Police have urged the public to report dangerous e-scooter riders as doctors encounter an increasing number of injuries related to collisions across the UAE.
Pedestrians say they have safety concerns about e-scooters zipping across pavements and many are calling for stricter monitoring and implementation of the rules.
Police have levied fines against riders who flout regulations and doctors have told of attending to more than 10 accidents each month due to speeding e-scooters.
“Misusing scooters is one of the major challenges in terms of road safety, especially in populated areas,” Dubai Police told The National, urging residents to report dangerous behaviour on the Police Eye service on the official app or call 901.
Dubai Police said four e-scooter riders were killed between January and June this year, while 15,029 e-scooters were confiscated for breaching traffic rules in the first five months of 2025. The number of fatalities last year in Dubai totalled 10, with 259 injured in 254 accidents involving e-scooters and bicycles recorded.
Fines across the Emirates vary, with police in Dubai imposing a Dh300 penalty for e-scooters on roads with speed limits exceeding 60kph. Nshama, the management company in charge of the Town Square community in Dubai, warns that Dh1,050 fines can be imposed on e-scooter riders who break the rules.
In Ajman, police have banned e-scooters on streets. Abu Dhabi Police, too, have warned that riders are not permitted on pedestrian lanes or roads with speed limits of 60kph or higher.
E-scooter riders must wear helmets, reflective jackets, never carry passengers, attach lights on the front and rear of the scooters and not exceed the 20kph speed limit.
Accident victims speak out
Abu Dhabi resident Tala blacked out when she was hit by an e-scooter on her 10k morning Corniche run in February. The rider and pedestrians who helped lift her off the ground told her that she had lost consciousness.
“I don’t remember being hit,” said the US citizen who was prescribed painkillers by doctors. “All I can remember thinking is that he was going really fast, that he was in the walking lane as I tried to move to one side.”
“My elbow was bleeding, I had a massive bruise on my wrist, my ankle had tyre marks and was quite sore. I had a killer headache because I landed on my head.”
The bruises from the impact were evident for a few months. The rider offered to call an ambulance, but Tala decided to walk home.
“I realised later how serious it was. There was a blur, a streak of white across my left eye. I felt dizzy. Now I tell my running buddies that if they ever have this sort of incident, they should call an ambulance immediately. I stick to the edge when I’m running now.”
Dubai resident Slavica still feels the impact of a collision more than a year after a 10-year-old child on an e-scooter slammed into her as she walked in The Lakes – a quiet, leafy community. The Serbian citizen has required physiotherapy since February 2024, medication and injections to dull the pain from multiple injuries to her shoulder, neck, lower back, hip, knee and foot.
“The child came out of nowhere,” she said. “The scooter hit me with full force on my right side. I was in bed for many months last year. I took painkillers, went to bed and the next day I woke up in horrific pain. I needed to go to hospital and then started my journey of recovery. I’ve been in physiotherapy non-stop.”
When Slavica approached the police, they recommended she file a complaint that she decided against. The young rider apologised to her recently but the accident has left a mark and she constantly worries about others getting hit by speeding riders.
“My intention was not to take parents or a child to court,” she said. “I just want parents to know that they must talk to their children. These e-scooters must be driven responsibly. If you give it to a 10-year-old, they cannot control the speed.”
Doctors warn of ‘menace’
Even though the rules stipulate that no one under the age of 16 can ride an e-scooter, it is not uncommon for young children to be involved in e-scooter accidents, doctors said.
“Paediatric and adolescent categories are more common because children tend to be more reckless and lose control,” said Dr Chidananda Shivashankar, specialist orthopaedic surgeon at Zulekha Hospital Sharjah.
“We see wrist, ankle, shoulder injuries in kids. In adults, it can be more severe, could extend to fractures, requiring plaster and even surgery depending on the speed with which pedestrians get hit. It has become a menace inside communities and on major roads.”
The Sharjah hospital treats around 15 to 20 people with e-scooter injuries every month. “The frequency is increasing because, a couple of years ago, we saw three to four cases a month,” Dr Shivashankar said. “Recovery can take from weeks to several months.”
Medeor Hospital in Abu Dhabi treats three to four injuries every month from e-scooter accidents. Typically, patients are first taken to public hospitals and later seek treatment in private hospitals.
