• The UAE is attracting a wide range of local and international companies in the scooter and bicycle mobility sector.
• Careem achieves widespread success and is acquired by Uber for $3.1 billion.
• "Arnab" UAE is the first small transport company to integrate multimodal transport systems and targets the UAE and the Middle East and North Africa region.
• Phoenix Global launches the first electric scooter subscription service in the region, "My Phoenix," from the UAE.
• Tier, operating in the UAE, is one of the world's leading companies in using swappable battery technology through a local team.
• Abu Dhabi plans to expand its cycling network to more than 3,000 km by 2026
• Dubai launches a world-leading smart system for assessing the condition of bicycle and electric scooter paths.

United Arab Emirates, Abu Dhabi : The UAE has established a leading, modern, and integrated transportation system, enhanced by world-class infrastructure, a wide network of roads, bridges, metro and tram networks. It has also been keen to support this by introducing smart individual mobility systems via electric scooters and bicycles, so that they complement the civilized appearance of transportation in the country, and enable members of society to reach their destinations quickly and economically, as they are an effective, easy and environmentally friendly means of transportation for short daily commutes for work and leisure, and connect public transport bus stops with commercial, marketing, service, residential and entertainment centers. Electric bicycles can be operated through smart applications of the operating companies, as each bicycle has its own QR code.

In line with these objectives, the UAE opened the doors for startups to invest in this modern transportation system after preparing the necessary infrastructure and setting laws and requirements to ensure its safe use. Companies competed to offer their services in this field, benefiting from the fertile and ideal business environment in the UAE, which embraces local and global startups and encourages the growth of innovative investments and the development of entrepreneurship.

The “World’s Most Beautiful Winter” campaign, under the slogan “Our Winter is Leadership,” highlights innovative tourism projects and the significant support that startups receive, which enhances their performance, contributes to their success, strengthens their local presence, and supports their regional and global expansion .

wide spectrum

Smart transportation methods, including scooters and bicycles, have gained widespread popularity among various segments of society, prompting local and international startups operating in this sector to expand their services and cover various areas of the country to meet the needs of the public. Among these are Careem, Uber, Teer , Lime , Phoenix, Skurrt , Arnab , and many other startups.

These methods are characterized by their ease of access and use by downloading the service applications on the smartphone, which are specific to each service provider, to find the nearest scooter, and to scan the barcode to start and enjoy a safe ride, by following safety guidelines and traffic laws.

Many of these companies have achieved local and global successes after launching in the UAE, or entering the UAE market to expand regionally from there. One of the most prominent examples is Careem, a company founded in Dubai in 2012, which specialized in providing delivery services through its website and smartphone applications. Its successes continued for a few years until it was officially announced in 2019 that Uber had acquired it for $3.1 billion. Careem is one of the most prominent success stories of companies in the Middle East, and a testament to Dubai’s status as a global center for innovation and entrepreneurship, which provided the ideal investment environment and opened the door wide for innovators from all over the world.

Another success story is Arnab , a UAE-based startup and the first micro-mode transportation company in the UAE to integrate multimodal transport systems, targeting the UAE and the MENA region. Its operations align with the vision of smart cities, aiming to create a thriving environment and achieve better connectivity by providing affordable, environmentally friendly, and easily accessible transportation. Arnab Mobility is an on-demand electric vehicle sharing platform (e-scooters, e-bikes). This unique digital and physical platform combines innovative global transportation solutions in the MENA region to connect people and places in smarter and more sustainable ways, allowing customers to travel to their destinations using scooters and pay seamlessly via their smartphones.

In addition, Phoenix launched its shared electric bike rental service in the UAE in late 2021. The electric bikes join a growing range of mobility offerings from Phoenix, including shared electric scooters and the region’s first electric scooter subscription service, My Phoenix.

While Tier is one of the world's first companies to use swappable battery technology, which puts the company at the forefront of sustainable companies, there is no longer a need to transport scooters to warehouses daily to have their batteries charged. Instead, the batteries can be replaced on-site by a local team.

Remarkable turnout

Abu Dhabi began granting licenses to operate scooter rental businesses through smart applications starting in 2019, and intensified public awareness campaigns on the safe use of bicycles and electric scooters, calling on bicycle and scooter users to adhere to safety requirements and instructions on signs while using these vehicles.

In 2023, the number of areas in Abu Dhabi where driving and renting scooters was permitted reached eight areas, namely Reem Island, Masdar City, Yas Island, the Corniche and Khalifa City, and the areas within Abu Dhabi Island along Hamdan Street, Al Falah Street, Shakhbout Street and Al Raha Beach area.

Abu Dhabi also encourages the use of bicycles and plans to increase its network of tracks to more than 3,000 km by 2026.

In Dubai, the electric scooter project was launched on a trial basis in 2020, and in 2022, the first phase of electric scooter operation commenced in 10 areas of Dubai on designated bicycle paths. The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) in Dubai launched an online platform on its website allowing the public to obtain free permits enabling them to use this flexible mode of transportation in the areas and streets designated by the RTA for scooter use. RTA statistics showed that the number of shared electric scooter trips more than doubled in 2022 to over one million, compared to approximately 500,000 trips in 2021, with no fatalities or serious injuries recorded. The RTA provided high-quality, safety-standard electric scooter lanes connecting key attractions and popular public locations.

In 2025, Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) launched a pioneering global initiative: a smart assessment system for the condition of bicycle and electric scooter lanes and their associated infrastructure, utilizing cutting-edge smart technologies. This initiative reflects the RTA’s commitment to leveraging innovation and advanced technology to analyze the road network and achieve the highest levels of maintenance efficiency, thereby enhancing traffic safety and improving the user experience of flexible transportation options.

Bicycles have become one of the most important means of individual transportation in Dubai, attracting residents and visitors alike, and their network of routes enhances the emirate's tourism and economic standing.

Bicycles have also become one of the most important means of individual transportation in Dubai, attracting many of the emirate’s residents and visitors. The network of its routes enhances the emirate’s tourism and economic standing by passing through major tourist and commercial attractions and connecting them to various public transport stations used by visitors and tourists.

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