Major e-scooter accidents surged 97% across the UAE in 2025, outpacing every other vehicle category by a disturbing margin.
The figure emerged from Ministry of Interior data analysed by RoadSafetyUAE, revealing a crisis that residents already sensed but couldn’t quantify. Whilst overall traffic accidents climbed 23% year-on-year—alarming in itself—the micro-mobility segment jumped 45%. E-scooters led that grim charge, nearly doubling their major accident count in twelve months.
Now a study of 1,010 UAE residents explains why.
Commissioned by Al Wathba Insurance and RoadSafetyUAE, the research conducted in January 2026 exposed a transportation paradox: 60% of respondents acknowledged e-scooters meet a genuine need, yet 93% regularly witness riders behaving recklessly. Nine in ten residents admitted feeling personally unsafe because of how e-scooter riders navigate traffic.
The findings paint a picture of widespread rule-breaking. Some 90% of those surveyed observe riders without helmets. A similar proportion—89%—routinely see e-scooters in prohibited areas, from pavements to lanes with oncoming traffic. Eighty-eight per cent reported spotting riders who appeared younger than the legal minimum age of 16.
“The 2025 UAE major traffic accidents statistics for the micro mobility segment, and in particular for the e-scooter segment paint a picture that calls for urgent action,” noted Thomas Edelmann, Founder and Managing Director of RoadSafetyUAE. “According to the recently published ‘Open Data’ of the UAE Ministry of Interior (MOI) which RoadSafetyUAE analyzed and interpreted, the micro mobility segment (e-scooters, motorbikes, bicycle, electric bike) suffered +45% more major accidents in 2025 vs 2024, and the e-scooter segment stands out with an increase of +97% in major accidents, with both segment trending way above the already high increase of +23% for all vehicle classes. Anecdotal evidence about the various forms of e-scooter misbehavior and reckless riding is pretty much part of UAE’s everyday discussions among residents and a topic which is featured regularly in the UAE media. We want to elevate the level of discussion with figures and facts derived from a research project.”
The data gets darker after sunset. Eighty-one per cent of respondents see e-scooter riders operating without lights at night, transforming the devices into nearly invisible hazards on busy roads.
Yet enforcement appears patchy at best. Only 70% of residents reported witnessing traffic officers checking or enforcing e-scooter regulations—a figure that suggests significant gaps in oversight.
Muralikrishnan Raman, Chief Financial Officer at Al Wathba Insurance, acknowledged the tension between utility and safety. “There is the undeniable need for micro mobility and in particular for the segment of e-scooters, as 60% of UAE residents state the same. At the same time, we see very high numbers for the perceived reckless riding dimensions. Our responsibility is to protect our customers. We want to help researching and sharing important data points with regards to road safety and in this instance about the situation with regards to e-scooter safety. Hence, we are proud to have once again teamed up with our Corporate Social Responsibility partner RoadSafetyUAE to develop and commission this important study.”
The study, conducted by international research house TGM, revealed that 27% of UAE residents personally ride e-scooters. More troubling: 26% have family members under 16 who use them, despite the legal age restriction.
Infrastructure emerged as a critical concern. Eighty-eight per cent of respondents called for more dedicated e-scooter lanes and crossings, suggesting the current road environment forces riders into dangerous improvisations.
Edelmann argued that responsibility extends beyond government enforcement. “Various initiatives have been undertaken by the public stakeholders which is commendable and highly needed. The data of this study recommend that more needs to be done to educate e-scooter riders about the current rules, and about the basics of polite and caring riding. This will yield in less accidents for e-scooter riders and their opponents, as well as a smoother joint traffic experience. This requires, besides the public stakeholders, other stakeholders like schools, residential developments, parents, responsible employers and others to embrace their responsibility and to engage with riders within their reach. More needs to be done also with regards to further expanding e-scooter friendly infrastructure, as 88% think there should be more of it.”
The announcement came from Dubai on 11th June 2026, months after the fieldwork wrapped. By then, the 2025 accident statistics had become impossible to ignore.
Al Wathba Insurance, established in 1996, has built its three-decade presence in the UAE on what it terms a “people-first approach.” The insurer holds a BBB- rating with a positive outlook from S&P Global Ratings and has earned the Sheikh Khalifa Excellence Award. Its product range spans motor, health, home, travel, cyber, and general insurance.
RoadSafetyUAE operates as an advocacy platform connecting public entities, media, corporate partners, and individual road users. Its content library covers more than 60 road safety topics tailored to UAE conditions, from proper lane discipline to seasonal hazards.
The study’s findings arrive as cities globally grapple with e-scooter regulation. Paris banned rental e-scooters outright in 2023 following a referendum. London restricts them to sanctioned trial zones. Singapore mandates registration and theory tests.
Whether the UAE will pursue stricter licensing, expanded infrastructure, or intensified enforcement remains unclear. What the data makes plain: the current approach isn’t containing the problem.
For now, the 97% accident spike stands as a stark warning. The devices residents acknowledge as useful have become, in practice, a rapidly escalating safety crisis that nine in ten say makes them feel unsafe on their own streets.