“People come in days after they are hit because many injured people go back to the office and come to us when the pain is aggravated, when they develop swelling in the leg or knee joint,” said Dr Suresh Vadakkoot, head of the orthopaedics department.
“Muscle, ligament and soft tissue injuries are common, 99 per cent are lower limb injuries. Healing takes long because when people fall on their back, the nerve in the spinal cord can get pinched.”
Residents call for action
Residents say rules are ignored despite signs across communities detailing regulations and specifying paths where e-scooters and e-cycles are barred.
Restrictions were announced last year on Jumeirah Beach Residence plaza, ground levels of The Walk and designated zones around Dubai Marina Mall.
Valeria Krynetskaya and more than 100 residents appealed last month for improved safety measures in Dubai’s Springs neighbourhood after reports of e-scooters colliding with the elderly, a pregnant woman, and killing a cat.
“Even though it's just a scooter, we are talking about electrical vehicles driving as fast as cars in residential pedestrian areas, this is nonsense,” said the Danish sustainability consultant.
“They drive very fast with no lights. We have nothing against alternative means of transportation, but it needs to be responsible.”
Micro mobility a saviour
Teenagers, retail and restaurant workers who safely ride e-scooters to school and work have grown to depend on them for short trips.
“I love my e-scooter, love the convenience,” said Shanessa, a teenager whose travel time was cut to a few minutes to reach school on the boundary of a gated Dubai community. “I set it to the lowest speed and I’m careful. I wait for cars to pass.”
Mary Garcia, a Filipino cashier in a restaurant in Karama, Dubai, said she no longer depended on shared van transport after the RTA allowed carrying folded e-scooters on the Dubai Metro last year.
“Many people like us can’t afford cars,” she said. “This is great for me to take the Metro and hop on the scooter. With this I don’t have to wait for transport. People need to know how to be safe and take care of other people's safety.”
Experts call for separate paths
Dr Khaled Alawadi, associate professor of sustainable urbanism at Khalifa University in Abu Dhabi, recommends regulating e-scooter sales so that they are sold only to adults with clear safety instructions and penalty warnings.
“There must be stricter monitoring” he said. “We have policies and regulations in place, but people don’t seem to listen or abide by the rules.”
He recommends installing dedicated paths for cycling and e-scooters, separate from pedestrian pathways, when new developments are built.
The conflict between pedestrians and e-scooters is not unique to the UAE. Prague will outlaw e-scooter rentals from January. Paris has already banned rentals. Madrid does not permit e-scooters on the public transport network and Finland has barred under-15s from using them.
“We have exactly the same problems in Sydney as you're having in the UAE,” said Sara Stace, an urban strategist and director of cities at Vivendi Consulting Australia, which also recommends building dedicated paths.
“A lot of people who would never consider riding a bike, would consider hopping on an e-scooter. The main thing is to make sure they’re not mixing with people walking, and they're not mixing with motor vehicles travelling fast.”
RESULTS
5pm: Maiden | Dh80,000 | 1,600m
Winner: AF Al Moreeb, Tadhg O’Shea (jockey), Ernst Oertel (trainer)
5.30pm: Handicap | Dh80,000 | 1,600m
Winner: AF Makerah, Adrie de Vries, Ernst Oertel
6pm: Handicap | Dh80,000 | 2,200m
Winner: Hazeme, Richard Mullen, Jean de Roualle
6.30pm: Handicap | Dh85,000 | 2,200m
Winner: AF Yatroq, Brett Doyle, Ernst Oertel
7pm: Shadwell Farm for Private Owners Handicap | Dh70,000 | 2,200m
Winner: Nawwaf KB, Patrick Cosgrave, Helal Al Alawi
7.30pm: Handicap (TB) | Dh100,000 | 1,600m
Winner: Treasured Times, Bernardo Pinheiro, Rashed Bouresly
Five expert hiking tips
Always check the weather forecast before setting off
Make sure you have plenty of water
Set off early to avoid sudden weather changes in the afternoon
Wear appropriate clothing and footwear
Take your litter home with you
The British in India: Three Centuries of Ambition and Experience
by David Gilmour
Allen Lane
Stan%20Lee
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Teams
India (playing XI): Virat Kohli (c), Ajinkya Rahane, Rohit Sharma, Mayank Agarwal, Cheteshwar Pujara, Hanuma Vihari, Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Wriddhiman Saha (wk), Ishant Sharma, Mohammed Shami
South Africa (squad): Faf du Plessis (c), Temba Bavuma, Theunis de Bruyn, Quinton de Kock, Dean Elgar, Zubayr Hamza, Keshav Maharaj, Aiden Markram, Senuran Muthusamy, Lungi Ngidi, Anrich Nortje, Vernon Philander, Dane Piedt, Kagiso Rabada, Rudi Second
match info
Southampton 0
Arsenal 2 (Nketiah 20', Willock 87')
Red card: Jack Stephens (Southampton)
Man of the match: Rob Holding (Arsenal)
Innotech Profile
Date started: 2013
Founder/CEO: Othman Al Mandhari
Based: Muscat, Oman
Sector: Additive manufacturing, 3D printing technologies
Size: 15 full-time employees
Stage: Seed stage and seeking Series A round of financing
Investors: Oman Technology Fund from 2017 to 2019, exited through an agreement with a new investor to secure new funding that it under negotiation right now.
