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General UAE Legal Questions LawFederal Decree by Law No. (12) of 2023 Regulating the Weights and Dimensions of Heavy Vehicles

UAE Federal Decree-Law·Federal Decree by Law No. (12) of 2023

مرسوم بقانون اتحادي في شأن تنظيم أوزان وأبعاد المركبات الثقيلة

Authoritative Arabic version per the official UAE Legislation portal

Issued Date
September 4, 2023
Effective from
October 1, 2023
Articles
12
Last synced
Jul 20, 2026

Plain-language summary

  • Sets weight and size limits for heavy trucks and trailers operating in UAE.
  • Applies to all heavy vehicle owners, operators, and transport companies nationwide.
  • Vehicles must meet standards to protect roads, bridges, and public safety.
  • Non-compliant vehicles may face fines, inspection holds, or operating restrictions.
  • Replaces earlier rules with unified federal requirements across all emirates.

Regulates the weights and dimensions of heavy vehicles operating in the UAE, establishing standards and requirements for vehicle specifications and road safety…

Synced from the official UAE Legislation portal · Plain-language summary by the LEXAI editorial team

Article-level text

Key Articles

12 articles

  1. 1

    Article 1

    Article (1) Definitions In application of the provisions of this Decree by Law, the following words and phrases shall have the meanings assigned to each of them, unless the context otherwise requires: State : United Arab Emirates. Ministry : Ministry of Energy & Infrastructure. Competent Authority : The Federal or Local Authority Competent to issue vehicle licences, manage the road network and its components, including bridges and tunnels, or manage traffic. Authorized Person : A member of the police force or a judicial officer concerned with enforcing the monitoring procedures, issuing violations, and related corrective and preventive actions.

    -- 1 of 6 --

    Federal Law No. (12) of 2023 Regulating the Weights and Dimensions of Heavy Vehicles 2 Road : Every road open to Heavy Vehicles, including paved and unpaved roads, public squares, bridges, tunnels, intersections, central islands, public parking lots, and sidewalks. Heavy Vehicle : Every means of land transportation designed to transport goods whose empty weight exceeds (2.5) two and a half tons, and does not include means of transportation designed to travel on railway. Owner : The Natural or Legal Person who owns the Heavy Vehicle. Operator : The natural or legal person responsible for operating a Heavy Vehicle, whether the owner or renter of the vehicle. Driver : The Natural person who drives a Heavy Vehicle. Load : Goods and commodities, or loads of distinctive descriptions and types. Axle Weight : The weight of the vehicle by the truck single axle or a set of tandem axles. Empty Weight of a Heavy Vehicle : The weight of the vehicle using all its axles while it is empty of any load. This includes the weight of its driver, the coolants and oils it contains, the spare wheel, and the repair kit. Total Weight of the Heavy Vehicle : The weight of the vehicle using all axles of the Heavy Vehicle, including the weight of the load. Maximum Gross Vehicle Weight of Heavy Vehicle : The maximum weight of a Heavy Vehicle when loaded, based on the design approved by the Manufacturer or Modifier. Maximum Dimensions of Heavy Vehicles : The maximum length, width and height limits specified in accordance with the Cabinet Resolution.

    -- 2 of 6 --

    Federal Law No. (12) of 2023 Regulating the Weights and Dimensions of Heavy Vehicles 3

  2. 2

    Article 2

    Article (2) Decree by Law Objectives This Decree by Law shall aim to achieve the following: 1. Protect and sustain the UAE road network infrastructure. 2. Enhance traffic safety on the roads by reducing excessive loads and the material and human losses they may cause. 3. Provide fair and sustainable competitive environment in the transportation market.

  3. 3

    Article 3

    Article (3) Scope of Application The provisions of this Decree Law apply to all Heavy Vehicles that use the roads in the UAE, including Heavy Vehicles licensed in any foreign UAE and allowed to enter the UAE in accordance with the controls specified by the legislation in force in this regard, provided that they are excluded from the application of the provisions of this Decree Law on Heavy Vehicles, the owner of which are security, military, police and civil defence.

  4. 4

    Article 4

    Article (4) The Weights and Dimensions of Heavy Vehicles 1. The following shall be issued by a resolution of the Cabinet based on the Ministry proposal, in coordination with the Competent Authority: A. Tables of total and maximum axial weights. B. Tables of maximum permissible dimensions. 2. The Heavy Vehicle may not exceed the maximum total weight, except in cases of load that does not facilitate its division in accordance with the weights or dimensions referred to, for which a permit is issued by the Ministry or the Competent Authority in accordance with the controls specified by a resolution of the Cabinet.

