By Mohammed Rashad Hussain, Managing PartnerPublished 4 min read
What does UAE law say about child seats and the front seat?
The child seat law in the UAE comes down to two rules that matter for a family on holiday. Dubai Police have explained them, and the RTA published their explanation.
- Under four: the car must carry a protection seat for the child, matched to weight and height.
- Front seat: a child aged 10 or below, or shorter than 145 cm, may not sit in the front.
Both limits apply to the front seat. A child who is 10 but 140 cm tall stays in the back. So does a short adult-sized teenager.
The law in force is Federal Decree-Law No. 14 of 2024, which took effect on 29 March 2025. The UAE Government portal confirms the date. We did not find the newer regulations restating these thresholds, so the figures above come from the earlier published explanation. Ask the Ministry of Interior if it matters.
The Ministry’s wider advice, reported by Abu Dhabi Police, is to keep children in the rear and never to hold a child on your lap in the front.
What is the fine?
The RTA release quotes AED 400 for the front-seat offence. Other penalties can apply, and the 2024 law replaced older text. Check the current figure with the Ministry of Interior or your emirate’s police, not with a blog.
The practical point is the same everywhere: the driver is responsible. If a chauffeur car carries your family, the company must fit the right seat.
Do Dubai taxis provide child seats?
Do not count on it. Seat options have been offered by taxi and ride-hailing operators, but availability changes, and a taxi from the airport rank may have none.
At a busy terminal you have no time to check. Our taxi fare guide explains how the rank works. If your flight lands after midnight, the problem is bigger, because options are fewer. See late-night arrivals in Dubai.
Which seat does my child need?
Follow the seat’s own label, which gives a weight and height range. A general guide:
| Stage | Typical seat | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Baby | Infant seat, rear-facing | Fitted by belt or ISOFIX base |
| Toddler | Child seat with harness | Under four, so the law applies |
| Older child | Booster seat | Lifts the child so the adult belt sits across the chest |
| 145 cm and above | Adult belt | Still prefer the rear for a child |
Send each child’s age, weight and height, and the seat they use at home. We match it to the booking.
Booking a chauffeur with child seats: what to tell us
Send these with your flight number:
- The number of children and each child’s age.
- Weight and height if you know them.
- Whether you bring your own seat or need one supplied.
- The car you prefer, and the number of adults and bags.
The seat types and the number we can supply are confirmed with your quote. We do not promise a seat we have not confirmed. Our DXB airport transfer page and all airport transfers show how to start a booking. For common questions see our FAQ.
Your driver then waits in arrivals with a name board. Read the DXB terminals by airline to know which terminal you reach.
Travelling with a stroller and family luggage
A stroller takes boot space. Counting the bags first avoids a second car.
The Mercedes S-Class takes 2 bags and seats 3 in the rear. A family of four with children usually needs a van. The Mercedes V-Class seats 6 and takes 4 bags. The Kia Carnival, Citroen SpaceTourer and Hyundai Staria each seat 6, with room for 2 to 3 bags depending on the model. Larger groups can look at vans and group transport, or at a group arrival. See also the chauffeur car seat and luggage capacity guide.
Compare the family vans in Carnival, Staria and SpaceTourer, or choose with the best car for a family airport transfer.
Which chauffeur cars have ISOFIX, and how many seats fit?
We have not confirmed ISOFIX anchors or the number of child seats per row for every vehicle. Ask us to confirm both for the car on your date. Partner-network vehicles are available through our partner network, subject to availability. Browse the fleet first, then tell us the seat you plan to use.
Bring your own car seat or use ours?
Your own seat is familiar to the child, and you know its age. A supplied seat saves carrying it through the airport. If you bring yours, tell us the model and whether it fixes by ISOFIX or belt.
For a long stay, Dubai with kids covers days out, and the school run driver guide covers daily rides. For other airports see the UAE airports guide.
Photos in this guide
A convertible child car seat in grey and red, seen from the side, with its belt guides and baseNiklitov / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Dubai Taxi cars queuing at the rank outside Terminal 2 at Dubai InternationalRavi Dwivedi / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
A black long-wheelbase Mercedes-Benz V-Class with sliding side doorsAlexander Migl / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
