Dubai's RTA denies move to lower driving age to 16

Dubai’s transport authority on Monday denied a newspaper report that it is to begin issuing driving licences to 16-year-olds.

Following the media report, the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) put out a tweet saying it denied agreeing to the move to lower the age of consent for driving in the emirate.

In October, it was reported that a Dubai Police senior official had supported the idea of granting driving licences to 16-year-olds.

Major-General Mohammad Saif Al Zaffin, chairman of Federal Traffic Council and assistant commander-in-chief of for Operation Affairs for Dubai Police said 16-year-olds are more mature now than 10 years ago, he was quoted as saying in Arabic daily Emarat Al Youm.

He said the teenagers are capable of driving a vehicle in an appropriate manner, and there is no reason for not granting them the licence.