Article updated 22-Nov-2025
AS OF 1-JULY-2017, it is the law to buckle up in the UAE – EVERYBODY in the vehicle, including children! …“Each person in the vehicle must wear a seat belt – one person-one seat belt…”. Children up to the age of 4 years must also be carried in suitable child seats.
A study of Abu Dhabi Police in October 2017 showed, that 60% (!) of traffic fatalities were due to non-wearing of seat belts! Ref.: https://gulfnews.com/news/uae/government/60-road-deaths-in-abu-dhabi-due-to-not-wearing-seatbelts-1.2115314. To date (Nov 2025), no new data have been released by the authorities and we are constantly trying to invite them to publish new and fresh data. Ideally, in a format similar to the GREAT UK FORMAT!
Seat belts remain the single most effective device to prevent us from death or injury in case of an accident!
Studies show, that seat belts reduce fatalities in vehicle accidents between 45% and 60%, depending on the type of the car and the type of impact. For kids, this value increases to up to 80%!
The risk of death for rear seat car occupants who wear a seat belt reduces by 60%. Wearing seat belts in the back also reduces the risk of dying in the front seat, since during a car crash the risk increases five-fold for the front passengers, if passengers in the back refuse to wear seat-belts.
From whatever angle you look at it: there is simply NO excuse not to wear a seat belt!
UAE Statistics (RoadSafetyUAE and QIC Insured commissioned an YouGov on-line study in February 2017; n=1,013 UAE representative sample), and again in November 2018 (16 months after the implementation of the holistic seat belt law) (n=1,008 rep. sample):
Comparing the seat belt usage trends ‘Before’ (survey of Feb. 2017) and ‘After’ (survey of Sept. 2018) the introduction of the new seat belt law, we noticed overall improved trends, however, all these values should be at 100% and in line with the LAW!
|
‘Before’ |
‘After’ |
Trend |
|
| Drivers ‘always’ using the seat belt |
69% |
72% |
+3%pt. |
| Front-Seat passengers ‘always’ using the seat belt |
71% |
73% |
+2%pt. |
| Adult passengers in the backseat ‘always’ wearing the seat belt |
11% |
27% |
+16%pt. |
Also, the role of the ‘responsible driver’ is improving:
|
‘Before’ |
‘After’ |
Trend |
|
| Drivers ‘always’ asking passengers to wear seat belts |
49% |
56% |
+7%pt. |
| Do you have proper child seats/boosters? |
66% |
76% |
+10%pt. |
| Do you ‘always’ ask your children to actually use the child seats/boosters? |
70% |
75% |
+5%pt. |
.
Education efforts must aim at addressing the main reasons for non-usage, as these reasons have not changed much in between the 2 survey dates:
How to do it right!
- Make it a routine and habit to ALWAYS fasten your seat belt
- No belt – No start!
- Before you start your car, EVERYBODY must wear seat belts!
- Make sure children are buckled up
- Use appropriate child seats or child booster cushions
- Even on the shortest of trips, all passengers must buckle up
- Use seat belts also when you and/or your children travel on the back seat (for instance in taxis)
Watch out for this
- Never allow your kids not to be buckled up, under any circumstances!
- Kids get used to the ‘uncomfortable’ feeling and soon they will understand that it can save their life and health.
- Kids should NEVER roam around in the car
- Kids should NEVER sit on the laps of other passengers
- Kids below the age of 10 are not allowed to travel in the front seat, regardless of wearing a seat belt.
- Be aware, that Air Bags do not replace seat belts!
Important links:
- https://www.thenational.ae/uae/no-leniency-for-drivers-shunning-uae-seatbelt-law-1.1438
- http://www.roadsafetyuae.com/child-seats/
5 Reasons to wear Seat Belts:
