E-scooters for hire were rolled out in Dubai on Monday in five districts that have dedicated lanes and cycle tracks.
A year-long trial of the two-wheelers could help commuters save them time and money on short journeys.
Residents have long taken short hops in Dubai's public taxis due to the heat and size of the city.
The sleek e-scooters are available to rent through mobile applications and cost Dh3 to unlock and 50 fils for every minute thereafter. Riders must be aged 14 and over.
Located in popular commuter hotspots, rental stations can be found in Downtown's Boulevard, Dubai Internet City, 2nd of December Street, Al Rigga and Jumeirah Lakes Towers.
British commuter April Kearns said the trial would be useful for short journeys.
“I live in Dubai Marina and work in Cluster L in Jumeirah Lakes Towers so it’s a great option for me,” the 31-year-old recruitment consultant said.
“If I take a taxi from my apartment to my office it costs about Dh33.
“For the past three weeks I have been crossing the metro bridge and renting an e-bike instead, it costs just Dh50 for the whole week.
“I would definitely give the e-scooter a go as it’s affordable, easy to use and cuts traffic.”
The city's Roads and Transport Authority said it hopes the trial will be more widely rolled out if successful.
Dedicated riding lanes, marked with images of e-scooters and bikes, have been introduced to the districts to guide users when riding.
Liza Encabo, from the Philippines, found brand new scooters parked outside DMCC metro station in JLT on Monday.
“I didn’t even know we could rent them by the minute, it’s a great alternative for people like me that do not want to fork out lots of cash for taxis,” the 42-year-old said.
“I usually get the metro to JLT and then just walk to different buildings, depending on where my job is.
“Hopefully more people will use them and stop driving everywhere.”
Local start-ups Arnab and Skurrt, as well as established operators Careem, Lime and Tier, will rent out e-scooters via their dedicated mobile applications. Users have to upload their personal details to create an account and can top up as they go.
Those looking to make use of the scooters, which can reach speeds of up to 20kmph, have to abide by a number of rules.
Users have to park the motorised vehicles in designated parking lots which have been marked out in different parts of the participating neighbourhoods.
If that is not possible, the RTA recommends commuters leave the scooters in locations that do not obstruct traffic or pedestrians.
Helmets, which cyclists must already wear by law, should be worn but do not come with the scooters.
Mohammad Ramzan, from Pakistan, is an electrician and often uses the metro to get between jobs.
“It would be good if more e-scooters were positioned outside the metro stations, as I could jump on one and move quickly to my next job," he said.
“It will be more convenient, not to mention much cheaper than getting a taxi.
“Personally, I have never been on a scooter like that so I would need practice first.”
Warning to e-scooter owners
E-scooter rentals were banned in early 2019 amid concerns over irresponsible riders.
The sale and private use of two-wheelers continued, albeit in a legal grey area, and the authorities only stopped riders if they rode dangerously.
From this week, e-scooter owners could be stopped by police if they are found outside of the five trial zones, officials said.
"We have to separate scooters and pedestrians so there won't be any accidents or injuries," Hussain Al Banna, executive director of traffic at the RTA, told The National last week.
"Although you can see some people using them, police are enforcing the law as much as possible in order to safeguard people's lives."
