Dubai Traffic Rules And Regulations: A Detailed Walkthrough

1. It maintains road safety to curtail road fatalities 
2. Ensures safety for pedestrian  
3. Reduces traffic  
4. No delays because of the managed traffic 
5. It even saves time when everyone follows the rule 
6. Promotes safety for all 
7. Freedom to drive anytime without any fear 
8. No damage to infrastructure 
9. Less congestion leads to less air pollution  
10. Positive impact on the society 

Considering these and many more advantages of enforcing traffic rules, now let us closely talk about what kind of rules & regulations are there to ensure safety for all road users. 

Before driving a car, it is mandatory for the drivers to know driving rules in Dubai, so for this, the first step is to wear a seat belt because safety comes first, so wear the belt throughout the time and enjoy your driving.

In fact, everyone has to wrap a belt even those who are seating in the back seat, and in case you are travelling with your kid who is under 10, then they must be placed in a child safety seat.

# DUBAI TRAFFIC FINES

Do not take this lightly because if you forget to wear a seat belt, then there is a penalty of AED 400 and black points on your driver’s license and too many points can lead to suspension of your license, so be careful.

Just like a seat belt for car riders, a helmet is a must for motorcyclists and try to use a helmet that meets all safety standards because any kind of violation is not allowed in Dubai, so as you know traffic fines are inescapable in Dubai, so better to careful and plan things according if you want to drive on Dubai’s road.

# DUBAI TRAFFIC FINES

With no helmet, you have to bear a penalty of AED 500 along with 4 black points on your license, and once it is accumulated, then you might be in trouble.

The speed limit in Dubai is divided as per the areas and it is important for the drivers to consider these limits in order to maintain safety all over the city.

So have a look at the table below showing the places along with the speed limit to follow: -

PLACE	LIMIT
URBAN ROADS	60-80 KM/H
HIGHWAYS	100 KM/H
FREEWAYS	120-140 KM/H
SCHOOL AREAS	30-40 KM/H
RESIDENTIAL ZONE	25-40 KM/H

# DUBAI TRAFFIC FINES

In case you exceed the above mentioned speed limits, then there is a penalty of AED 3,000 with black points and further vehicle impoundment depending on the situation you are in, so when you are driving in Dubai make sure you check the limits before to avoid further complications.

When driving in Dubai be hand free because using a phone is not allowed because this leads to violations which can further bring serious damage to the people or infrastructure, so mobile phones should always be at bay to be a smart driver because it requires a sense of responsibility while driving a car.

# DUBAI TRAFFIC FINES

This will result in a fine of AED 800 along with 4 black points, in fact, according to the new regulation your vehicle can be impounded for 1 month, so this is one of the serious offences better for drivers to avoid phones because surveillance camera, AI to detect, radars and more helps the Dubai Police to find the offenders, so be careful because this foolishness can fool you late.

Drivers must yield to pedestrians at designated crossings, so for this, driver and pedestrian both need to be careful to avoid any serious accident, in fact, Dubai is planning to transform into a year round pedestrian friendly city where its 6,500 km network of modern walkways is going to give a fret free way to walk on the road and avoid mishappening.

# DUBAI TRAFFIC FINES

If you fail to yield to pedestrians, then there is a penalty of AED 400-500 and six traffic points on your license, so better to obey the traffic rules & regulations in Dubai to have an easy driving experience.

It is very basic but important for all drivers to follow the 3 lights rule based on red, yellow and green, so never ignore these lights as ignorance may lead to an unfortunate situation, so follow your traffic light and maintain the speed because speed thrills, but kills, so it is the responsibility of the driver to drive meticulously.

# DUBAI TRAFFIC FINES

In case you jump the light, then the fine is AED 1,000 with 12 black points and vehicle impoundment for 1 month at least, so make sure you don’t jump the light when driving in Dubai.

Driving in this situation can lead to imprisonment, so never drink and drive your car, so in this case, you can hire a taxi or have someone who can drive a car, in fact, UAE is a place where there is no alcohol limit, so there has to be zero per cent liquor in your body, and in case you did it, then there has to be a gap of 48 hours.

And if you think you can do it, then be ready to give blood & urine samples, and then for hefty fines, revocation of your license and more.

# DUBAI TRAFFIC FINES

Suspension of your license for 1 year, imprisonment depending on the situation, or else a big fine which is decided by the court itself.

