RTA upgrades Mahboub assistant to handle linked vehicle services in one chat
By Dubai Week Desk GST 2 min read
Dubai's RTA has upgraded its Mahboub virtual assistant with Agentic AI to run multi-step vehicle licensing tasks in a single conversation, with no rollout date yet.
Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has upgraded Mahboub, its virtual assistant, with Agentic AI so that linked services can be completed in one conversation, according to WAM (Emirates News Agency). The enhanced version is being prepared for public rollout under RTA’s Artificial Intelligence Strategy 2030. No rollout date has been given.
The first services covered are vehicle licensing ones. For drivers, the practical change is that a task such as paying fines and then renewing registration can be handled in one chat rather than across several pages.
What Mahboub will do
Depending on the request, the system activates specialised Agentic AI to coordinate and carry out the required steps. The example given is paying vehicle fines and then renewing vehicle registration. Identity is verified with the UAE PASS digital identity, and payment goes through the Dubai Sadad platform, all inside the same conversation.
The initial scope is four services:
- vehicle registration renewal
- vehicle fines payment
- issuing a clearance certificate
- renewal of number plate reservations
Mahboub supports Arabic and English. RTA says the language models have been fine-tuned to suit the local context. The stated aims are to reduce switching between pages and channels, cut the number of steps in a transaction, and reduce the time and effort needed to reach services. RTA says development follows its governance and cybersecurity procedures.
What it means for vehicle owners
Mahboub is already listed as a way to apply for vehicle ownership renewal on the RTA service page. It runs on the RTA website and in the RTA Smart Apps, and the service time is listed as instant. The rules behind the renewal are not changed by the upgrade, as far as the announcement states:
- Renewed ownership is valid for 1 year.
- RTA checks that vehicle insurance and technical inspection are valid at renewal.
- Renewal is possible up to 150 days before expiry.
- Under the Federal Traffic Law, registration is valid for a maximum of 12 months, followed by a 30-day grace period. Insurance must be valid for at least 6 months, including that period.
- Late renewal brings late fees based on vehicle category and length of delay.
- If expired registration is not renewed within 2 months of expiry, the Traffic File is blocked and the owner is notified by SMS.
The service page also tells owners to pay all traffic fines, which is the step the upgraded assistant is designed to link with renewal.
Fees and delivery
The service page lists a knowledge and innovation fee of AED 20 for the renewal. Delivery of the certificate is optional and carries extra charges.
| Delivery option | Fee |
|---|---|
| Standard delivery | AED 20 |
| Same day delivery | AED 35 |
| Delivery within 2 hours | AED 50 |
| International delivery (GCC countries) | AED 50 |
Certificates can also arrive by SMS or email, be printed at a self-service machine, or be added to Apple Wallet through the RTA Dubai App. Owners who need to check details can call the RTA Call Centre on 800 90 90. The service page was last updated on 14 October 2026.
Brand new vehicles bought from an authorised dealership with a valid Customs Certificate can be renewed annually for the first 3 years without a technical inspection, if renewal is made one day before registration expires. Any change of ownership still requires an inspection.
