UAE traffic fines and black points
Updated 11 October 2026
Traffic fines in the UAE follow one federal schedule, and police in every emirate apply it. A violation can bring a fine, black points on your licence and, for the serious ones, impoundment of the car. Here's what the common ones cost, how black points work, and how paying early can take up to 35% off.
Common traffic fines
For private cars. Fines in dirhams; points are black points on your licence.
| Violation | AED | Points | Impound |
|---|---|---|---|
| Speeding, up to 20 km/h over the limit | 300 | — | — |
| Speeding, up to 30 km/h over | 600 | — | — |
| Speeding, up to 40 km/h over | 700 | — | — |
| Speeding, up to 50 km/h over | 1,000 | — | — |
| Speeding, up to 60 km/h over | 1,500 | 6 | 15 days |
| Speeding, more than 60 km/h over | 2,000 | 12 | 30 days |
| Speeding, more than 80 km/h over | 3,000 | 23 | 60 days |
| Running a red light | 1,000 | 12 | 30 days |
| Using a phone while driving | 800 | 4 | — |
| Not wearing a seatbelt | 400 | 4 | — |
| Child under 4 without a child seat | 400 | 4 | — |
| Tailgating | 400 | 4 | — |
| Swerving suddenly | 1,000 | 4 | — |
| Not giving way to emergency vehicles | 3,000 | 6 | 30 days |
| Overtaking on the hard shoulder | 1,000 | 6 | — |
| Not giving way to pedestrians at a crossing | 500 | 6 | — |
| Stopping in a yellow box junction | 500 | — | — |
| Driving with an expired registration | 500 | 4 | 7 days¹ |
| Driving without insurance | 500 | 4 | 7 days |
| Throwing litter from a car | 1,000 | 6 | — |
¹ Only when the registration expired more than 3 months ago. The amounts come from the federal fines schedule (Ministerial Resolution 178 of 2017, as amended). The fine in your police app is the official record.
How black points work
- Each violation's points stay on your licence for 12 months.
- Reach 24 black points within 12 months and your licence is suspended.
- If police ask for your licence when you reach the limit, hand it in. Not doing so is a further fine of AED 1,000 the first time, AED 2,000 the second and AED 3,000 the third.
- Dubai and Abu Dhabi police run awareness courses that take 8 black points off your licence.
- On the first day of each school year, the Ministry of Interior's Accident-Free Day removes 4 black points for drivers who sign its pledge and stay accident-free. In 2026 it fell on 31 August.
Pay early, pay less
| Emirate | Within 60 days | 60 days to a year |
|---|---|---|
| Abu Dhabi | 35% off | 25% off |
| Sharjah | 35% off | 25% off |
Serious violations don't get these discounts. In Sharjah the 35% also comes off impound, storage and late fees, while the 25% covers the fine only. Abu Dhabi also lets you pay in interest-free instalments with some banks' credit cards. Other emirates announce discounts from time to time, usually as campaigns with an end date.
Dubai: getting an impounded car back
In Dubai, some offences mean the car is impounded and released only after a fee, on top of the fine (Decree No. 30 of 2023):
| Offence | Release fee (AED) |
|---|---|
| A road race without a police permit | 100,000 |
| Running a red light | 50,000 |
| Reckless driving | 50,000 |
| A fake or covered number plate | 50,000 |
| A driver under 18 | 50,000 |
| Escaping from the police | 10,000 |
| Window tint over the limit | 10,000 |
| Changes that make the car faster or louder | 10,000 |
A second impoundment within a year doubles the fee, up to AED 200,000. A car with more than AED 6,000 of unpaid fines can also be impounded until they're paid.
How to check and pay a fine
Check and pay in the MOI UAE app or on the Ministry of Interior website, or through your emirate's police: Dubai Police, Abu Dhabi Police or TAMM, and Sharjah Police. Pay before renewing anything, because unpaid fines block the renewal of your driving licence and your car's registration (Mulkiya).
Never miss a discount deadline
Log a fine in Benzeen_ with its date and black points. It reminds you three days before an early-payment discount runs out, and its black-point meter counts your last 12 months against the 24-point limit. Follow @benzeen.app or see the app.
Sources: Ministerial Resolution 178 of 2017 (Abu Dhabi Police), Gulf News on emergency vehicles, Khaleej Times on seatbelts and child seats, Sharjah Executive Council (8 July 2025), Gulf News on Abu Dhabi's discount (February 2026), Dubai Decree No. 30 of 2023, Gulf News on black-point courses, The National on Accident-Free Day (August 2026). The fine in your police app is the official record.
Questions
How many black points before my licence is suspended?
24 black points within 12 months. Each violation's points stay on your licence for a year.
How much is the fine for running a red light?
AED 1,000, 12 black points and 30 days' impoundment. In Dubai, getting the car back also costs a AED 50,000 release fee.
What are the speeding fines in the UAE?
From AED 300 for up to 20 km/h over the limit, to AED 3,000, 23 black points and 60 days' impoundment for more than 80 km/h over.
How do I get a discount on a traffic fine?
In Abu Dhabi and Sharjah, pay within 60 days for 35% off, or within a year for 25% off. Serious violations are excluded.
Can I renew my car registration with unpaid fines?
No. Traffic fines have to be paid before you renew your car's registration or your driving licence.
Can black points be removed?
Yes. Dubai and Abu Dhabi police run courses that take 8 points off, and the Ministry of Interior's Accident-Free Day on the first school day removes 4 for drivers who sign its pledge.