South Africa World Cup squad
South Africa: Faf du Plessis (c), Hashim Amla, Quinton de Kock (w), JP Duminy, Imran Tahir, Aiden Markram, David Miller, Lungi Ngidi, Anrich Nortje, Andile Phehlukwayo, Dwaine Pretorius, Kagiso Rabada, Tabraiz Shamsi, Dale Steyn, Rassie van der Dussen.
Fixtures (all in UAE time)
Friday
Everton v Burnley 11pm
Saturday
Bournemouth v Tottenham Hotspur 3.30pm
West Ham United v Southampton 6pm
Wolves v Fulham 6pm
Cardiff City v Crystal Palace 8.30pm
Newcastle United v Liverpool 10.45pm
Sunday
Chelsea v Watford 5pm
Huddersfield v Manchester United 5pm
Arsenal v Brighton 7.30pm
Monday
Manchester City v Leicester City 11pm
Everything Now
Arcade Fire
(Columbia Records)
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BMW M5 specs
Engine: 4.4-litre twin-turbo V-8 petrol enging with additional electric motor
Power: 727hp
Torque: 1,000Nm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 10.6L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh650,000
Friday's schedule in Madrid
Men's quarter-finals
Novak Djokivic (1) v Marin Cilic (9) from 2pm UAE time
Roger Federer (4) v Dominic Thiem (5) from 7pm
Stefanos Tsitsipas (8) v Alexander Zverev (3) from 9.30pm
Stan Wawrinka v Rafael Nadal (2) from 11.30pm
Women's semi-finals
Belinda Bencic v Simona Halep (3) from 4.30pm
Sloane Stephens (8) v Kiki Bertens (7) from 10pm
How to apply for a drone permit
- Individuals must register on UAE Drone app or website using their UAE Pass
- Add all their personal details, including name, nationality, passport number, Emiratis ID, email and phone number
- Upload the training certificate from a centre accredited by the GCAA
- Submit their request
What are the regulations?
- Fly it within visual line of sight
- Never over populated areas
- Ensure maximum flying height of 400 feet (122 metres) above ground level is not crossed
- Users must avoid flying over restricted areas listed on the UAE Drone app
- Only fly the drone during the day, and never at night
- Should have a live feed of the drone flight
- Drones must weigh 5 kg or less
EA Sports FC 26
Publisher: EA Sports
Consoles: PC, PlayStation 4/5, Xbox Series X/S
Rating: 3/5
Our legal consultants
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
Have you been targeted?
Tuan Phan of SimplyFI.org lists five signs you have been mis-sold to:
1. Your pension fund has been placed inside an offshore insurance wrapper with a hefty upfront commission.
2. The money has been transferred into a structured note. These products have high upfront, recurring commission and should never be in a pension account.
3. You have also been sold investment funds with an upfront initial charge of around 5 per cent. ETFs, for example, have no upfront charges.
4. The adviser charges a 1 per cent charge for managing your assets. They are being paid for doing nothing. They have already claimed massive amounts in hidden upfront commission.
5. Total annual management cost for your pension account is 2 per cent or more, including platform, underlying fund and advice charges.
Uefa Nations League: How it works
The Uefa Nations League, introduced last year, has reached its final stage, to be played over five days in northern Portugal. The format of its closing tournament is compact, spread over two semi-finals, with the first, Portugal versus Switzerland in Porto on Wednesday evening, and the second, England against the Netherlands, in Guimaraes, on Thursday.
