Legislation Details
- Full Title: Federal Law regarding the Land Transportation
- Law Type: Federal Law
- Law Number: [9] of 2011
- Issued Date: 06 Jul 2011
- Effective Date: 06 Jul 2011
- Official Gazette: No. 525
- Sector: Energy, Transport and Infrastructure
- Status: Active
- Number of Articles: 84
- Chapters/Parts: 0
- Amendments: 2
Summary
This Federal Law regulates land transportation activities in the United Arab Emirates. Its purpose is to establish a comprehensive legal framework for licensing, operating, and overseeing the land transport of people and goods within the UAE and across its borders. (Federal Law regarding the Land Transportation, 2011, Art. 1-84) The law is significant for businesses and individuals engaged in land transport, as it sets out the requirements and obligations for obtaining licenses, operating vehicles, and conducting international transport activities. It also empowers government authorities to enforce compliance and impose penalties for violations. The law's provisions aim to enhance the safety, efficiency, and regulation of the UAE's land transportation sector. (Federal Law regarding the Land Transportation, 2011, Art. 1-84)
What is the scope and purpose of this law?
The scope of this Federal Law is to regulate all land transportation activities within the UAE, including the international transport of people and goods by licensed means of land transport. The law applies to any individual or company engaged in the business of land transport, as well as the drivers and operators of land transport vehicles. (Federal Law regarding the Land Transportation, 2011, Art. 1-2) The purpose of the law is to establish a comprehensive legal framework for licensing, operating, and overseeing land transportation in the UAE. It aims to ensure the safety, efficiency, and regulation of the land transport sector, while facilitating international transport activities. (Federal Law regarding the Land Transportation, 2011, Art. 1-2)
What are the key definitions under this law?
The law provides the following key definitions:
- State: The United Arab Emirates
- Ministry: The National Ministry of Communications
- Board: The board of directors of the Ministry
- Minister: The Minister of the board of directors of the Ministry
- Competent Ministry: The local Competent Ministry
- Customs Authorities: The Federal Customs Ministry and the local customs departments
- Land Transport: Any international land transport or land transport between the emirates on roads, of people or goods, by any licensed means of land transport in consideration of a fee
- International Land Transport: Any land transport on the roads of people or goods from the State to other countries and vice versa, by any licensed means of land transport in consideration of a fee
- License: A license issued by the Ministry to conduct the land transport activity
- Licensee: Any natural or corporate person holding a license from the Ministry to conduct the land transport activity
- Operation Card: A document issued by the Ministry, under which the means of land transport is permitted to operate in the licensed activity
- Means of Land Transport: Any vehicle, bus, truck, lorry and trailer that runs on the roads, including those that move on railroads
- Regular Transport: To carry passengers and their luggage and to carry goods by licensed carriers on specific routes at such announced times and for such carriage fees by regular service of land transport
- Cars Club: The body authorized by the State to provide general services to the owners of the cars, e.g., the issuance of customs passage carnets and international driving licenses
- Guarantor: A body to be established in the State to secure the payment of fees and taxes in connection with national and international means of land transport under international land transport cards
- Insurance Policy: A contract made between the carrier and an insurance company, under which the insurance company shall compensate the passenger in the event of death or injury or compensate any other damage that may arise from the carriage process
- Roads: The roads where the means of transport for passengers and goods run on specific routes, including all types of roads, including maintenance and emergency roads and side diversions
- Railroads: The federal railroads line as determined under a resolution by the Cabinet
(Federal Law regarding the Land Transportation, 2011, Art. 1)
What are the main obligations and requirements?
The law imposes the following key obligations and requirements: 1. No land transport activity may be conducted without a license from the Ministry. (Federal Law regarding the Land Transportation, 2011, Art. 2) 2. Licensees must fulfill certain conditions to obtain a license, including being the owner or lessee of the land transport means, having adequate and technically compliant vehicles, and obtaining approval from the relevant authorities. (Federal Law regarding the Land Transportation, 2011, Art. 3) 3. Means of land transport may only be used for the purpose stated in the license, and licenses are non-transferable without the Ministry's consent. (Federal Law regarding the Land Transportation, 2011, Art. 7-8) 4. Licensees must obtain an Operation Card from the Ministry for each means of land transport. (Federal Law regarding the Land Transportation, 2011, Art. 10) 5. Drivers of land transport vehicles must carry the required documents, cross at official border points, and comply with operational requirements set by the Ministry. (Federal Law regarding the Land Transportation, 2011, Art. 18) 6. International land transport operations must be covered by insurance from the beginning to the end of the trip. (Federal Law regarding the Land Transportation, 2011, Art. 19) 7. Licensees and their agents must issue tickets and luggage registration cards for international passenger transport. (Federal Law regarding the Land Transportation, 2011, Art. 21) 8. Carriers are responsible for the safety of passengers and must compensate for loss, damage, or improper carriage of luggage. (Federal Law regarding the Land Transportation, 2011, Art. 22)
What licensing, registration, or approval requirements exist?
