Delivered By: Major Fahed Balalaa, Deputy Police Advisor
Madam President,
The UAE welcomes the adoption of the Progress Declaration and reaffirms its commitment to the Decade of Action for Road Safety and to halving road traffic fatalities and serious injuries by 2030. We particularly welcome its focus on governance, financing, implementation and accountability.
Globally, each year, road crashes claim nearly 1.2 million lives and remain the leading cause of death among those aged 5 to 29. Road safety is therefore not only a transport issue, but also a public safety, public health and sustainable development priority.
Road safety has been a UAE national priority for over two decades. Between 2007 and 2025, road crashes declined by 32% and fatalities by 65%. Fatalities per 100,000 inhabitants fell by 88%, from 20.2 to 2.1. These results reflect sustained political leadership, institutional coordination, investment and partnership.
Our experience offers several lessons. First, integrated coordination among police, municipalities, transport authorities and infrastructure agencies is indispensable. The UAE Federal Traffic Council supports national monitoring, knowledge exchange and coordinated implementation across the Emirates.
Second, effective legislation and enforcement must evolve. Major reforms in 2007, 2017 and 2025 strengthened sanctions against high-risk behaviour, introduced the black-points system, and updated penalties for seatbelt, mobile-phone and lane-change violations. Smart cameras and intelligent monitoring have reinforced compliance.
Third, real-time analytics and AI have enabled police authorities to adopt proactive, risk-based interventions before crashes occur. Driver rehabilitation programmes are also tailored to individual behaviour and risk profiles, extending enforcement beyond penalties.
Fourth, infrastructure must prioritize high-risk locations and vulnerable road users. In Abu Dhabi and Dubai alone, more than 43 high-risk locations were treated, and 79 raised or signalized pedestrian crossings installed in 2024.
Finally, nationwide awareness and education programmes, led by the Ministry of Interior with relevant stakeholders, promote safer behaviour and complement enforcement and engineering measures.
Madam President,
International cooperation and knowledge exchange remain essential. The UAE is committed to sharing its experience and supporting capacity-building in intelligent transport systems, AI-enabled monitoring, road engineering, driver rehabilitation and public awareness.
The UAE will continue working with Member States, the United Nations and all partners to make mobility safer, more inclusive and sustainable for all.
Thank you, Madam President.