The winners of each semi will then meet at Porto’s Dragao stadium on Sunday, with the losing semi-finalists contesting a third-place play-off in Guimaraes earlier that day.
Qualifying for the final stage was via League A of the inaugural Nations League, in which the top 12 European countries according to Uefa's co-efficient seeding system were divided into four groups, the teams playing each other twice between September and November. Portugal, who finished above Italy and Poland, successfully bid to host the finals.
Uefa Nations League: How it Works
The Uefa Nations League, introduced last year, has reached its final stage, to be played over five days in northern Portugal. The format of its closing tournament is compact, spread over two semi-finals, with the first, Portugal versus Switzerland in Porto on Wednesday evening, and the second, England against the Netherlands, in Guimaraes, on Thursday.
The winners of each semi will then meet at Porto’s Dragao stadium on Sunday, with the losing semi-finalists contesting a third-place play-off in Guimaraes earlier that day.
Qualifying for the final stage was via League A of the inaugural Nations League, in which the top 12 European countries according to Uefa's co-efficient seeding system were divided into four groups, the teams playing each other twice between September and November. Portugal, who finished above Italy and Poland, successfully bid to host the finals.
In-demand jobs and monthly salaries
- Technology expert in robotics and automation: Dh20,000 to Dh40,000
- Energy engineer: Dh25,000 to Dh30,000
- Production engineer: Dh30,000 to Dh40,000
- Data-driven supply chain management professional: Dh30,000 to Dh50,000
- HR leader: Dh40,000 to Dh60,000
- Engineering leader: Dh30,000 to Dh55,000
- Project manager: Dh55,000 to Dh65,000
- Senior reservoir engineer: Dh40,000 to Dh55,000
- Senior drilling engineer: Dh38,000 to Dh46,000
- Senior process engineer: Dh28,000 to Dh38,000
- Senior maintenance engineer: Dh22,000 to Dh34,000
- Field engineer: Dh6,500 to Dh7,500
- Field supervisor: Dh9,000 to Dh12,000
- Field operator: Dh5,000 to Dh7,000
The specs: 2018 Mazda CX-5
Price, base / as tested: Dh89,000 / Dh130,000
Engine: 2.5-litre four-cylinder
Power: 188hp @ 6,000rpm
Torque: 251Nm @ 4,000rpm
Transmission: Six-speed automatic
Fuel consumption, combined: 7.1L / 100km
Pots for the Asian Qualifiers
Pot 1: Iran, Japan, South Korea, Australia, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, China
Pot 2: Iraq, Uzbekistan, Syria, Oman, Lebanon, Kyrgyz Republic, Vietnam, Jordan
Pot 3: Palestine, India, Bahrain, Thailand, Tajikistan, North Korea, Chinese Taipei, Philippines
Pot 4: Turkmenistan, Myanmar, Hong Kong, Yemen, Afghanistan, Maldives, Kuwait, Malaysia
Pot 5: Indonesia, Singapore, Nepal, Cambodia, Bangladesh, Mongolia, Guam, Macau/Sri Lanka
A little about CVRL
Founded in 1985 by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, the Central Veterinary Research Laboratory (CVRL) is a government diagnostic centre that provides testing and research facilities to the UAE and neighbouring countries.
One of its main goals is to provide permanent treatment solutions for veterinary related diseases.
The taxidermy centre was established 12 years ago and is headed by Dr Ulrich Wernery.
Poacher
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APPLE IPAD MINI (A17 PRO)
Display: 21cm Liquid Retina Display, 2266 x 1488, 326ppi, 500 nits
Chip: Apple A17 Pro, 6-core CPU, 5-core GPU, 16-core Neural Engine
Storage: 128/256/512GB
Main camera: 12MP wide, f/1.8, digital zoom up to 5x, Smart HDR 4
Front camera: 12MP ultra-wide, f/2.4, Smart HDR 4, full-HD @ 25/30/60fps
Biometrics: Touch ID, Face ID
Colours: Blue, purple, space grey, starlight
In the box: iPad mini, USB-C cable, 20W USB-C power adapter
Price: From Dh2,099
The years Ramadan fell in May
The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre flat-six twin-turbocharged
Transmission: eight-speed PDK automatic
Power: 445bhp
Torque: 530Nm
Price: Dh474,600
On Sale: Now
