The UAE sets speed limits road by road, based on engineering reports from each emirate — which is why the same kind of road can carry a different number in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. As a rule of thumb, residential streets are posted at 40–60 km/h, city roads at 60–80 km/h, main urban roads at 80–100 km/h and highways at 100–140 km/h.
Dubai’s main roads
| Road | Posted limit | Radar set to |
|---|---|---|
| Sheikh Zayed Road (E11) | 100–120 | 121–141 |
| Emirates Road (E611) | 110 | 131 |
| Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road (E311) | 110 | 131 |
| Al Khail Road (E44) | 100 | 121 |
| Dubai–Al Ain Road (E66) | 100–120 | 121–141 |
| Hatta Road | 80–100 | 101–121 |
| Al Wasl Road | 70 | 91 |
| Jumeirah Road | 70 | 91 |
Abu Dhabi: lower limits on several highways
Abu Dhabi has been lowering limits for road safety. In 2025 the E11 between Industrial City and Medical City went from 160 to 140 km/h and the E20 Sweihan Road from 120 to 100 km/h. In 2026 three more sections followed on 9 February, and a 6 km stretch of the E311 dropped from 120 to 100 km/h on 14 September.
- 14 Sep 2026E311, Tawi Al Qaymah St – Al Khayr St (6 km), Abu Dhabi
- 9 Feb 2026E22 Abu Dhabi–Al Ain Road, Al Nahda – Bani Yas
- 9 Feb 2026Bani Yas Interchange – Bridges area, Abu Dhabi
- 9 Feb 2026E30 Al Rawdah Road, Abu Dhabi
- 2025E11, Industrial City – Medical City, Abu Dhabi
- 2025E20 Sweihan Road, Abu Dhabi
Limits that move
- Fog: Abu Dhabi cuts limits on major roads to 80 km/h in poor visibility; the radars follow automatically.
- Variable limits: Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Street in Abu Dhabi has limits that change with traffic and weather.
- Minimum speeds: only where a sign sets one — Abu Dhabi removed the 120 km/h minimum on the E311 in 2025.
The number on the sign is the law
Much of what is written about UAE limits is about the “radar speed” — the speed at which a camera is set to record. That number is not the law, and it is not the same in every emirate. Read the 20 km/h buffer explained.
