Federal Decree-Law No. (12) of 2023
Concerning the Regulation of Weights and Dimensions of Heavy Vehicles
We, Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan
President of the United Arab Emirates,
- Having reviewed the Constitution,
- And Federal Law No. (1) of 1972 concerning the competencies of ministries and the powers of ministers, and its amendments,
- And Federal Law No. (8) of 1986 concerning the determination of the axle load of vehicles using the paved roads in the State,
- And based on the proposal of the Minister of Energy and Infrastructure, and the approval of the Cabinet,
Have issued the following Decree-Law:
Article (1)
Definitions
For the purposes of this Decree-Law, the following words and phrases shall have the meanings assigned to each of them, unless the context otherwise requires:
| State |
: |
The United Arab Emirates. |
| Ministry |
: |
The Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure. |
| Competent Authority |
: |
The federal or local authority competent to issue vehicle licenses, manage the road network and its components such as bridges and tunnels, or manage traffic and circulation. |
| Authorised Person |
: |
A member of the police force or a judicial enforcement officer concerned with enforcing monitoring procedures, issuing violations, and related corrective and preventive actions. |
| Road |
: |
Any path open to the traffic of heavy vehicles, including paved and unpaved roads, public squares, bridges, tunnels, intersections, central reservations, public parking lots, and sidewalks. |
| Heavy Vehicle |
: |
Any means of land transport intended for the transport of goods with an unladen weight exceeding (2.5) two and a half tons, not including means of transport designed to run on railway lines. |
| Owner |
: |
The natural or legal person who owns the heavy vehicle. |
| Operator |
: |
The natural or legal person responsible for operating the heavy vehicle, whether as the owner or lessee of the vehicle. |
| Driver |
: |
The natural person who drives the heavy vehicle. |
| Load |
: |
Goods, commodities, or cargoes of various descriptions and types. |
| Axle Weight |
: |
The weight of the vehicle supported by a single truck axle or a tandem axle group. |
| Unladen Weight of the Heavy Vehicle |
: |
The weight of the vehicle on all its axles when empty of any load, including the weight of its driver, coolants, oils it contains, the spare wheel, and the repair kit. |
| Gross Weight of the Heavy Vehicle |
: |
The weight of the vehicle on all its axles including the weight of the load. |
| Maximum Gross Weight of the Heavy Vehicle |
: |
The maximum permissible weight for the heavy vehicle when loaded, based on the approved design from the manufacturer or modifier. |
| Maximum Dimensions of the Heavy Vehicle |
: |
The maximum limits for length, width, and height specified by a Cabinet decision. |
Article (2)
Objectives of the Decree-Law
This Decree-Law aims to achieve the following:
- Protect and sustain the infrastructure of the State's road network.
- Enhance traffic safety on roads by reducing excess loads and the material and human losses they can cause.
- Provide a fair and sustainable competitive environment in the transport market.
Article (3)
Scope of Application
The provisions of this Decree-Law shall apply to all heavy vehicles using the roads in the State, including heavy vehicles licensed in any foreign country and permitted to enter the State in accordance with the regulations specified by the legislation in force in this regard, with the exception of heavy vehicles owned by security, military, and police authorities, and civil defence vehicles, which are exempt from the application of the provisions of this Decree-Law.
Article (4)
Weights and Dimensions of Heavy Vehicles
-
A decision shall be issued by the Cabinet, upon the proposal of the Ministry and after coordination with the Competent Authority, regarding the following:
- a. Tables of maximum gross and axle weights.
- b. Tables of maximum permissible dimensions.
- A heavy vehicle may not exceed the maximum gross weight, except in cases of loads that are not easily divisible in accordance with the aforementioned weights or dimensions, for which a permit is issued by the Ministry or the Competent Authority according to the regulations specified by the Cabinet decision.
Article (5)
Obligations of the Heavy Vehicle Operator
The Operator shall comply with the following:
- Not to exceed the maximum gross and axle weights and dimensions specified by the Cabinet decision.
- To ensure proper distribution and securing of the load on the heavy vehicle.
- To establish effective administrative, training, and operational procedures to ensure that the specified maximum gross and axle weights and dimensions are not exceeded, and to ensure the proper distribution and securing of loads on the vehicle.
- To affix a plate in a suitable location on the heavy vehicle showing details of the unladen weight and gross weight of the heavy vehicle, and the Ministry or the Competent Authority may issue instructions regarding the determination of the locations for affixing the plate.
- To implement the instructions and guidance issued by the Authorised Person in accordance with the provisions of this Decree-Law and the legislation in force.
- Any other obligations imposed by the Ministry or the Competent Authority under the legislation in force.
Article (6)
Powers of the Authorised Person
- If a heavy vehicle exceeds the permissible weight limits, the Authorised Person shall record the violation and issue a report thereof.
-
The Authorised Person may direct the driver of the heavy vehicle to take any of the following measures if it is determined that the vehicle exceeding the permissible weight limits poses a danger to the road or its users, or that the load will increase if the heavy vehicle is used on the road:
- a. Stopping or impounding the heavy vehicle and preventing it from using the road until the weight is reduced to the permissible limit.
- b. Moving the heavy vehicle to another location designated by the Authorised Person.
- c. Reducing or redistributing the load to eliminate the excess before resuming its journey.
- d. Modifying its route and taking another road.
Article (7)
Regulation of Violations and Administrative Penalties
A decision shall be issued by the Cabinet, upon the proposal of the Ministry and after coordination with the Competent Authority, on a regulation of violations and administrative penalties for acts committed in contravention of the provisions of this Decree-Law and the decisions issued in its implementation, the authorities that will impose these penalties, the mechanism for appealing them, and the authority responsible for collecting the administrative fines.
Article (8)
Judicial Enforcement Officers
The employees of the Competent Authority who are designated by a decision from the Minister of Justice or the head of the local judicial authority - as the case may be - in agreement with the head of the Competent Authority, shall have the capacity of judicial enforcement officers in proving acts committed in contravention of the provisions of this Decree-Law and the decisions issued in its implementation, within the scope of their respective jurisdictions.
Article (9)
Regularisation of Status
Every owner of a heavy vehicle must regularise the status of the vehicle in accordance with the provisions of this Decree-Law and the decisions issued in its implementation within (4) four months from the date of its entry into force.
Article (10)
Implementation of the Decree-Law Provisions
The Competent Authority shall be responsible for implementing the provisions of this Decree-Law and the decisions issued in its implementation on the roads under its responsibility and management.
Article (11)
Repeals
- Federal Law No. (8) of 1986 concerning the determination of the axle load of vehicles using the paved roads in the State is hereby repealed.
- Any provision that violates or contradicts the provisions of this Decree-Law is hereby repealed.
- Decisions issued before the entry into force of this Decree-Law shall continue to be in effect, provided they do not conflict with its provisions, until they are replaced by new ones in accordance with the provisions of this Decree-Law.
Article (12)
Publication and Entry into Force of the Decree-Law
This Decree-Law shall be published in the Official Gazette and shall enter into force from the first of October 2023.
Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan
President of the United Arab Emirates
Issued by us at the Presidential Palace - Abu Dhabi:
Date: 18 / Safar / 1445 H
Corresponding to: 4 / September / 2023 AD