Explainer: Traffic violations and fines in Dubai
It is important to understand Dubai traffic regulations to avoid penalties and fines
Dubai: Dubai's road safety regulations are strict, with advanced radar systems constantly monitoring drivers for traffic violations. However, many drivers are unclear about when radars flash and whether any grace speed limits are in place. Here’s a breakdown of how these systems work and how drivers can avoid fines.
Radar triggers: When do they flash?
In Dubai, speed radars are triggered when a vehicle exceeds the speed limit on a particular road. These radars are installed at key locations across highways, urban roads, and intersections to monitor both speeding and other violations, such as running red lights.
The radars flash when a vehicle surpasses the set speed limit, capturing the license plate and details of the offense. Fines are automatically recorded in the system and can be viewed through the Dubai Police app or website.
Understanding grace speed limits
Dubai follows a grace speed policy, which allows drivers a buffer of 20 km/h over the posted speed limit on most roads. For example, if the speed limit is 100 km/h, the radar won’t flash unless the driver exceeds 120 km/h. However, this grace limit is not applicable on all roads, such as certain major highways where stricter regulations are enforced.
Drivers are advised to stay updated on road-specific speed limits, as the grace buffer may vary or be removed in specific areas.
Black point system of fines and penalties
Dubai’s black points system is a crucial mechanism for monitoring and penalising traffic law violations. With a network of cameras and radars across the city, the system tracks offences and adds black points to drivers’ records based on the severity of each violation.
Drivers receive a text message whenever points are added, and their current tally can be checked on the Dubai Police website.
Accumulating 24 black points results in severe consequences, including the suspension of the driver’s license and a driving ban for up to one year. In some cases, vehicles may also be confiscated, depending on the nature of the offences.
Common traffic violations
A traffic fine is a notice issued by Dubai Police officers to a motorist or other road user. This notice shows that a person has violated traffic laws. In general, the following are some of the major Dubai traffic violations you should be aware of:
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Jumping the signal or beating the red light
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Parking in non-designated areas
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Not wearing a seatbelt
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Sudden swerving
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Driving under the influence of alcohol
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Driving without a valid vehicle registration
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Over speeding
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Running away from the police to avoid Dubai traffic fines
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Running away from the site incident
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Using a mobile phone while driving
List of traffic fines
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Exceeding the specified speed limit by 80 km/h leads to a fine of AED 3000, 23 black points, and potential vehicle and license confiscation for 60 days.
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Driving exceeding the specified limit by more than 60 km/h results in an AED 3000 fine, 12 black points, and vehicle impoundment for 30 days.
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Breaking the speed limit by less than 60 km/h leads to an AED 1500 fine, 6 black points, and vehicle impoundment for 15 days.
Additional speed-related fines without black points include
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AED 1000 for driving under the speed limit of less than 50 km/h.
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AED 700 for exceeding the speed limit by less than 40 km/h.
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AED 600 for exceeding the speed limit of less than 30 km/h.
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AED 300 for driving under the speed limit of less than 20 km/h.
Penalties For Reckless Driving in Dubai
Traffic fines in Dubai for reckless driving, resulting in 23 black points, encompass the following offences:
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Causing severe injury to another person due to reckless driving.
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Endangering someone’s life through reckless driving.
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Operating a vehicle without a proper number plate.
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Driving under the influence of alcohol.
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If a driver jeopardises someone’s life on the road, they will incur a fine determined by the court and have their vehicle impounded for 2 months.
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Driving without a car number plate results in 23 black points, an AED 3000 fine, and vehicle confiscation for 90 days.
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Apprehended for drunk driving entails a substantial penalty of AED 20,000, along with vehicle confiscation for 60 days. Court-imposed jail sentences ranging from several days to months are also conceivable.
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Red signal crossing fine Dubai 2024: AED 1,000 (Red means stop, not “floor it!”)
Penalties for overtaking and parking violations
In Dubai, traffic rules for overtaking and parking are strictly enforced to maintain road safety. Here’s a breakdown of the penalties:
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Parking Violations: Fines of AED 1,000 and 6 black points apply for parking in restricted areas like in front of fire hydrants or in spaces reserved for people with disabilities. Parking on
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pavements or causing obstructions can result in AED 400 fines.
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Yellow Box Junctions: Stopping in these areas incurs an AED 500 fine.
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Parking on the Left Shoulder: This violation leads to an AED 1,000 fine.
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Other Parking Issues: Stopping at pedestrian crossings or behind vehicles blocking movement, and improper parking, result in AED 500 fines each.
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Overtaking Violations: Wrong overtaking with a light vehicle or from the road shoulder can lead to fines of AED 600 or AED 1,000, along with 6 black points.
Additional traffic violations and fines
Dubai’s traffic regulations also cover other important aspects:
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Seat belt: AED 400 fine and 4 black points for not wearing a seatbelt.
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Garbage disposal: AED 1,000 fine and 6 black points for discarding garbage from your vehicle.
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Pollution: AED 1,000 fine and 6 black points for driving a car that pollutes the environment.
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Noisy vehicles: AED 2,000 fine and 12 black points for operating a noisy vehicle.
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Child safety: AED 1,000 fine for allowing children under 10 years to sit in the front seat or not using proper child seats for toddlers under 4 years.
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Using a phone while driving: AED 800 fine and 4 black points.
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Tyres and registration: Fines of AED 500 for driving with old tyres or without proper car registration or insurance, along with vehicle impoundment in some cases.
Recent updates to traffic penalties
New traffic penalties were introduced on July 6th, 2023:
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AED 10,000 Fines: For unauthorized vehicle modifications, driving without number plates, evading law enforcement, and illegal activities like street racing.
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AED 50,000 Fines: For riding recreational bikes on paved roads, reckless driving, running red lights, or driving with a fraudulent license.
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AED 100,000 Fines: For illegal racing or conduct that endangers other road users or infrastructure.
How to manage traffic fines
You can check and pay traffic fines through the RTA website by providing your vehicle's plate details, license number, fine number, or traffic file number. The RTA occasionally offers discounts on fines, such as the 50% discount during UAE’s 49th National Day in 2020.
Paying fines in installments
Since February 2019, Dubai has allowed motorists to pay fines in interest-free installments through credit cards from banks like First Abu Dhabi Bank and Noor Bank. This option is available for fines of at least AED 500 and can be managed via the Dubai Police app, website, or designated payment centers.
Driving tips for Dubai
To drive safely and legally in Dubai
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Ensure you have a valid UAE driver’s license. Check if your home country’s driving license can be converted to a UAE license by visiting Dubai.ae website
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Avoid driving on beaches and using hand gestures that might be misinterpreted.
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Do not leave electronics or food in your car due to heat.
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Follow laws about mobile phone use, seatbelts, and child safety.
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Obtain a Salik card for Sheikh Zayed Road and be vigilant of speed cameras and police checks.
Traffic fine notifications
You usually receive notifications on Dubai traffic fines via SMS. However, there are various ways to check if you have traffic fines:
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To check if you have pending Dubai traffic fines, check the ‘Fines Inquiry and Payment’ tab of the Dubai Police website.
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Mobile app. The RTA Dubai mobile app allows you to check on your smartphone if you have pending Dubai traffic fines using your vehicle’s license plate number.
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You can send an SMS to 60050000 with your vehicle’s license plate number to receive a reply about any possible fines.
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Police Stations. You can visit a police station to check your fine status.
Takeaway
Understanding and adhering to Dubai’s traffic regulations will help you avoid fines and maintain road safety. Visit the RTA website for updates and further information.