UAE accelerating autonomous vehicle smart mobility frameworks

Three recent significant developments across Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Sharjah demonstrate a coordinated effort to create legal certainty for innovators while imposing clear safety, operational and compliance obligations on those developing or deploying autonomous systems. For technology companies, investors and operators, the UAE remains open to innovation, but regulatory compliance is becoming a critical prerequisite to market participation.

Abu Dhabi

The most recent development comes from Abu Dhabi, where the Department of Municipalities and Transport, acting under the supervision of the Smart and Autonomous Systems Council (SASC), introduced Administrative Decision No.17 of 2026, issuing the Manual Requirements and Controls for Testing Autonomous Marine Crafts.

The framework establishes a dedicated regulatory regime for the testing of autonomous and remotely operated small marine vessels within Abu Dhabi waters. Central to the new regime is a mandatory permitting system governing all testing activities. The framework also imposes defined obligations on permit applicants and vessel operators, establishes procedures intended to ensure testing is conducted safely and without disrupting existing maritime operations, and introduces specific requirements relating to insurance coverage and cybersecurity.

Importantly, the new framework does not emerge in isolation. It builds upon Administrative Decision No. (69) of 2025, which introduced broader rules relating to maritime safety, environmental protection and operational responsibilities across Abu Dhabi’s waterways. The result is an increasingly sophisticated regulatory ecosystem supporting autonomous maritime innovation while seeking to manage associated operational risks.

From a market perspective, Abu Dhabi appears to be positioning itself as a testing ground for the next generation of maritime technologies by creating a clearer pathway from research and development to real-world deployment. The inclusion of mandatory cybersecurity and insurance requirements is particularly notable, signalling that regulators are already focusing on operational resilience and risk allocation rather than solely on technological capability.

Dubai

While Abu Dhabi’s framework focuses on maritime applications, Dubai continues to operate one of the region’s most developed legal regimes for autonomous vehicles.

Dubai’s regulatory architecture is notable for its two-stage approach. Executive Council Resolution No. 3 of 2019 regulates test runs of autonomous vehicles, creating the authorisation process and safety requirements necessary for controlled testing. Law No. 9 of 2023 expanded the framework to regulate full operational deployment and commercial activities involving autonomous vehicles.

The 2019 resolution focuses on ensuring test runs are carried out safely, protecting public safety and generating data from testing activities. It establishes the legal basis for granting authorisations and regulating testing procedures before autonomous vehicles are introduced more broadly onto public roads.

Law No.9 of 2023 represents the next stage of regulatory maturity. The law regulates the operation of autonomous vehicles, establishes licensing requirements, assigns extensive supervisory powers to Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), and addresses broader issues such as technical inspections, operational standards, insurance requirements and liability. The framework is explicitly designed the support Dubai’s smart mobility strategy while attracting investment into autonomous vehicle technologies.

The approach is significant as it recognises that autonomous mobility requires different regulatory frameworks at different stages of technological development. Testing and commercial deployment raise distinct legal and operational risks, and Dubai has sought to address these through separate but complementary legislative instruments.

Sharjah

In parallel, Sharjah has moved to establish its own emirate-wide framework governing unmanned aerial vehicles.

A new law applies to all types of drones regardless of their control systems or intended purpose. Its scope extends across the emirate, including free zones and special development zones, and applies to both public and private sector operators. Military and security drones remain exempt, alongside any additional exemptions granted by the chairman of the Sharjah Department of Civil Aviation.

The legislation aims to protect air navigation safety, regulate drone operations in line with international standards, reduce operational risks and support innovation in smart mobility and drone technologies. It also seeks to position Sharjah as a regional hub for drone-related activity and technology development.

The law operates alongside the federal framework established under Federal Decree-Law No. 26 of 2022 concerning the civil use of unmanned aircraft, demonstrating how emirate-level regulation is increasingly being layered on top of federal requirements. The Sharjah Department of Civil Aviation is tasked with issuing permits, approvals and certificates, conducting oversight activities and coordinating with the General Civil Aviation Authority.

For drone operators, the law introduced a more structured compliance environment and indicates that local authorisations may become increasingly important alongside federal approvals.

The UAE is creating clearer legal pathways for testing, commercialising and scaling autonomous technologies. Regulatory certainty can provide a competitive advantage and help attract investment into emerging mobility sectors.

However, companies operating across multiple emirates must navigate a growing patchwork of federal and local requirements that may differ significantly depending on the technology involved and where it is deployed. Company strategies that work in one area may not be sufficient in another.

As the smart mobility ecosystem continues to evolve, organisations should proactively assess their permitting, insurance, cybersecurity and operational compliance requirements to best position themselves to capitalise on emerging opportunities.