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Dubai traffic fines run from AED 300 for minor speeding to AED 100,000 to release a car impounded for racing. This guide lists the main fines, black points and impound rules, and what a rental driver should do about them.
Dubai Police and RTA run camera networks across the emirate, and a fine is registered against the car’s plate, so it can reach a rental driver after the trip is over. The amounts below come from the Dubai Police black points table and Dubai Decree No. 30 of 2023, checked in October 2026.
Speeding Fines and the 20 km/h Buffer
| Over the speed limit | Fine | Black points | Impound |
|---|---|---|---|
| Up to 20 km/h | AED 300 | 0 | None |
| 21–30 km/h | AED 600 | 0 | None |
| 31–40 km/h | AED 700 | 0 | None |
| 41–50 km/h | AED 1,000 | 0 | None |
| 51–60 km/h | AED 1,500 | 6 | 15 days |
| 61–80 km/h | AED 2,000 | 12 | 30 days |
| More than 80 km/h | AED 3,000 | 23 | 60 days |
The bands follow Ministerial Resolution No. 178 of 2017. The Dubai Police web table currently shows the row for more than 80 km/h with the same figures as the row for more than 60 km/h, so confirm that top row with Dubai Police on 901 if it matters.
Dubai Police publishes a radar control speed for each road, usually the posted limit plus 21 km/h: 121 on a 100 km/h road, 101 on an 80 km/h road. The Street Speed Limits page lists them, and a few roads differ. Treat the posted limit as your limit: Dubai Police does not say how the fine bands relate to that buffer, and Abu Dhabi has no buffer at all, so fines can follow a small excess there.
Helpful tipSet cruise control to the posted limit, not to whatever feels safe in a quiet cabin. Dubai’s cameras check the sign on the road, not your sense of speed.
Alex Shvarov, Automotive expert with over 15 years of experience
In a smooth, quiet car speed is easy to underestimate, especially if you are renting luxury cars for the first time in Dubai. The table gives three examples with the rates Brook Drive shows today.
High-comfort cars where speed hides
| Car | Price for 1–2 days | Price for 30+ days |
|---|---|---|
| Bentley Continental GT White | AED 3 460 | AED 2 400 |
| Mercedes S-Class | AED 2 150 | AED 1 430 |
| Rolls Royce Cullinan | AED 4 190 | AED 3 110 |
Common Traffic Violations and Fines
The table lists fines drivers meet most often. It is taken from the Dubai Police black points table, which lists well over a hundred violations.
| Violation | Fine | Black points | Impound |
|---|---|---|---|
| Running a red light | AED 1,000 | 12 | 30 days |
| Reckless driving that endangers lives | AED 2,000 | 23 | 60 days |
| Driving under the influence of alcohol | Set by a court | 23 | 60 days |
| Driving against traffic | AED 600 | 4 | 7 days |
| Hand-held phone while driving | AED 800 | 4 | None |
| Seatbelt not worn (driver or passenger) | AED 400 | 4 | None |
| No child car seat for a child under 4 | AED 400 | 0 | None |
| Failure to leave a safe distance | AED 400 | 4 | None |
| Sudden swerving | AED 1,000 | 4 | None |
| Overtaking from the hard shoulder | AED 1,000 | 6 | None |
| Not giving way to pedestrians on a crossing | AED 500 | 6 | None |
| Parking in a space for people with special needs | AED 1,000 | 6 | None |
| Improper parking | AED 500 | 0 | None |
| Pedestrian crossing outside designated areas | AED 400 (pedestrian) | 0 | None |
Seatbelts, phones and child seats
The table treats a driver’s seatbelt and a passenger’s seatbelt as separate offences, AED 480 and 4 black points each. That is worth a check in larger cars with several rows of seats, such as SUV’s. A hand-held phone costs AED 960 and 4 points, and any other distraction at the wheel is fined the same. A child under 4 needs a child car seat; Brook Drive provides child seats free of charge.
