Excessive speeding remains a serious road safety concern in the UAE, with over 10 million violations recorded in 2024. Speeding contributes to dangerous accidents such as vehicle rollovers, rear-end collisions, and off-road crashes, leading authorities to enforce stricter limits and penalties.
To improve safety, UAE authorities have updated speed limits across major roads in cities like Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, and Ras Al Khaimah. Here’s what drivers need to know: 
1. Abu Dhabi Reduces Speed Limits on Major Roads
Beginning on April 14, 2025, Abu Dhabi will lower the speed limits on key roads.
- Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed International Road (E11): From 160 km/h to 140 km/h.
- Abu Dhabi–Sweihan Road (E20): Reduced from 120 km/h to 100 km/h.
Additionally, minimum speed limits are enforced on the leftmost lanes of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Road, where drivers must maintain speeds between 120 km/h and 140 km/h. Failing to do so could result in a Dh400 fine.
2. New Road Markings in Abu Dhabi
To improve visibility, Abu Dhabi City Municipality introduced red pavement markings on certain roads to highlight reduced speed limits, such as
- Abu Dhabi–Al Ain Road (E-22): From 120 km/h to 100 km/h.
- Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Street (E-311): Reduced from 140 km/h to 120 km/h.
- Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Street (E-10): Reduced from 120 km/h to 100 km/h.
These measures help make speed limit changes more noticeable to drivers.
3. Speed Limit Adjustments in Dubai
Dubai has also made updates:
- Sheikh Zayed bin Hamdan Al Nahyan Street: The speed limit increased to 100 km/h between Dubai Al Ain Road and the Academic City Roundabout.
- Al Amardi Street: Now set to 90 km/h between Al Khawaneej Street and Emirates Road.
These revisions aim to ensure smoother traffic flow and improve road safety.
4. Sharjah Slows Down Speeds on Key Roads
Sharjah has reduced the speed limit on Al Wahda Road and Al Ittihad Road from 100 km/h to 80 km/h. This restriction applies to the stretch between the Abu Shaghara interchange and the Al Taawun Bridge. The change is part of efforts to reduce road hazards and improve traffic management.
5. Ras Al Khaimah Coastal Route Gets Slower
In Ras Al Khaimah, a key coastal route on Sheikh Mohammed bin Salem Street has seen its speed limit drop from 100 km/h to 80 km/h as of January 17, 2025. This area, which includes residential and tourist zones, now has a slower pace to enhance safety. However, the speed limit on Al Watan Road has increased from 100 km/h to 120 km/h to boost traffic flow.
Avoiding Fines and Staying Safe
Following these new speed limits is crucial to staying safe and avoiding hefty fines. Here’s a reminder of some penalties for speeding in the UAE:
- Exceeding by over 80 km/h: Dh3,000 fine, 23 black points, and 60-day vehicle impoundment.
- Exceeding by over 60 km/h: Dh2,000 fine, 12 black points, and 30-day vehicle impoundment.
- Exceeding by up to 60 km/h: Dh1,500 fine, 6 black points, and 15-day vehicle impoundment.
These updates reflect the UAE’s commitment to enhancing road safety, and following them will help drivers avoid fines while keeping everyone on the roads safer.
