Child car seat rules in the UAE: a guide for families

You land in Dubai after a long flight with a tired child and several suitcases. The last thing you want is a ride with no child seat. This guide explains the rules in the UAE, what taxis offer, and how to make sure the right seat is in the car before it arrives.

What the UAE rules say

• Children up to four years old must travel in a child safety seat.
• Children under 10, or shorter than 145 cm, must not sit in the front seat.
• Everyone in the car must wear a seat belt, including passengers in the back.

The driver is responsible, and the fine is AED 400 for each offence. These are the rules as announced by UAE police and reported by local media. Traffic rules change from time to time, so check the official RTA or police websites if you need the exact wording.

Do taxis in Dubai have child seats?

Usually not. A taxi from the airport rank or the street does not carry a child seat, and you cannot be sure of getting one on request. Many visiting parents hold the child on their lap for the journey. It is common, but it is not safe: in a crash, an adult cannot hold a child.

There are three reliable options:

1. Bring your own seat. Most airlines carry one child seat free of charge.
2. Use a ride-hailing service that offers cars with a child seat, where available. Check the age range of the seat.
3. Pre-book a transfer and choose the seats when you book.

Which seat for which age?

Seat	Age	How it works
Infant seat	Up to 1 year	Faces the rear, with a harness
Child seat	1 to 4 years	Faces forward, with a harness
Booster	4 to 10 years	Lifts the child so the seat belt fits

Age is a guide. If your child is small or tall for their age, choose by size and tell us in the booking notes.

How to book child seats with Shuttlix

Child seats are free. On the checkout page, choose how many infant seats, child seats and boosters you need: up to three in one vehicle. The seats are fitted before the driver leaves for the airport, so you do not wait at the kerb.

Each child seat takes one full passenger place. Count every child as a passenger, and check the vehicle size on our fleet page. Two adults and two children with four suitcases need a minivan.

Tips for arriving with children

• Count the stroller. A folded stroller takes the space of one large suitcase. Our guide to how many suitcases fit has the numbers for each vehicle.
• Do not worry about a late flight. The driver follows your flight, and waiting time at the airport is included in the price.
• Ask for a meeting inside the terminal. With a meet and greet, the driver waits in the arrivals hall with a name sign and helps with the bags.
• Put the youngest child in the back. No child under 10 may sit in the front, so in a sedan the third adult sits beside the driver.
• Book both journeys. The return to the airport needs the same seats. Add a return trip when you book.

Ready to book?

Start on our Dubai Airport transfers page, or see the fixed prices for every airport on the price list. If this is your first visit, our list of 15 things to know before you land covers the rest.