved by it. 2. The Activity of the Operator to whom the ownership of the Autonomous Vehicle is transferred must be similar to that of the Operator transferring the ownership. 3. The Operator to whom the ownership of the Autonomous Vehicle is transferred must undertake not to change its permitted use after the transfer of ownership. b. The same procedures approved by the RTA for the transfer of ownership of a Vehicle will apply to the transfer of ownership of an Autonomous Vehicle.

المادة 14

In addition to the obligations prescribed in the Law, an Operator must: 1. immediately notify the RTA of any emergency malfunctions in the Autonomous Vehicle's Autonomous Driving System; 2. take the necessary measures to manage mechanical failures, respond to emergency situations, and deal with any commands issued by the Autonomous Driving System that require direct intervention; 3. fully comply with safety requirements and standards approved by the RTA and the Competent Entity; 4. operate the Autonomous Vehicle within the lanes and zones designated by the RTA, without deviating from those designated lanes and zones; 5. regain control of the Autonomous Vehicle without delay in the event of any loss of control or the occurrence of any malfunction that compromises its safe operation; 6. ensure the presence of an adult in the vehicle when children under the age of sixteen (16) are inside;

المادة 15

In addition to the obligations prescribed in the Law, an Agent must: 1. not activate the Autonomous Driving System of an Autonomous Vehicle without first obtaining the approval of the RTA; 2. deactivate the Autonomous Driving System immediately upon request by the RTA if a malfunction or any threat to public safety is detected; and 3. provide periodic maintenance services to the Autonomous Vehicle to ensure its continued operational readiness and safe use.

المادة 16

This Resolution will be published in the Official Gazette and will come into force on the day on which it is published.