When must I apply for renewal?

At least 30 days before the permit expires (Article 3; implementing bylaw, Article 4).

Can the permit be issued for longer than a year?

The Agency may, on the establishment's application, extend the permit's validity up to 3 years, with the approval of the licensing authority and the concerned entity and payment of the fees for the whole period (Article 3; implementing bylaw, Article 5).

What if we keep operating after the permit expires?

Conducting the activity after the permit expires is a listed violation, fined for each month of delay. The RTA may also warn, suspend the activity for up to 6 months, or revoke the permit (Article 8 and Schedule 3).

AE · Expiry & renewal tracking

Renew your Dubai RTA transport activity permit on time

In Dubai, no establishment may run a listed transport or vehicle rental activity without a permit from the RTA Licensing Agency; the permit lasts one year, renewable, and renewal is requested at least 30 days before expiry (Executive Council Resolution No. (47) of 2017 as amended, Article 3). Late operation is fined.

In Dubai, transport and vehicle rental activities are regulated by Executive Council Resolution No. (47) of 2017, as amended by Executive Council Resolution No. (2) of 2022, which replaced its Articles 1, 3, 5, 8 and 10 and its schedules. No individual or entity may conduct a listed activity in the Emirate without first obtaining a permit from the Licensing Agency of the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA); government entities are exempt (Article 3). The resolution applies to establishments in the Emirate, including special development zones and free zones such as the Dubai International Financial Centre (Article 2).

The listed activities include, among others, goods transport by heavy and light trucks, refrigerated transport, transport of hazardous materials, logistic services, coordinating and providing delivery services, fleet management, and renting out cars, buses and trucks (Schedule 1).

A permit is valid for one year, renewable for the same period, and the renewal application must be submitted at least 30 days before the expiry date (Article 3). Renewal requires the same conditions as the first issue, and the Agency checks that the establishment has settled any financial liabilities to the RTA; it decides on a complete application within 15 working days (implementing bylaw, Administrative Resolution No. (571) of 2022, Article 4).

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At a glance

Legislation	Executive Council Resolution No. (47) of 2017, amended by Resolution No. (2) of 2022
Issued by	Licensing Agency of the RTA
Validity	1 year, renewable for the same period
Renewal application	At least 30 days before expiry
Longer validity	The Agency may extend a permit's validity up to 3 years on application
Renewal needs	Same conditions as the first issue; RTA dues settled
Decision	Within 15 working days of a complete application

Scope: Emirate of Dubai. Other emirates have their own rules. The Arabic text of the legislation prevails over the English translation.

Who is responsible?

The permit-holding establishment. It must, among other things, have the vehicles used in the activity inspected when their licences are issued or renewed at the centres the Agency sets, install the vehicle tracking system approved by the Security Industry Regulatory Agency, register on the RTA's systems, and not stop the activity without the Agency's approval (Article 5).

If the deadline passes

Schedule 3 lists a fine for conducting the activity after the permit has expired, charged for each month of delay. A repeated violation within one year doubles the fine. The RTA may also issue a written warning, suspend the activity for up to 6 months, or revoke the permit (Article 8 and Schedule 3).

First-issue conditions also apply at renewal

To get a permit, the applicant must hold a commercial licence or an initial approval from the licensing authority, show the authorisation of any other concerned entity where required, and meet the Agency's requirements for the activity, including, where required, office space, vehicles and parking that meet the published standards. The same conditions apply when renewing (implementing bylaw, Articles 2 and 4).

Tracking it with ExpirySuite

Add each RTA permit with its expiry date.
Track the commercial licence and each vehicle's registration as separate documents, because the permit and the vehicles depend on them.
Reminders arrive 60, 30, 14, 7 and 1 day before the due date and on the due date itself.
The 30-day reminder is the last point to submit the renewal application in time.
Assign a responsible person for each permit so the right person gets the reminder.
If a date passes, managers get overdue reminders 3, 7 and 14 days later.
Emails arrive in each recipient's language, Arabic included.

Frequently asked questions

How long is an RTA transport activity permit valid?: One year, renewable for the same period (Executive Council Resolution No. (47) of 2017 as amended by Resolution No. (2) of 2022, Article 3).
When must I apply for renewal?: At least 30 days before the permit expires (Article 3; implementing bylaw, Article 4).
Can the permit be issued for longer than a year?: The Agency may, on the establishment's application, extend the permit's validity up to 3 years, with the approval of the licensing authority and the concerned entity and payment of the fees for the whole period (Article 3; implementing bylaw, Article 5).
What if we keep operating after the permit expires?: Conducting the activity after the permit expires is a listed violation, fined for each month of delay. The RTA may also warn, suspend the activity for up to 6 months, or revoke the permit (Article 8 and Schedule 3).

Sources

Last checked: Sep 30, 2026 · This page summarises official sources for general information and is not legal advice. Check the linked sources for current rules and fees.

Made for transport activity permit (Dubai RTA) (UAE)

A ready template for transport activity permit (Dubai RTA) (UAE) with sensible validity defaults, so you enter less and track more.

Reminders on time

Email alerts at 60, 30, 14, 7 and 1 day before each transport activity permit (Dubai RTA) (UAE) expires, plus overdue escalation to managers.

Assign an owner

Give each transport activity permit (Dubai RTA) (UAE) an owner and let employees update their own via a secure link — no login needed.