Dubai’s Revolutionary New Regulation in 2025 Targets High-Quality, Secure, and Efficient Tourist Transport To Strengthen Its Position as a Leading Global Destination

Published on September 11, 2025

Beginning in 2025, Dubai will enact a decisive regulatory reform targeting the entirety of its tourist transport infrastructure, with the explicit intent of establishing a system distinguished by superior quality, security, and operational efficiency, fully consistent with exemplary international standards. The reform will impose elevated criteria on transport service providers, encompassing rigorous vehicle certification protocols, comprehensive driver qualification assessments, and a transparent, merit-based licensing schema. These measures are calibrated to grant every visitor an elevated level of safety and operational convenience. By institutionalising these modernised standards, the emirate cultivates an integrated transport architecture that not only augments the visitor journey but also fortifies Dubai’s status as a foremost global hub, delivering uninterrupted, professionally exemplary transport services to an expanding international clientele. The initiative embodies the city’s enduring dedication to excellence, thereby consolidating its standing as a reference point in the competitive international tourism landscape.

Dubai has recently introduced a new Executive Regulation to revamp its tourist transport infrastructure. The initiative is part of the emirate’s broader strategy to boost the service standards of its transport system and further cement its reputation as a premier global tourism destination.

This new regulation establishes a well-defined framework for tourist transport operators and addresses several critical areas, including permit issuance, vehicle registration, and driver licensing. The aim is to create a more streamlined and efficient process for operators, ensuring that the city’s transport system remains safe, reliable, and aligned with global standards.

Key Changes in the Regulation

Under the new regulation, tourist transport companies must adhere to specific guidelines that are now overseen by the responsible authorities. These include the issuance and renewal of permits for transport companies, vehicle registrations, and the professional licensing of drivers. Operators must process all applications through authorized channels, ensuring that all activities comply with the set regulatory framework.

The new regulatory approach seeks to improve the overall operation of the tourism transport sector, providing a more structured and professional environment. By aligning operations with international best practices, the regulation promises to elevate the quality of services offered to tourists, making it easier for visitors to navigate Dubai’s expansive cityscape.

Enhancing Service Quality and Safety Standards

One of the key objectives of the new regulation is to improve the quality of services and enhance the customer experience for those visiting the emirate. It is expected that these measures will directly contribute to greater passenger satisfaction by promoting higher safety standards, modernizing vehicles, and ensuring that transport operators meet rigorous criteria for both comfort and reliability.

Additionally, the regulation places a strong emphasis on safety and security. It calls for more stringent checks and ongoing evaluations of vehicles and drivers, ensuring that tourists are transported in secure, well-maintained vehicles by skilled and qualified professionals. As Dubai’s tourism continues to thrive, such measures are crucial to maintaining the city’s appeal as a safe and attractive travel destination.

Aiding Dubai’s Vision of Becoming a Global Mobility Hub

This regulation is not just about improving transport; it aligns with Dubai’s vision of becoming a global mobility hub. With Dubai’s position as a leading international tourism destination, the new rules are designed to ensure that the emirate’s transport infrastructure meets the growing demand of both residents and visitors. By supporting the development of a high-quality and efficient transport network, Dubai aims to offer seamless travel experiences for everyone, whether they are arriving for business, leisure, or long-term residency.

As the city continues to grow, the regulation ensures that the transport sector remains adaptable and capable of meeting the evolving needs of a diverse and increasing number of tourists.

Growth of Public Transport in Dubai

In recent years, Dubai has seen impressive growth in public transport usage. During the first half of 2025, public transport ridership increased by 9%, with a total of 395.3 million rides recorded. This rise in usage underscores the importance of maintaining an efficient transport system capable of handling the growing demand for public transport services.

The Metro system, which continues to be a popular mode of travel for residents and visitors alike, accounted for 36.5% of total ridership in the first half of 2025. Taxis and public buses also played key roles in the overall transport system, with taxis contributing 26% and public buses 24%. These figures highlight the diverse options available to tourists and residents as they navigate the city.

Furthermore, the expansion of the Metro network with the ongoing extension of the Blue Line will provide better connectivity across the city. The extension is set to link approximately 1 million residents to 14 new stations, further improving access to key areas of the city and enhancing the overall mobility experience for both locals and tourists.

A Booming Tourism Sector

Dubai’s tourism sector continues to thrive, with a record number of international visitors arriving in the first half of 2025. With nearly 9.88 million international overnight visitors in the first six months of the year, the city has already surpassed its 2024 visitor numbers. This continued growth in tourism highlights the need for an efficient, well-regulated transport system that can handle increasing demand while ensuring a smooth and pleasant experience for tourists.

The hospitality industry is also performing well, with hotel occupancy rates at 80.6%. Furthermore, the average daily rate for hotel rooms has increased by 5%, and the revenue per available room has risen by 7%. These trends reflect the growing appeal of Dubai as a tourism destination, attracting more visitors who seek high-quality experiences throughout their stay.

With Dubai International Airport also experiencing significant traffic, with 46 million passengers passing through in the first half of 2025, the demand for reliable and efficient transport solutions is undeniable. The introduction of the new tourist transport regulation is a timely response to these increasing numbers, ensuring that tourists have access to quality transport options that are both safe and convenient.

Dubai’s forthcoming Executive Regulation on tourist transport is poised to elevate the emirate’s travel infrastructure, bolstering its objective of delivering secure, high-caliber, and highly efficient services tailored to rising international arrivals. By institutionalising measures of service excellence, comprehensive safety standards, and streamlined operational processes, the Regulation reaffirms the emirate’s strategic imperative to sustain its leadership as a premier, destination. Anticipating growing reliance on public transport and ever-rising visitor numbers, the regulatory framework will, therefore, structure the development of the city’s transport ecosystem for the coming decade and beyond. By consistently emphasising visitor comfort, professional oversight, and responsiveness to evolving demand, the measures will crystallise the city’s commitment to world-class mobility—a signature experience for guests from every corner of the globe.