Dubai authorities have impounded more than 390 delivery bicycles during a three-month joint inspection campaign carried out by the Roads and Transport Authority and Dubai Police to enforce safety and licensing rules across the emirate’s delivery sector. The operation focused on popular delivery hubs and targeted bikes and riders that failed to meet mandatory technical and rider-safety requirements.
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Incident details
Inspection teams from the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) and Dubai Police carried out joint patrols across several parts of Dubai, leading to the seizure of more than 390 bicycles used for delivery work. The inspections were carried out over a three-month period as part of a stepped-up enforcement drive.
Officials said the campaign was meant to ensure that delivery services operating across the city follow existing transport rules and meet basic road-safety standards. During the checks, teams stopped riders, examined their bicycles and reviewed whether both the equipment and the operations met the required regulations.
Areas covered by inspections
Patrols concentrated on districts with high delivery activity, including Al Muraqqabat, Dubai Marina, Dubai Silicon Oasis and Downtown Dubai. Officers and RTA inspectors checked technical standards of bicycles, rider safety equipment and whether commercial delivery operations held the required licences and approvals.
Violations and seizures
Most of the bicycles were taken off the road after inspectors found they did not meet basic safety and technical requirements. In several cases, bikes were missing essential equipment such as front lights, rear reflectors or handlebar bells, while others had mechanical problems, including faulty brakes.
Riders were also checked to ensure they were wearing the required protective gear. This includes helmets, reflective safety vests and their company uniforms while on duty. Where these requirements were not met, authorities impounded the bicycles and, in some cases, took administrative action against the riders or the operators involved.
Official statements
Saeed Al Ramsi, Director of Licensing Activities Monitoring at the RTA’s Licensing Agency, said the use of bicycles in the delivery sector has expanded rapidly and called for stricter field monitoring to protect riders and other road users. Authorities confirmed the inspections will be followed by regular enforcement and awareness efforts targeting delivery companies and riders. The RTA has also issued updated inspection standards that allow delivery bikes to extend operational life subject to passing technical checks.
Related regulatory actions
The campaign forms part of broader measures introduced over recent months to regulate delivery operations in the emirate — including technical inspection regimes for delivery bikes, restrictions on lane use for delivery vehicles, and stiffer penalties for traffic violations involving delivery riders. Authorities have previously tightened enforcement on delivery riders using high-speed lanes and introduced fines and permit-suspension measures for repeat offenders.
