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.
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.

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.
 

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.

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.
 

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.
 

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 Authorised 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 Authorized Person.
C. Reduce the load or redistribute it to eliminate violations before resuming traffic.
D. Modify their travel route and follow another route.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.
 

This Decree by Law shall be published in the Official Gazette and shall enter into force as of the First of October 2023.