Dubai: Can your child sit in the front passenger seat, or do they need to travel in the back? Under the UAE's new traffic regulations, which come into effect on January 1, 2027, there are specific rules on where children can sit in a vehicle, when child safety seats are mandatory and the circumstances in which exceptions are allowed.
Here is what parents need to know about keeping their children safe while travelling by car.
Child safety in vehicles
As per Article 11 (1) of Cabinet Resolution No. 174 of 2026, children up to four years old should be provided child safety seats.
The seats should be suitable for their age and weight, as per the approved UAE safety standards, and must be placed in the rear seats.
However, the Resolution lists out certain cases that are exempt from this requirement:
- A child with a medical condition that prevents them for using child seats. This requires a medical certificate issued by the relevant medica authority, and the child should be accompanied by an adult in the back seat.
- Vehicles without rear seats. In such cases, the child seat can be fitted in the front seat, provided that it is facing backwards and the airbag deactivated.
When can children sit in the passenger seat?
As a general rule, children should be seated in the rear seats, with seatbelts or child safety seats. However, if a child is 10 years old, or older, or at least 145 centimetres tall, he or she may be allowed to sit in the front passenger seat.
The Resolution, which was issued last month, comes into effect from January 1, 2026, and lays down regulations for traffic management and road use.