The RTA — Roads and Transport Authority — is the Dubai government body responsible for almost everything that moves in the emirate. Established in November 2005 by Law No. 17 of 2005, it plans, builds and operates:
- roads, bridges and tunnels across Dubai;
- driver licensing and vehicle registration (the Mulkiya);
- the Dubai Metro (opened 2009; a third line, the Blue Line, is due in 2029), the Dubai Tram and the public bus network, including intercity routes;
- marine transport — abras, water buses and ferries;
- regulation of taxis and ride-hailing.
Several household names started inside the RTA and were spun off as listed companies: Salik, the toll operator, listed on the Dubai Financial Market in September 2022; Dubai Taxi Company followed in December 2023; and Parkin, which runs public parking, in March 2024. The RTA remains the policy-maker and regulator behind all three.
For drivers, the RTA is unavoidable: it issues and renews driving licences, renews vehicle registration, collects traffic fines and sells Nol transit cards. Most services run through the RTA Dubai app or rta.ae, with smart kiosks and customer happiness centres covering the rest.