Lanes and overtaking
Failing to use indicators and breaking lane discipline are AED 480 each with no black points, and overtaking in a prohibited place is AED 720 with no points. Sudden swerving is AED 1,200 and 4 points, overtaking from the hard shoulder AED 1,200 and 6 points, and tailgating AED 480 and 4 points.
Pedestrians and crossings
A driver who does not give way to pedestrians on a crossing pays AED 600 and takes 6 black points. A pedestrian who crosses outside designated areas is fined AED 400.
The Black Points System Explained
Black points are recorded against the driver, not the car. A violation is registered against the plate first, and Dubai Police’s Black Points Transfer service moves the points from the vehicle’s record to a driver’s record. Points lapse one year after the violation, according to Gulf News.
What happens at the maximum
The maximum is 24 points. Once a driver reaches it, the case goes to court, and the court can suspend or confiscate the licence for a period it sets. Failing to hand over the licence when the maximum is reached is itself fined AED 1,000, AED 2,000 and AED 3,000 for the first, second and third time.
How to check your points
Residents can open their profile in the Dubai Police app after signing in with UAE Pass, or call 901 and choose the traffic and black points options. Visitors with a foreign licence should ask Dubai Police on 901 what can be checked.
Helpful tipPoints expire one year after each violation, so a clean year brings the count down. A single 23-point offence leaves almost no room for anything else in that window.
Alex Shvarov, Automotive expert with over 15 years of experience
Severe Offenses and Impound Release Fees
Under Dubai Decree No. 30 of 2023, the owner pays a fixed amount to release the car: AED 120,000 for taking part in a road race without a permit; AED 60,000 for running a red light, reckless driving that endangers lives or property, or fake, forged or obscured number plates; and AED 12,000 for substantial modifications that raise speed or noise, escaping from police, driving without plates, road stunts and gatherings, or window tint above the permitted level. Storage adds AED 50 for each day the car stays in the impound area after the period ends, and if the same vehicle is impounded again within a year, the release payment doubles, up to AED 240,000.
If a car is impounded, Dubai Police offers a Smart Impound service, which keeps the car at a designated private location with movement allowed only in emergencies, and a Pay Against Impound service, where a daily fee waives the impound period when no legal restrictions apply. Both have conditions, so ask Dubai Police on 901 whether they apply to your case.
High-performance cars
Street racing and reckless driving are the cases with the highest release payments, so a powerful car calls for extra discipline on public roads. Examples from our fleet are the Ferrari F8 Spider (0–100 km/h in 2.9 seconds), the Lamborghini Huracan and the Porsche 911.
Helpful tipIf a rented car is impounded because of a violation during the rental, the release fee and related costs are the renter’s responsibility under the rental agreement. Keep performance cars to normal road driving and the question never comes up.
Alex Shvarov, Automotive expert with over 15 years of experience
Driving Under the Influence
Do not drive after drinking any amount. Under Article 35 of Federal Decree-Law No. 14 of 2024, in force since March 2025, the penalties are set by a court and include:
- Alcohol: imprisonment and/or a fine of AED 20,000 to AED 100,000, and a licence suspension of at least three months for a first offence, six months for a second and cancellation for a third.
- Narcotic or psychotropic substances: imprisonment and/or a fine of AED 30,000 to AED 200,000, and a licence suspension of six months, one year, then cancellation.
- Dubai Police table: 23 black points and a 60-day impound for alcohol, and a 60-day impound for narcotic substances.
- Causing a death while intoxicated: a fine of at least AED 100,000 and/or at least one year in jail (Article 40).
VerdictA rental car gives no protection: the offence is recorded against the driver, and an impounded car stays impounded for 60 days. After drinking, take a taxi.
Alex Shvarov, Automotive expert with over 15 years of experience
How to Check and Pay Fines
- Dubai Police: the Fines Inquiry and Payment service on the website, or the Dubai Police app for iPhone and Android. Search by plate number, driving licence or traffic code. Online payment uses a card or Apple Pay; service centres and Smart Police Stations take cash or a debit card. Each violation adds a knowledge fee and an innovation fee of AED 10 each.
