E-scooter accidents in UAE surge to 241 over four years as usage climbs
Ministry of Interior reports 241 e-scooter crashes from 2022 to 2025, with fatalities and injuries rising sharply. Accidents peaked in 2025 as trips jumped to 32.3 million in Dubai alone.
E-scooter accidents in UAE surge to 241 over four years as usage climbs
E-scooters were involved in 241 traffic accidents across the UAE over the past four years, with crashes rising sharply in 2025, according to a Ministry of Interior report that has prompted authorities to intensify enforcement and renew calls for riders to follow safety regulations.
The incidents resulted in fatalities, serious and minor injuries, as well as property damage. Many crashes were linked to excessive speed, riders entering roads designated for motor vehicles, collisions with kerbs, or striking pedestrians on walkways and crossings.
Official figures showed 17 accidents in 2022, resulting in one death and 20 injuries. The number rose to 46 accidents in 2023, claiming five lives and injuring 47 people. In 2024, authorities recorded 58 crashes, which left three people dead and 100 injured. The upward trend continued in 2025, when 120 e-scooter accidents were reported nationwide, the highest annual total during the four-year period.
The surge in accidents has coincided with a dramatic rise in e-scooter usage. In Dubai alone, e-scooter trips jumped from 30 million in 2023 to 32.3 million in 2024, representing an 8.7 per cent increase. The growth reflects broader trends in the UAE micromobility market, projected to reach $2,014.8 million by 2030, driven by urbanisation, infrastructure development and environmental concerns.
The UAE accident trend mirrors a global pattern. E-scooter injuries worldwide rose by 80 per cent from 2020 to 2024, increasing from 29,344 to 115,713 according to data from the United States, indicating the UAE is part of a worldwide phenomenon.
Enforcement measures intensify
Authorities have responded with stronger enforcement. In 2024, Dubai Police seized more than 3,700 scooters, bicycles and e-bikes for unsafe use and violations. In April 2025, Dubai launched a dedicated Personal Mobility Monitoring Unit through a joint effort between the Roads and Transport Authority and Dubai Police to patrol e-scooter and bicycle routes, check for violations, educate the public, and issue fines or confiscate scooters when necessary.
The Ministry said regulatory frameworks governing the use of scooters were introduced from the outset of their adoption in the UAE. Under Dubai Executive Council Resolution No. 13 of 2022, e-scooters must have a maximum speed limit of 20-25 km/h, riders must be at least 16 years old, and helmets are mandatory. The regulations define technical specifications for both manually powered and electric scooters, as well as the conditions under which they may be used.
As of the third quarter of 2025, Dubai's RTA has established 390 km of designated e-scooter tracks spanning locations including Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Boulevard, Jumeirah Lakes Towers, Dubai Internet City, and residential areas like Al Mankhool, Al Nahda and City Walk. Four companies operate e-scooter rental services in Dubai: two international operators, Tier and Lime, and two local firms, Arnab and Skurrt, managing over 2,000 e-scooters across key locations.
Traffic authorities across the country continue to run awareness campaigns urging riders to comply with road safety rules, reduce speed in crowded areas, use only approved lanes and shared pedestrian and cycling paths where permitted, and follow all safety requirements aimed at protecting both riders and other road users.