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    Federal Law No. (12) of 2023 Regulating the Weights and Dimensions of Heavy Vehicles 4

  5. 5

    Article 5

    Article (5) Obligations of the Heavy Vehicle Operator Operator shall comply as follows: 1. Do not exceed the total and axial weights and the maximum dimensions specified in accordance with a resolution of the Cabinet. 2. Ensure that the load is properly distributed and fixed on the Heavy Vehicle. 3. Establish effective administrative, training and operational procedures to ensure that the total and axle weights and maximum specified dimensions are not exceeded, and to ensure proper distribution and stabilisation of loads on the vehicle. 4. Put a plate in a suitable place on the Heavy Vehicle in order to display the details of the empty weight and total weight of the Heavy Vehicle. The Ministry or the Competent Authority may issue instructions related to specifying the locations for putting the plate. 5. Implement instructions and guidelines issued by the Authorised Person in accordance with the provisions of this Decree by Law and the applicable legislations. 6. Any other obligations imposed by the Ministry or the Competent Authority in accordance with the applicable legislation.

  6. 6

    Article 6

    Article (6) The Authorized Person Powers 1. If the Heavy Vehicle exceeds the permissible weight limits, the Authorized Person shall detect the violation and write a report thereon. 2. The Authorised Person may direct the driver of a Heavy Vehicle to take any of the following measures, if it becomes clear to the Authorized Person that the Heavy Vehicle exceeds the weight limits which may result in danger to the road or its users, or that the load will increase if the Heavy Vehicle is used on the road: A. Suspend or seize the Heavy Vehicle and prevent it from being driven on the road until the weight is reduced to the limit. B. Move the Heavy Vehicle to another location designated by the Authorised Person.

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    Federal Law No. (12) of 2023 Regulating the Weights and Dimensions of Heavy Vehicles 5 C. Reduce the load or redistribute it to eliminate violations before resuming traffic. D. Modify their travel route and follow another route.

  7. 7

    Article 7

    Article (7) Regulations of Violations and Administrative Penalties The Cabinet, based on the Ministry proposal in coordination with the Competent Authority shall issue the Regulations of Violations and Administrative Penalties for acts committed in violation of the provisions of this Decree by Law and the resolutions issued in implementation thereof by the bodies that impose penalties and the mechanism of appeal, and the Competent Authority concerned with collecting administrative fines.

  8. 8

    Article 8

    Article (8) Judicial Police Officer Employees of the Competent Authority appointed by a resolution issued by the Minister of Justice or the Head of the Local Judicial Authority, as the case may be, in agreement with the Minister or the Head of the Competent Authority, as shall have the capacity of Judicial Police Officers in recording all violations of the provisions of this Decree by Law and the resolutions issued in the implementation thereof, within their jurisdiction.

  9. 9

    Article 9

    Article (9) Reconciliation Every owner of a Heavy Vehicle shall Reconcile regarding the vehicle in accordance with the provisions of this Decree by Law and the resolutions issued in implementation thereof within (4) four months from the date of its entry into force.

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    Federal Law No. (12) of 2023 Regulating the Weights and Dimensions of Heavy Vehicles 6

  10. 10

    Article 10

    Article (10) Enforcement of Provisions of the Decree by Law The Competent Authority shall implement the provisions of this Decree by Law and the resolutions issued in implementation thereof on the roads under its responsibility and management.

  11. 11

    Article 11

    Article (11) Repeals 1. Federal Law No. (8) of 1986 Determining the Axle Load of Vehicles using UAE Roads, shall be repealed. 2. Any provision that conflicts or contradicts the provisions of this Decree by Law shall be repealed. 3. The resolutions issued prior to the entry into force of this Decree by Law shall remain in force, in a manner that does not conflict with its provisions, until the issuance of resolutions replacing them in accordance with the provisions of this Decree by Law.

  12. 12

    Article 12

    Article (12) Publication and Entry into Force of Decree by Law This Decree by Law shall be published in the Official Gazette and shall enter into force as of the First of October 2023. Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan President of the United Arab Emirates Issued by us at the Presidential Palace – Abu Dhabi: Issued on: September 4, 2023 Corresponding to 18 Safar 1445 H

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Note: The Arabic text of this legislation is the authoritative version as per the official UAE Legislation portal.

Articles in this law(12)
  1. 1Article (1) Definitions In application of the provisions of this Decree by Law,
  2. 2Article (2) Decree by Law Objectives This Decree by Law shall aim to achieve the
  3. 3Article (3) Scope of Application The provisions of this Decree Law apply to all
  4. 4Article (4) The Weights and Dimensions of Heavy Vehicles 1. The following shall
  5. 5Article (5) Obligations of the Heavy Vehicle Operator Operator shall comply as f
  6. 6Article (6) The Authorized Person Powers 1. If the Heavy Vehicle exceeds the per
  7. 7Article (7) Regulations of Violations and Administrative Penalties The Cabinet,
  8. 8Article (8) Judicial Police Officer Employees of the Competent Authority appoint
  9. 9Article (9) Reconciliation Every owner of a Heavy Vehicle shall Reconcile regard
  10. 10Article (10) Enforcement of Provisions of the Decree by Law The Competent Author
  11. 11Article (11) Repeals 1. Federal Law No. (8) of 1986 Determining the Axle Load of
  12. 12Article (12) Publication and Entry into Force of Decree by Law This Decree by La
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