Dubai Introduces Front Number Plates for Delivery Bikes

Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has approved the introduction of front number plates for motorcycles and e-bikes used in corporate delivery services, strengthening traffic regulation and road safety across the emirate.

The new requirement, which will come into effect by the end of December, will be implemented gradually during licence renewal, replacement, or issuance of new licences. Previously, delivery motorcycles carried only rear number plates.

According to the RTA, the initiative is part of a joint programme with Dubai Police General Headquarters aimed at improving monitoring, enforcement, and safety within the delivery sector.

Ahmed Mahboob, CEO of the Licensing Agency at the RTA, said the decision applies exclusively to motorcycles used for delivery services. Each delivery bike will now carry two number plates — one at the front and one at the rear — both featuring a gold background with black lettering and a special code “9” to clearly identify delivery vehicles.

He further explained that the new plates will be issued under a unified number system, different from the previous registration numbers, and rolled out progressively in line with renewal schedules or in cases of plate damage or loss.

The regulation does not apply to private motorcycles and is limited to bikes used for parcel and document delivery, food and order delivery services, transport request platforms, smart application-based delivery services, and rental motorcycles or e-bikes operating within these sectors.

In coordination with Dubai Police, the RTA has also enforced lane restrictions for delivery motorcycles on high-speed roads. Delivery riders are barred from using the two left-most lanes on roads with five or more lanes, and the left-most lane on roads with three or four lanes. However, on roads with two lanes or fewer, delivery riders may use all lanes without restriction.