- RTA: the public fines search and the RTA Dubai app for iPhone and Android. Speeding and red-light fines come from Dubai Police, so use RTA as a second place to look.
- DubaiNow: the Dubai government services app can show fines in one place, but its sign-in is built around UAE Pass, so it suits residents better than tourists.
Tourists, note: Dubai Police accepts online payments only from within the UAE and GCC countries, and cards issued outside the UAE and GCC are not accepted online.
Instalments
Dubai Police has its own instalment service, by direct debit or credit card and subject to its terms. Gulf News (August 2026) reports a minimum of AED 3,600 in fines and an Emirates ID that belongs to the registered owner, which for a rental car is the rental company. RTA’s website, app and nol Pay app offer Tabby, which splits payments into up to four instalments (Khaleej Times, updated August 2026). Check on the RTA channel whether your fine is eligible.
Fines in a Rental Car
At Brook Drive there is no deposit: fines are forwarded to the renter and paid after the rental, and Salik and Darb are billed to the renter separately after the rental ends. If a car is impounded because of a violation during the rental, the release fee and related costs are the renter’s responsibility under the rental terms. The terms also ask the customer to report any fine, ticket or warning received during the rental.
Fines from Dubai Police can arrive with a delay. Check the plate on the official services before you return the car, and again after the rental ends.
VerdictNo deposit does not mean no fines: they are forwarded to you after the rental. Check the plate before you return the car and again afterwards, so nothing arrives as a surprise.
Alex Shvarov, Automotive expert with over 15 years of experience
- Dubai Police: black points table, Street Speed Limits and Fines Inquiry and Payment, checked October 2026
- Ministerial Resolution No. 178 of 2017 on traffic control, Ministry of Interior copy
- Dubai Decree No. 30 of 2023, official text
- Federal Decree-Law No. 14 of 2024 on traffic, Articles 35 and 40, as reported by Gulf News; the official text was not checked
- Gulf News: black points (May 2024) and fines in instalments (August 2026); Khaleej Times: Tabby instalments for RTA fines (updated August 2026)
Automotive expert with over 15 years of experience in the premium and sports car industry. I specialize in luxury vehicle selection, performance analysis, and creating exceptional driving experiences for discerning clients.
FAQ
Is there a grace period for speeding in Dubai?
Dubai Police lists a radar control speed for each road, usually the posted limit plus 21 km/h. It is a camera setting, not permission to exceed the limit, and Abu Dhabi has no buffer at all.
Can I pay traffic fines in instalments?
Dubai Police has an instalment service by direct debit or credit card, with a minimum of AED 3,600 in fines and an Emirates ID that belongs to the registered vehicle owner. RTA offers Tabby, with up to four instalments. A renter should not plan around either, because a rental car’s owner is the rental company.
What happens if I reach 24 black points?
24 is the maximum. A driver who reaches it faces a court, which can suspend or confiscate the licence for a period it sets.
How much does it cost to release an impounded car in Dubai?
Under Decree No. 30 of 2023 the owner pays AED 120,000 for racing, AED 60,000 for a red light, reckless driving or fake plates, and AED 12,000 for lesser cases such as driving without plates. Storage adds AED 50 a day after the impound period, and the payment doubles, up to AED 240,000, if the same vehicle is impounded again within a year.
What is the penalty for drunk driving in the UAE?
Under Article 35 of Federal Decree-Law No. 14 of 2024, imprisonment and/or a fine of AED 20,000 to AED 100,000, and a licence suspension of at least three months for a first offence. Dubai Police also records 23 black points and a 60-day impound.
What is the minimum age to rent a car in Dubai?
Each car has its own minimum age, from 21 to 25 years, usually higher for more powerful cars, and its own minimum driving experience. Both are shown on the car’s page.
