A new executive regulation puts the RTA in charge of permits, vehicle registration, and driver licensing for Dubai’s tourist transport sector

Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), working with the Department of Economy and Tourism (DET), has announced a revamped licensing regime for the emirate’s tourist transport industry. Revealed on September 8, the update centralises key approvals, covering company permits, tourist-vehicle registration and renewal, and professional licences for drivers all through RTA-approved service channels. The aim is to raise service quality, safety and comfort, and to align Dubai with international best practice as tourism continues to grow.

The move implements the detailed bylaw issued earlier this year under Administrative Resolution No. (97) of 2025, which spells out how the sector is regulated day-to-day. Among other provisions, it sets out the types of permits (from light and heavy tourist vehicles to motorcycles and a permit for on-demand services via smart apps); requirements for vehicles and drivers (technical inspections, UAE-valid licences, medical fitness, training and tests); and operator obligations such as linking systems to the RTA, maintaining an accurate digital fleet/driver database, and meeting smart control and safety standards.

Hotels and tour companies are directly in scope. The bylaw confirms RTA’s authority to license hotel and tourist-establishment vehicles used to transport guests, clients and accompanying staff, provided they meet RTA’s technical and safety requirements set in coordination with DET. That should mean more consistent standards across airport transfers, hotel shuttles and organised tours, regardless of who runs the vehicle.

For residents and visitors, the practical takeaway is simple: expect more transparent, standardised operations when you book tours, hotel transfers or sightseeing trips; for operators, all applications and renewals now run through RTA channels with clearer criteria and compliance checks. It’s part of a wider push by the authority to simplify licensing and digitise mobility services across the city.

Image: RTA