A new rule has been introduced in Abu Dhabi regarding the Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Road, which mandates a minimum speed limit. Although some roads in the UAE already had minimum speed requirements, this is the first time that the government is enforcing them through legal means. Drivers who travel at a speed less than 120km/h will be penalized with a fine of AED 400.
The road transportation system in the UAE is recognized as one of the most sophisticated in the world, with all roads being well-indicated and highways being incredibly spacious. A vast majority of motorists in the UAE adhere to the rules and regulations, and those who violate them are subjected to significant fines. Obtaining a driving license in the UAE is challenging, and as a result, drivers in the country are generally acknowledged as some of the most skilled drivers globally.
The UAE has set the world's highest posted speed limit due to the outcomes mentioned earlier. Several highways in the Emirates have a maximum speed limit of 160km/h, allowing drivers to reach their destinations quicker. With the implementation of a fine for driving below the minimum speed limit, the UAE has now become one of the limited nations globally to enforce such a regulation.
On the Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Road located in Abu Dhabi, passenger vehicles are authorized to travel at a maximum speed of 140km/h, irrespective of the lane they are driving in. However, trucks are only allowed to use the right lane, and their speed limit is restricted to 80km/h.
The leftmost two lanes on the road now have a compulsory minimum speed limit of 120km/h. Drivers who fail to maintain this speed will be subjected to a penalty, which was initially introduced and enforced from April 01, 2023. In the initial month, offenders were only issued a warning. However, starting from May 01, 2023, drivers who do not meet the minimum speed requirement will be charged a fine of AED 400.
The Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Road is among the most extensive highways in the UAE and is designated as Highway E311. It spans from the Emirates Roundabout located in Ras Al Khaimah and extends up to the Al Falah intersection located in Abu Dhabi.
The highway covers a total distance of 200 kilometres, passing through Ajman, Sharjah, and Dubai before reaching Abu Dhabi. While travelling through the first four Emirates, it is recognized as the Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Road, and once it enters Abu Dhabi, it becomes the Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Road. Although the maximum speed limit of 140 kilometres per hour is applicable throughout the highway's entire length, the minimum speed limit is presently being enforced only in Abu Dhabi.
A recent survey conducted by the Abu Dhabi Police through an online poll has revealed that more than 78% of the participants support the implementation of the minimum speed limit rule. However, the other respondents had some concerns that the regulation could pose a safety risk since all drivers on the leftmost lanes would be driving at high speeds.
According to Major General Ahmed Saif bin Zaitoun Al Muhairi, who is the Director of the Central Operations Sector, implementing the minimum speed limit rule is intended to improve drivers' safety on the road. The regulation also encourages slower vehicles to stay on the right lanes, allowing other vehicles with priority to overtake from behind or the left.
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