Abu Dhabi has officially announced the removal of the minimum speed limit of 120 km/h on Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Road (E311), a decision aimed at improving traffic safety and easing the movement of heavy trucks.
The change, confirmed by Abu Dhabi Mobility on Monday, follows months of public feedback and discussions on the impact of the rule on motorists.
Introduced in April 2023, the 120 km/h minimum speed limit was initially enforced on the first and second lanes of the highway, with the maximum speed limit set at 140 km/h.
The minimum speed rule was part of an effort to keep traffic moving efficiently on one of Abu Dhabi’s busiest roads, particularly for commuters and commercial vehicles.
However, the policy was met with frustration from drivers who found it challenging to comply with the speed requirement, especially in heavy traffic conditions.
Under the previous regulations, motorists who drove below the minimum speed were fined Dh400 for “driving a vehicle below the designated minimum speed for the road.”
The enforcement applied to the first two lanes, while the third and last lanes, typically used by heavy trucks, were exempt from the rule.
Several residents voiced their dissatisfaction with the minimum speed rule, citing instances where they were penalized despite the circumstances not being conducive to reaching the required speed.
One such driver, Abu Dhabi resident G Sahany, shared his experience of being fined despite being caught behind a military convoy that had slowed down traffic.
“I was aware of the minimum speed rule, but there was a military convoy ahead that had slowed down the traffic,” he said. “I received a fine for no fault of mine, and even after raising the issue with Abu Dhabi Police, it wasn’t revoked. I’m glad they are scrapping this rule.”
Another motorist, AP, expressed his surprise at being fined when the road was busy and traffic was moving at a slow pace. “The road was extremely busy, and all the vehicles in front of me were moving slowly — it wasn’t possible to drive over 120 km/h,” said the 43-year-old expat.
“I understand the logic behind the 120 km/h minimum speed, especially to prevent drivers from being distracted or clogging traffic. But penalizing motorists when it was physically impossible to go faster was unfair. I am relieved they have rolled back the law.”
M Mac, a regular user of Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Road, echoed similar concerns. “I kept getting fines for ‘driving below the speed limit,’ which left me very confused. I didn’t realize why I was being fined until I read about the minimum speed rule online.”
The removal of the minimum speed limit is part of a broader initiative by Abu Dhabi Mobility to improve road safety and ease traffic flow across major highways.
This change follows recent adjustments in speed limits on other major roads, including the Abu Dhabi-Sweihan Road (E20) and Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed International Road (E11), where speed limits were reduced in an effort to reduce accidents and improve overall driving conditions.
The move to lift the minimum speed limit has been welcomed by many drivers who believe it will ease congestion and prevent unnecessary penalties.
However, authorities emphasize that the maximum speed limit of 140 km/h remains in place, and drivers are still expected to maintain safe and responsible speeds in accordance with traffic conditions.