The law establishes the following licensing and registration requirements: 1. Individuals and companies must obtain a license from the Ministry to conduct any land transport activity. (Federal Law regarding the Land Transportation, 2011, Art. 2) 2. Licensees must fulfill certain conditions to obtain a license, including having adequate and technically compliant vehicles. (Federal Law regarding the Land Transportation, 2011, Art. 3) 3. Companies conducting land transport activities must be established in accordance with the Commercial Companies Law. (Federal Law regarding the Land Transportation, 2011, Art. 5) 4. Licensees must obtain an Operation Card from the Ministry for each means of land transport. (Federal Law regarding the Land Transportation, 2011, Art. 10) 5. The Guarantor and Cars Club must obtain a license from the Ministry to issue customs passage carnets and international driving licenses. (Federal Law regarding the Land Transportation, 2011, Art. 24-26)
Which authorities or bodies are responsible for enforcement?
The key authorities and bodies responsible for enforcement under this law are: 1. The Ministry of Communications: The ministry responsible for issuing licenses, Operation Cards, and overseeing land transport activities. (Federal Law regarding the Land Transportation, 2011, Art. 1-2, 4, 10, 13, 15, 28) 2. The Board of Directors of the Ministry: The governing body that sets policies and regulations for the land transport sector. (Federal Law regarding the Land Transportation, 2011, Art. 1) 3. The Minister of the Ministry: The head of the ministry who oversees the implementation of the law. (Federal Law regarding the Land Transportation, 2011, Art. 1) 4. The Competent Ministry: The local ministry responsible for certain aspects of land transport within each emirate. (Federal Law regarding the Land Transportation, 2011, Art. 1, 18) 5. The Customs Authorities: The Federal Customs Ministry and local customs departments responsible for coordinating with the Ministry on international land transport activities. (Federal Law regarding the Land Transportation, 2011, Art. 1, 16-17, 26) 6. The Guarantor and Cars Club: Bodies authorized to issue customs passage carnets and international driving licenses. (Federal Law regarding the Land Transportation, 2011, Art. 24-28)
What are the penalties for non-compliance?
The law specifies the following penalties for non-compliance: 1. Any person who violates the provision of Article 14 (failure to notify the Ministry of deregistration or transfer of a means of land transport) shall be punished by imprisonment for at least three months and/or a fine of at least AED 50,000 but not more than AED 150,000. In the event of recurrence, the means of land transport may be ordered to be confiscated. (Federal Law regarding the Land Transportation, 2011, Art. 29) 2. Any person who violates the provisions of Articles 16 or 17 (unauthorized entry or loading of means of land transport not registered in the UAE) shall be punished by imprisonment for a period not exceeding one year and/or a fine of not less than AED 50,000 but not more than AED 200,000. (Federal Law regarding the Land Transportation, 2011, Art. 30) 3. Any person who violates the provisions of Article 18 (driver obligations) shall be punished by imprisonment for a period not exceeding six months and/or a fine of not less than AED 10,000 but not more than AED 50,000. (Federal Law regarding the Land Transportation, 2011, Art. 31) 4. Any person who violates the provisions of Article 19 (international land transport insurance) shall be punished by imprisonment for a period not exceeding one year and/or a fine of not less than AED 50,000 but not more than AED 200,000. (Federal Law regarding the Land Transportation, 2011, Art. 32) 5. Any person who violates the provisions of Article 21 (passenger transport documentation) shall be punished by imprisonment for a period not exceeding six months and/or a fine of not less than AED 10,000 but not more than AED 50,000. (Federal Law regarding the Land Transportation, 2011, Art. 33) 6. Any person who violates the provisions of Article 22 (carrier responsibilities) shall be punished by imprisonment for a period not exceeding six months and/or a fine of not less than AED 10,000 but not more than AED 50,000. (Federal Law regarding the Land Transportation, 2011, Art. 34)
How does this law interact with other UAE legislation?
This Federal Law regarding the Land Transportation interacts with several other UAE laws and regulations, including: - Federal Law No. (1) of 1972 concerning the jurisdictions of the ministries and the powers of the ministers - Federal Law No. (17) of 1981 concerning the establishment of the Emirates General Transport & Services Corporation - Federal Law No. (8) of 1984 concerning commercial companies - Federal Law No. (9) of 1984 concerning insurance companies and brokers - Federal Law No. (8) of 1986 determining the axial load of vehicles using paved roads - Federal Law No. (21) of 1995 concerning pedestrians and traffic - Decree by Law No. (1) of 2001 concerning the guard of land and marine borders - Federal Law No. (1) of 2003 concerning the establishment of the Federal Customs Ministry - Decree by Federal Law No. (2) of 2009 concerning the establishment of Al Etihad (Union) Railways Company - Federal Decree No. (95) of 2006 concerning the accession by the State to the conventions on international land carriage of goods and traffic on the roads (Federal Law regarding the Land Transportation, 2011, Preamble)
When did this law come into effect?
This Federal Law regarding the Land Transportation came into effect on 06 Jul 2011, the date it was issued. It was published in the Official Gazette No. 525 on 14 Jul 2011. (Federal Law regarding the Land Transportation, 2011, Issued Date, Effective Date, Official Gazette Date)
Source Documents
This article analyses Federal Law regarding the Land Transportation for legal research and educational purposes. For the purpose of interpretation and application, reference must be made to the original Arabic text. In case of conflict, the Arabic text prevails. This does not constitute legal advice.