Do not park your car anywhere because this way you may block the traffic or else park on the pavement, handicap zone, in hydrant places, blocking movement, parking in an intersection, parking a car without a number plate, in front of or parking on a restricted area is considered as a violation, so make sure you don’t park a car on a non parking zone, so check the signs properly, and with this, also check the parking limit because if you exceed, then you need to pay extra.

# DUBAI TRAFFIC FINES

Depending on where you park your car, the minimum fine is AED 500 and the maximum AED 1000, so better to park your car at a dedicated place and avoid such silly mistakes.

In Dubai, do not change lanes suddenly because this leads to traffic congestion or accidents due to no control over the vehicles and generally, Dubai highway traffic is always moving fast, so it is not allowed to switch lanes.

 Better to use indicators, follow road signs and drive in your lane to avoid any mishap. The advancement of cameras and AI monitoring systems detect violators, so do not play with Dubai’s traffic rules.

# DUBAI TRAFFIC FINES

It adds 4 black points to your license as well as a fine of AED 400, and if practiced again and again your license will be ceased.

If you are driving in Dubai do not overtake because it will add a black point and fine, so in case you want to, then use the left lane as right is illegal, and there are areas where overtaking is prohibited, so be alert.

# DUBAI TRAFFIC FINES

Adds 6 black points as well as a fine of AED 1,000 if overtaking from the hard shoulder, for truck drivers, it is AED 3,000 and suspension of license, and wrong overtaking fine is AED 600.

Try to keep these documents always in your car includes driving license, valid car insurance and vehicle registration, so these are some documents that you should always carry because anytime checking could be done, and at that point of time you need to pay a fine, so isn’t it better to carry them?, and yes, if they are expired then renew them because even in that case you have to pay the penalty.

# DUBAI TRAFFIC FINES

The basic fine for not carrying essential vehicle documents is AED 400, and in case you are driving another vehicle that doesn’t match with your document, then it could be AED 3000, so better to alert than to be a fool.

It is not just about Dubai, but anywhere in the world giving way to ambulances, police or fire trucks is a must because these are emergency vehicles, so all the drivers must give them a way to go either by moving towards the left side or completely stop to let them go.

# DUBAI TRAFFIC FINES

In case you fail to do so, then there is a fine of AED 3,000 with 6 black points for not giving away, so never break this rule and have a safe driving experience.

According to driving rules in Dubai, reckless driving leads to one of the major traffic violations as it can cause death, so always drive carefully on the road otherwise, Dubai traffic fines are ready to punish you right there. Driving is a responsibility, not your leisure, so be careful and avoid reckless driving in Dubai.

# DUBAI TRAFFIC FINES

It adds 23 black points on your license where one more can lead to suspension of your document, and with this, the fine can burn a hole in your pocket, so be alert.

As per Dubai traffic law car modification is illegal in Dubai where it includes chassis modification, changes in the engine, refurbishment that creates noise and air pollution or any other kind of change in the car is against UAE Federal Traffic Law, so make sure you use your car the way it is.

# DUBAI TRAFFIC FINES

Get ready to bear a fine of AED 1,000 to AED 50,000 with a vehicle impoundment and more for the violation of car modification in Dubai.

If the driver tries to break the law, then there is a serious penalty, so better not to evade police while driving on the road because it holds serious consequences, so over smartness can lead to a major problem, and as mentioned in the 12th point always give way to the special vehicle because they hold some importance in the society.

# DUBAI TRAFFIC FINES

As mentioned above, one has to face a major consequence, so your car will be impounded, and to release that one needs to pay AED 10,000 as a fine, Dubai traffic regulations are strict so better to follow everything to have a safe driving experience because speed thrills but kills.

These are some 15 vital driving rules in Dubai that you must follow to maintain the safety of the city. If these are not obeyed, there are consequences as well to punish the violator.

So enjoy your driving, but just follow these rules and regulations to avoid the hefty fines, which can reach to AED 50,000.

Apart from this, the addition of black points on your license is another concern that can lead to license suspension, so know everything about these points: -

Above you must have read about black points on a Dubai license in case you make any traffic violation, so let us explain you below what exactly is this black point in case you are new to this word, so get its explanation, on what situation you get how many black points, platform to check these points and way to curtail them, so have an overview of it: -

WHAT IS A BLACK POINTS SYSTEM IN DUBAI?

