ABU DHABI: In a significant move to improve road safety and traffic flow, Abu Dhabi has removed the 120kph minimum speed limit on Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Road (E311). The decision affects the key motorway connecting the capital to Dubai and was announced by Abu Dhabi Mobility on Monday.
The minimum speed rule, introduced in April 2023, applied only to the two leftmost lanes. Drivers were fined Dh400 if they drove slower than 120kph in those lanes. The rule aimed to prevent tailgating and reduce road risks caused by slow-moving vehicles blocking high-speed traffic. The third and last lanes, used by heavy vehicles, were never affected by the limit.
Abu Dhabi Mobility said removing the minimum speed would help support the safe movement of trucks and improve overall traffic flow. The road’s maximum speed limit of 140kph will remain unchanged.
When the rule was introduced, police said it was intended to keep slower drivers to the right and ensure that high-speed lanes stayed clear for overtaking. However, concerns about aggressive tailgating and sudden lane changes forced a re-evaluation.
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Road opened in 2016 and is vital in easing congestion between Dubai and Abu Dhabi. It’s a 62-kilometre, four-lane highway built at a cost of Dh2.1 billion. The road links several major zones, including Yas Island, Saadiyat Island, Abu Dhabi airport, and Al Ain Road.
This announcement comes just as Abu Dhabi also reduced speed limits on two other roads — the E11 has been cut from 160kph to 140kph, and the Abu Dhabi-Sweihan Road from 120kph to 100kph — all part of a wider effort to reduce road accidents.
