E-Scooter Permit Application Service Activated By RTA Across Dubai Channels

Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority has widened access to its e-scooter riding permit, allowing residents and visitors to apply through multiple digital channels without visiting service centres, as part of efforts to support Dubai’s smart city strategy and streamline mobility services for users across different parts of the emirate.

The permit, which was previously available only through the RTA website, is now also offered via the RTA Dubai application and the Dubai Now application. This integration brings the service into platforms already used for daily government transactions, helping riders in the UAE complete the full process online.

RTA states that the permit is central to plans for regulating e-scooter activity, raising traffic awareness, and protecting road users. E-scooter riders who are not covered by exemption rules are urged to obtain the permit before using e-scooters in authorised areas and to follow all relevant traffic regulations and safety instructions.

Penalties apply for several types of violations, including riding an e-scooter without a permit, using e-scooters outside approved streets and tracks, or failing to wear a helmet. These measures are designed to support safer shared spaces, especially in popular districts where e-scooter traffic intersects with pedestrians and other vehicles.

Applicants start by logging into the RTA website, RTA Dubai app, or Dubai Now app, then selecting the "E-Scooter Riding Permit" service. They review digital training materials that explain safe riding basics, traffic safety rules, and key usage requirements before sitting for an online theoretical test on the same platform.

Once the applicant passes the electronic test, the rider is authorised to use this soft mobility option in areas and streets specified by RTA. The permit is issued in digital form through RTA’s smart channels, and is also delivered by email and text message, giving riders quick access to their authorisation during inspections.

RTA confirms that the online service will continue to be provided through the official website alongside the two applications. This gives users in Dubai and across the wider UAE flexibility to choose whichever channel best suits their habits, whether managing services from a smartphone or using a desktop browser at home or work.

The main terms and conditions for the e-scooter riding permit cover age, exemptions, permitted zones and enforcement. Riders must check these points before applying, especially if they already hold a driving licence or intend to use e-scooters in specific neighbourhoods or leisure areas across the city.

Through these updated channels and clear rules, RTA aligns e-scooter services with Dubai’s wider digital shift, while setting defined conditions on age, exemptions, approved locations and penalties, so riders can benefit from convenient short-distance travel within a structured and safer framework.

With inputs from WAM