It is a penalty that is added to your Dubai driving license, and this keeps on adding if you make any traffic violation, and later these black points are accumulated to further put a penalty on the driver which can bring hefty fines, vehicle impoundment, license suspension and more.

HOW BLACK POINTS SYSTEM IN DUBAI IS APPLIED?

So, it basically depends on the traffic violation and on the basis of it the black points are given on your license, so here is the breakdown of violation with its black points: -

TYPE OF VIOLATIONS	NUMBER OF BLACK POINTS
If not wearing a seat belt	4
If you are using a mobile phone	4
If you are driving with insurance	4
If you exceed the speed	12
If you jump the light	12
If you change lane without indication	4
If you drive carelessly	23
If you drink & drive	It is decided by the court
If you are not giving way to special vehicle	4
If you are not wearing a helmet	4

So this is how the black point is applied where if you drive recklessly, then the maximum points are added on your license, so it is important to obey the traffic laws if you want to avoid these black point because then the serious action will taken against you.

WHERE CAN YOU CHECK THESE BLACK POINTS?

There are different online mediums where you can check your black points, such as RTA (www.rta.ae), the Dubai Police website (www.dubaipolice.gov.ae), or the Dubai Police App.

These can be traced in complete detail, so it is better to have a tap on them because ignorance can lead to major problems.

IS THERE ANY WAY TO CURTAIN BLACK POINTS?

Yes, there is a way to reduce your black points, so for this, try not to break any traffic rule for at least 1 year, this way some of your points will be deducted automatically, and other than this, you can attend an RTA approved defensive driving course that will improve the driving skills, accident-free techniques and help to remove these points.

WHEN DRIVING LICENSE IS SUSPENDED?

When the total is 24, the driving license is suspended, so try not to reach at this point, and in case you reach that for the first time your license is suspended for 3 years, then 6 months if you get that point again, and for the 3rd time, it is almost for 1 year, so no driving is allowed in this duration.

Now let us take the further discussion to the technologies that tap into the violation which might not be captured by the naked eye, so the addition of such technology curtails the unfortunate situations which are important to trigger for the safety of the people, so here is the breakdown: -

Artificial Intelligence Integration: To grab the information on the congestion and also to adjust the signal timings as per the need, the addition of AI driven mobility is going to comfort the congestion by almost 30%.

Intelligent Traffic Systems: This system monitors the entire traffic system, which includes 311 surveillance cameras, 227 monitoring devices, and 112 variable message signs. It provides real time traffic information and has helped reduce travel time by 20%.

Futuristic Plans: The future plan is to create a 17 km underground high-speed transport system to control on road congestion and plan a smart way to travel with no mishappening, and in addition to this, separate cycling tracks, pedestrian paths and more to manage the traffic and avoid accidents.

RTA Addition: The Road and Transport Authority (RTA) unveiled AI powered vehicle to improve efficiency where it detects road damage, alerts to maintain distance, and cameras to see front & back and right & left movements of vehicles to reduce the number of tragedies.

Introduction of new things always ensures safety and brings modern transportation development for the ease of people, so let us know the latest updates on Dubai traffic: -

REVISED AGE: If you are turning 17, then you can unlock a Dubai license, in fact, a driver aged 21 used to get 2 years of validation, and now the license validation is for 10 years, and other nationalities will get 5 years.

FINE INCREASED: In case you are using handheld devices while driving a car, the fine has increased and now it is AED 1,500 from AED 800 along with 6 black points, so be careful next time or else be ready to pay the hefty fine.

AFFECTED BY ANY DRUG: In case you have consumed an alcohol or drug, then there is a fine of approx. AED 100,000 or imprisonment, so never try to attempt driving under the influence because it is going to cost you too much this time after the revised traffic rules in Dubai.

SITUATIONS LIKE: If you try to go racing on Dubai roads, collide with special vehicles, have a fake number plate and in more such like cases you will have a fine of AED 50,000 otherwise it was AED 10,000, so the purpose of exceeding the fine is to bring fear in the people to be a responsible driver without disturbing the circle of the society.

ADOPTION OF NEW TECHNOLOGY: The addition of new technology to improve road safety and curtain the number of accidents, the support of virtual autopsies by using AI based scanners, imaging technology and platforms to secure the entire data, so this new adoption of technology will help to measure the defaulters.

