The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) of Dubai, in coordination with the Dubai Police, has announced upcoming updates to the maximum speed limits on five key streets across the emirate, effective from 1st November 2026. The adjustments will see speed limits increased on three roads while reducing them on two others, in both directions. This initiative aligns with Dubai’s traffic safety strategy and the indicators set forth in the 2025 traffic safety performance evaluation plan.
Implications of the Speed Limit Changes
The changes in speed limits are based on updated technical specifications from the Speed Management Manual released in 2026. This follows an extensive engineering study conducted in collaboration with a global consultancy over recent months, aimed at enhancing traffic flow, improving road safety, and aligning speed limits with the nature of the roads and their traffic conditions.
Street-Specific Adjustments
Speed limits will be raised on three specific streets:
- Al Asail Street: Increased from 60 to 80 km/h in the section from Oud Metha Street to Al Meydan Street.
- Al Mustaqbal Street: Increased from 60 to 70 km/h along the stretch from Sheikh Rashid Street to Al Meydan Street.
- Latifa bint Hamdan Street: Increased from 60 to 70 km/h from Sheikh Zayed Street to Al Khail Street.
Conversely, two streets will see a reduction in speed limits:
- Al Rabat Street: Reduced from 100 to 90 km/h in the section from Marrakesh Street to Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Road.
- Sheikh Sabah bin Ahmed Al Sabah Street: Reduced from 80 to 70 km/h along the stretch from 2nd of December Street to Khalid bin Al Walid Street.
Standards and Regulations
The RTA emphasises that these speed modifications adhere to established engineering standards outlined in the technical manuals related to road design and speed management. The authority relies on the Speed Management Manual for Dubai, which is guided by modern best practices globally. The adjustments are part of the RTA’s ongoing and periodic reviews of speed limits and operational efficiency on the emirate’s vital roads, coinciding with various development and traffic enhancement projects underway.
Factors Influencing Speed Limit Determination
The Speed Management Manual sets out appropriate criteria to balance optimal speed rates, traffic flow, and safety requirements. The authority utilises unified engineering and technical standards to determine maximum speed limits on Dubai’s roads. These include traffic volume, the design speed of the road, the level of urban development along the route, the actual speed adhered to by drivers (specifically the 85th percentile speed), pedestrian traffic, and the presence of other critical facilities.
Implementation and Adjustments
In preparation for these changes, the RTA will update the traffic signs indicating the new maximum legal speed limits in the affected areas in accordance with the approved specifications. Additionally, speed detection radars along the affected roads will be reprogrammed to ensure they’re ready for implementation by 1st November 2026.