13 new rules, fees, and tech coming into effect in the UAE in 2025
Dubai: With new year comes, a few of the biggest developments for 2025 to come your way. The biggest developments coming to the UAE and new rules and fees you should know.
1. New UAE traffic law
The main announcement in 2024 was the federal decree-law on traffic regulation, which introduced amendments to the current traffic law in line with the speeding changes of transportation around the world. This list includes: lowering the age of driving to 17, the introduction of new forms of personal transport (such as e-bikes and e-scooters) as part of the law, and changes to rules for drivers and pedestrians.
This law will enter into force on March 29, 2025.
2. Abu Dhabi and Dubai Air taxis Air taxis
One more big change for the people of UAE is air taxis in Abu Dhabi and Dubai in 2025. The transport ministers of many emirates announced this year that they will be introducing eVTOL (electric vertical take-off and landing) aircrafts, scheduled to start service in Abu Dhabi and Dubai in 2025 and replacing longer car journeys with air taxi flights.
According to a deal between the Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO) and Archer Aviation, a US based firm that builds and services eVTOL aircrafts, 60-90-minute car journeys in Abu Dhabi will be superseded by 10- 20-minute electric air taxi journeys ‘safe, sustainable, low noise, and competitive with ground transportation’, which will begin in 2025.
In Dubai, too, air taxis could be in operation by December 2025, under an arrangement between Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) and the US aviation manufacturer Joby Aviation.
Four vertiport stations will be installed close to the Dubai International Airport, Dubai Marina and Palm Jumeirah, and reduces a drive that normally takes 45 minutes to 10 minutes by air.
3. Maintenance work of Al Maktoum bridge closes
There will be less traffic in Dubai too, new Salik gates have been installed in the city and work at Al Maktoum bridge will come to an end mid-January 2025.
4. Intelligent travel system in Abu Dhabi
In Abu Dhabi’s Zayed International Airport, for example, the biometric-powered smart travel system is also planned to be rolled out at every security and operations touchpoint and to all airline passengers in 2025.
The futuristic system is rolling out gradually and is already in use for passengers travelling on Etihad Airways and five other airlines. In addition, all air passengers passing through the airport will be able to undergo immigration, shop in duty-free stores and use airport lounges next year without having to display their boarding pass or passport for entry check at any of these points.
5. Plastic ban to be strengthened
You can also expect some serious revamps of your dining experiences in Dubai from next year with plastic stirrers, Styrofoam dishes, plastic table cloths, plastic straws and disposable Styrofoam cups among the items that will become regulated.
It’s part of Dubai’s total ban on single-use plastic products, with single-use bags already out of the picture since June this year.
6. Nol cards will be augmented with digital version
It’ll also be easy to use your phone as a nol card next year, especially for regular users of Dubai’s Metros and buses, with the digital nol card project being rolled out to all phones by 2025.
The digital nol card is currently limited to Samsung and Huawei phone customers but, the RTA stated, the full adoption is planned for 2025.
Plus – you can use the nol card to pay at supermarkets, park and get into Dubai’s public parks, since the card is also accepted at almost every place in the emirate.
7. More health food in Abu Dhabi.
By mid-2019 you will have a lot less hassle with grocery shopping as well, without ever reading the ingredient on a label to determine if it is a good one for you. ‘nutri-mark’ label — which compares a product’s nutritional value to other products in its category — will be your instant reminder to eat better following a partnership between Abu Dhabi Quality and Conformity Council (ADQCC) and the Abu Dhabi Public Health Centre (ADPHC).
While it will start operations in Abu Dhabi at the beginning of next year, it will be rolled out across the UAE as well.
8. Public Wi-Fi in bus stops Free WiFi
Who doesn’t like free Wi-Fi? Free public Wi-Fi is being provided in four major bus stations in Dubai’s RTA, which announced this week it will extend to even more stations by next year.
Simply always make sure to do your due diligence whenever you use a free public Wi-Fi where ever you are to ensure data security and online anonymity.
9. New Salik charges
With an ‘adoptable road toll pricing system’, the same applies in Dubai from February 2025, where Salik charges follow:
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During the week days: Dh6 for one crossing.
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Weekdays off-peak times: Dh4 a crossing.
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On Sundays: Dh4 per pass from day till night (no holidays, special events or major events).
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1am to 6am: free
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Weekdays: 6am-10am, 4pm-8pm are the busy times.
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You will only pay one time if you do more than three times through Al Safa toll gates within an hour. It is the same for the two toll gates in Al Mamzar.
10. New parking charges in Dubai
You should also remember the new parking fees for Dubai starting from March next year namely standard, premium and grand events parking space types.
New parking charges:
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Time at high tide (8am – 10am and 4pm – 8pm):
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Premium parking: Dh6 per hour
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Standard parking: Dh4 per hour
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No peak hours (10am – 4pm and 8pm – 10pm): Rates don’t change.
Free parking:
Overnight: 10pm to 8am
All day Sunday
The new fees start from end of March 2025.
11. Charges on EVs in UAE: New charges on EVs in UAE
UAEV, UAE’s first government-owned EV charging network, is set to publish new EV charging tariffs by the Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure. These come into force from January 2025.
The revised price is for EV users of Dh1.20 per kWh (plus VAT) for DC chargers and Dh0.70 per kWh (plus VAT) for AC chargers. This change means that EV drivers will be charged transparent, standardised rates.
UAEV will be releasing an easy to use mobile app. Its app will enable you to find charging stations nearby, see real-time charger availability and pay. We will also have a 24/7 call centre that will offer immediate support to make sure that the whole experience of every EV customer is smooth.
12. Fees on sewerage to rise in Dubai
SEPTERAGE PAYMENTS - Beginning in January 2025, sewerage charges will be charged for residential and commercial properties in the areas of Dubai Municipality. The rise will be amortized over three years, and included in water and electricity bills.
The updated fees will be:
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1.5 fils a gallon in 2025.
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2 fils / Gallons in 2026
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2.8 fils/gal in 2027
But even with that hike, the new tariffs are below the world average, even in cities of the same GDP per capita.
This will be the first sewerage charge increase in 10 years and is applicable to existing customers of Dubai Municipality-controlled areas.
13. Dubai to roll out new Smart Rental Index
This January the Dubai Land Department (DLD) will issue a new Smart Rental Index to help in improving transparency, trust and confidence in the property market.
With the Smart Rental Index extending its previous work — it launched the RRPI in 2022, while in 2024 an update that allowed for up to 15 per cent rent increases in some locations — it will leverage real-time data and cutting-edge technology. It’s a cutting-edge solution with a roadmap for comprehensive and equal markets.
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