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Dubai is one of the busiest cities in the Middle East, and there’s no doubt that getting around its roads can be a hassle for people with vehicles. Therefore, many tourists opt for quick solutions to get around the city without getting stuck in traffic.
One such viable and increasingly popular solution is getting electric scooters in Dubai.
E-scooters in Dubai were initially launched in 2020. Although it was a trial phase, it was highly successful; therefore, the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) decided to upgrade the laws regarding electric scooters in Dubai.
There are currently around 2000 electric scooters in Dubai, easily accessible to the public. These e-scooters are operated by four RTA-approved companies: Arnab, Skurtt, Lime, and Tier.
Who Can Benefit from E-Scooters?
The e-scooter trend has become quite common in recent years due to increased traffic on Dubai’s roads, making commuting difficult. Therefore, people who are looking for a cost-effective way to make it to and from work are the ones who use e-scooters the most.
However, e-scooters in Dubai have also made it quite convenient for tourists to quickly get around the city, as it is the best option for travelling short distances in popular areas of town.
Current Electric Scooter Laws in Dubai
According to the upgraded laws by RTA:
- E-scooter riders need an RTA driving license, full driving license, or an international driver’s license to use the 10 designated places. These areas include:
- Sheikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Boulevard
- Jumeirah Lake Towers
- Dubai Internet City
- Al Rigga
- 2nd of December Street
- City Walk
- Palm Jumeirah
- Al Qusais
- Al Mankhool
- Al Karama
- E-scooter riders do not need an RTA license to ride on sidewalks and cycling tracks.
- If you don’t have a license, you can apply online for it and go through an awareness training course in order to obtain it (for free!).
- The minimum age to be eligible to get an e-scooter permit is 16 years; however, kids under 12 can ride e-scooters if accompanied by an adult.
- Riders under 16 are not allowed to ride electric scooters or bikes.
- You need RTA approval to ride an e-scooter, even if it’s for training purposes.
- If you ride an e-scooter without a license, a penalty of AED 200 will be charged.
- If you continue violating traffic rules, your e-scooter will be confiscated for a month or a lifetime.
- You have to park the e-scooter in the designated spot, or you’ll be fined AED 200.
Dubai E-Scooter Safety Rules to Follow
With the new laws and guidelines regarding e-scooters in Dubai, there are some safety rules that all e-scooter riders must follow. These include the following:
- The maximum speed limit for electric scooters in Dubai is 20 km/h; therefore, one cannot ride on a road with a maximum speed limit of 60 km/h or more.
- All e-scooters Dubai should have headlights, taillights, and working breaks.
- E-scooter riders should use both hands while biking or cycling, except for using hand gestures to make a signal.
- E-scooter riders should wear protective helmets, riding shoes, and proper gear when riding their electric scooters.
- Wearing headphones or earphones while riding is prohibited.
- All electric scooters Dubai must be GPS-tagged to remain inside the designated places.
- All riders must observe traffic rules while riding.
Now that you know about the laws and rules of using an e-scooter in Dubai, let’s look at some companies that provide e-scooter rentals.
Where can you rent an electric scooter in Dubai?
Currently, there are only four companies that offer Dubai electric scooter rentals. These include two local companies, Arnab and Skurtt, and two international companies, Tier and Lime.
1. Arnab
Arnab Mobility was launched in 2019 and is one of the very first e-scooter rentals in UAE. It started off with just 3 e-scooters and now has more than 1500 operational electric scooters across the eight cities it operates in, including Dubai and Abu Dhabi.
The company hosts weekly free training and safety seminars for the public so that they can ride their e-scooters safely and abide by the rules.
The e-scooter rentals at Arnab cost AED 0.6 per minute and have a one-time unlocking fee of AED 3.
To ride an Arnab e-scooter in Dubai:
- Download the Arnab app for iOS or Android.
- Locate the nearest e-scooter using the app.
- Wear a helmet and scan the QR code to unlock the e-scooter.
- Once you’re done riding, park the electric scooter at one of the designated places.
- End the ride with one tap using the app.
2. Skurtt
Skurtt is a mobility as a service (MAAS) business that provides a safe, accessible, and affordable solution to people looking to go from one place to another in Dubai without any hassle.
The e-scooter rentals at Skurtt cost AED 0.5 per minute.
To ride a Skurtt electric scooter in Dubai:
- Download the iOS or Android app for Skurtt.
- Open the app, and you will automatically be taken to a map showing locations for the nearest e-scooter.
- Reach the location, and unlock the Skurtt e-scooter by scanning the QR code or manually entering the 6-digit scooter code located below the QR code.
- Start your ride, and once you’re done, park it at the designated places.
- End the ride by tapping on the app.
3. Tier
Tier is an international e-scooter provider operating in Dubai. It was launched in January 2020 and is famous for being one of the first climate-neutral micro-mobility companies offering e-scooter, e-moped, and e-bike rentals. It aims to reduce emissions and give way to a sustainable future.
To start an e-scooter ride with Tier:
- Download the Tier app for iOS or Android.
- Launch the app and find an electric scooter Dubai near you.
- Scan the QR code to unlock the e-scooter and start your ride.
- When you’re done riding, park the e-scooter at one of the designated locations.
- Tap the “End Ride” option on the app to end the ride.
4. Lime Scooter Dubai
Another international e-scooter service operating in Dubai is Lime. Lime Scooter Dubai is famous for having Gen4 e-scooters with interchangeable, swappable batteries. The e-scooters have a wide footboard for a comfortable ride.
Lime’s aim is to provide safe, sustainable, and innovative mobility solutions to people looking to get from one place to another in a green and affordable way. At the moment, Lime Dubai only offers e-bikes and e-scooter rentals.
The cost of renting an e-scooter Dubai via Lime is AED 1 per minute, with a one-time charge of AED 3 to unlock.
To ride an e-scooter using Lime:
- Download the iOS or Android Lime app, and launch it to find the nearest e-scooter.
- Scan the QR code to unlock the e-scooter, and ride.
- To end the ride, park the e-scooter at the designated places, and tap on the app.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on Dubai e-Scooters
Here are some common queries regarding e-scooters Dubai:
To apply for an RTA e-scooter permit:
Visit their official website and enter the required information.
Pass the set training courses.
Once clear, you will receive an RTA e-scooter permit through the website.
If you’re a resident or citizen of Dubai:
You will require a valid Emirates ID number.
If you’re just a visitor, you will need the following:
Your passport details
A mobile number active in the UAE (you can do this with a tourist SIM)
No, if you already have a full driver’s license or an international driver’s license (in the case of visitors), you don’t need to apply for an RTA e-scooter permit.
There’s no service fee to apply for and obtain an RTA e-scooter permit; however, the processing time takes almost an hour.
In order to obtain an RTA e-scooter permit, the applicant must be 16 years or older and must pass the training course set by the RTA driving agency.
Yes, for safety measures, you must wear a helmet when riding an e-scooter, e-moped, e-bike, cycle, or any other bike for that matter. However, it is not mandatory.
The RTA training course required to obtain an e-scooter permit includes details about locations where you can ride an e-scooter, the technical specs of an e-scooter, etc. The course also gives detailed guides on how to start an e-scooter, turn it, and use brakes.
Riding in cars just to get around a few miles can be inconvenient in terms of parking and fuel cost. Therefore, e-scooters are the perfect option for short-distance trips. They are a quick and efficient way to travel to nearby locations without having to worry about parking and other issues.
More on Getting Around in Dubai
If scooters aren’t your thing, you may like to learn more about:
Before you go… More important things you should know when planning a trip to Dubai
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