Through these vital steps and changes in Dubai road safety measures will let people have a fret free living because road accidents can lead to unforgettable tragedies, so to break them, adoption of such like technology and new rules are the ray of hope to make Dubai free from road mishappening.

There are many advanced technologies that are used in Dubai to control traffic where management can redirect the traffic and have a tap on the violation, so for, there are different ways that are applied, so let us just give you an overview below: -

AI based monitoring system

There is a Dubai Intelligent Traffic System that stores big data to monitor and optimize the traffic for a better flow of vehicles all around, and this was incepted in November 2020 which has helped to reduce 20% travel time, and a better way to monitor incidents to control it better.

Powerful AI driven Radar systems

To curtail the violation, a strong eye is required that can detect different traffic violations, and for this, the implementation of strong AI based radar systems captures every failure to control the violation in real time.

ANPR Systems

Automatic Number Plate Recognition is a platform used for road safety. It detects the speed of the vehicle so that unwanted situations can be controlled.

Full Coverage through lens

Adding advanced level traffic cameras all over the city to have a tap on road activities where speeding, jumping lights, lane change and more just illegal activities can be captured because these prohibited incidents are important to be controlled in order to add safety to the road.

Access to Smart police stations

Now, there is no need to go to traditional police stations because SPS centers give you a digital way to report a complaint or any violation performed on the road. These centers are open 24/7, allowing residents to report concerns in real time, that too without going through a tough process.

After talking about the rules, technology and updation on the Dubai traffic system, let us give you a detail on the rules and regulations an expat needs to follow, so grab all the information if you have plans to get a Dubai driving license, so it is for you: -

As far as the rules and fines are considered, they are the same because road safety doesn’t see the nationality, so for this an expat needs to be meticulous about these safety rules: -

• Usage of seat belts is a must
• Zero consumption of alcohol
• Tap on the speed limit
• No use of handheld device
• Driving a registered vehicle

And more which are mentioned above, and if they are not followed property the repercussions are unbelievable so be ready to trap in a serious problem

It is a whole big structure to obtain a Dubai driving license, so make sure you comply with the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), so let us give you a simple breakdown of the structure: -

• Meet the age requirement (at least 18)
• A UAE residence visa is mandatory
• Complete your documentation with Emirates ID, passport, visa, certificate, passport sized photos and more
• Eye test from RTA approved optical center
• Enrol in driving school which is RTA approved
• Training under a certified instructor
• Pass internal assessments
• Book RTA road test
• Clear all the huddles and get a driving license valid for 2 years

So meticulously following these steps with serve you Dubai’s driving license which will be functional for 2 years and if you want to renew your license then there is a simple processor to follow where documentation, eye test, pay a renewable fee of AED 300, and then you can collect your license via courier or also can be grabbed from the centre. 

Considering all the 15 Dubai traffic laws along with fines it must have cleared you what kinds of rules are there to implement when driving a car in Dubai, and this is not just for the safety of one person, but it ensures the safe of a society where its people and infrastructures both matters a lot. 

Apart from this, the black point is another vital discussion of “Dubai Traffic Rules” where each traffic violation results in a specific number of black points (4, 12, 23 and more depending on the violation) added to the driver’s license. And after accumulating 24 black points some serious actions such as suspension of your license, hefty penalty and more will be enforced on the defaulter.

With this, the addition of new technologies to detect every violation is one of the great add ons in Dubai traffic laws where the use of the wrong number plate, tailgating a police car, using a handheld device, not wearing a seat belt, exceeding the speed limit and more such crimes are captured well with an aid of AI driven methods and smart force to keep an eye on road rules.

Whether you are a resident or an expat in Dubai, the rules & regulations of traffic are very similar because safety is what all matters to society, so for this, you need to educate yourself first about all the mandatory rules if you want to drive in Dubai, and then with a specific processor you can apply for your license and within 3-4 months you can get the plastic driver’s license.

Lastly, the motto of this overview is to give you a detailed walkthrough of Dubai Traffic Rules & Regulations where you as a driver hold a responsibility to keep the people & infrastructure of society secure & undamaged because speed thrills but kills, and this kind of loss is not acceptable in Dubai.

So it is better not to put yourself in major trouble because the repercussion of breaking rules can put you behind bars or death.