UAE | Traffic and Transport

Vehicles older than 20 years banned from 2009

Vehicles older than 20 years will be taken off UAE roads in phases from January 1, the Interior Ministry announced.

  • By Rayeesa AbsalStaff Reporter
  • Published: 00:08 June 20, 2008
  • Gulf News

  • Many cars will end up at junk yards like this one when new regulations come into effect banning old vehicles.
  • Image Credit: Gulf News Archive

Abu Dhabi: Vehicles older than 20 years will be taken off UAE roads in phases from January 1, the Interior Ministry announced.

The decision by the Ministerial Services Committee aims to ease traffic congestion and to curb motor vehicle pollution.

"It has been decided to ban old vehicles to improve the traffic situation and reduce pollution. This process will be completed in stages.

"From January 1, traffic departments across the emirates will stop registering or renewing licences on vehicles older than 20 years as of 1 December 2008," said Col Gaith Al Za'abi, head of the traffic department at the Ministry of Interior.

"As a next step, vehicles older than 15 years will not be registered and licences not renewed from January 1, 2010."

In a bid to reduce pollution, taxis older than five years will not be allowed. "Five years are a long time. Engines suffer damage due to the large distances taxis cover and end up harming the environment."

Ownership transfer of light vehicles older than ten years will not be permitted if they are to be used within the UAE.

"The import of light vehicles older than five years and heavy vehicles older than seven years will be banned," Al Za'abi noted.

Classic and antique cars are exempt from this rule, provided they pass all the necessary vehicle tests.

"With motor vehicle pollution being one of the major threats to air quality in any city, it is necessary to control vehicle emission levels," he said.

The maximum permitted ratio of emission of carbon monoxide and hydrocarbons will be cut to reduce the amount of pollutants emitted into the atmosphere.

The ratios of these pollutants will be reduced to suitable levels in accordance with global best practices. The screening of exhaust gases for oxides of nitrogen will also be introduced as a criterion during the testing of vehicles.

The maximum permitted ratio of carbon monoxide in vehicle exhaust will be reduced from 4.5 per cent to 3.5 per cent from January 1, 2009. This will be cut further to 2.5 per cent from January 2010.

The maximum permitted ratio of hydrocarbon emission in vehicle exhaust will be reduced from 800 to 500 parts per million (ppm) from January 1, 2009.

The rule comes in to effect on the January 1, 2009

Ban on:

- Cars older than 20 years (as of December 1, 2008)

- Import of cars older than 5 years

- Import of heavy vehicles older than 7 years

- Taxis older than 5 years

- Ownership transfer of light vehicles older than 10 years for use within the country

From January 1, 2010

- Ban on cars older than 15 years

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