Traffic Rules
Road rules, speed limits, parking violations, and driving offences in the UAE
Speeding 20-40 km/h over
Driving over the posted speed limit by 20 to 40 km/h on any UAE road
Driving without a valid licence
Operating any motor vehicle on public roads without holding a valid UAE or recognised international driving licence
Hit and run
Fleeing the scene of a traffic accident without stopping to exchange information or assist injured parties
Parking near fire hydrant
Parking a vehicle in front of or blocking access to a fire hydrant
Parking in disabled spot
Parking in a space reserved for people of determination without a valid permit
Parking in no-parking zone
Stopping or parking a vehicle in an area marked with yellow kerb lines or no-parking signs
Speeding 0-20 km/h over
Driving over the posted speed limit by up to 20 km/h on any UAE road
Illegal street racing
Participating in unauthorized vehicle races or speed competitions on public roads
Running a red light
Crossing a traffic signal after it has turned red on any public road in the UAE
Tailgating on highway
Following another vehicle on a UAE highway at less than 3 seconds stopping distance, creating a rear-end collision hazard.
Blocking pedestrian path
Parking a vehicle in a way that blocks or obstructs pedestrian walkways or pavements
Failing to give way to emergency vehicles
Not yielding or making way for police ambulance or fire vehicles displaying emergency lights and sirens
No motorcycle helmet
Riding a motorcycle or scooter without wearing an approved safety helmet
Overloading vehicle passengers
Carrying more passengers in a vehicle than the number of seats and seatbelts officially registered for it
Changing car colour without permit
Changing a vehicle's paint colour without obtaining official permission from authorities
Speeding 40-60 km/h over
Driving over the posted speed limit by 40 to 60 km/h on any UAE road
Illegal passenger transport
Using a private vehicle to transport passengers for money without a proper taxi or ride-hailing licence
Failing to stop at pedestrian crossing
Not stopping to allow pedestrians who are crossing or about to cross at a marked zebra crossing
Blocking traffic signal box
Stopping a vehicle inside the yellow box junction at an intersection and blocking cross-traffic when the signal changes.
Illegal U-turn
Making a U-turn at a location where it is prohibited by road signs or traffic regulations
Driving too slowly below speed limit
Driving significantly below the minimum speed limit causing obstruction to traffic flow
Noisy vehicle modification
Modifying a vehicle exhaust or engine without official permission causing excessive noise
No number plate displayed
Driving a vehicle without a properly visible and registered number plate
Driving under the influence of alcohol
Operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol or any narcotic substance
Tailgating other vehicles
Following another vehicle too closely without maintaining a safe braking distance on any road
No valid registration
Driving a vehicle on UAE public roads with an expired registration or Mulkiya
No insurance
Operating a motor vehicle on UAE public roads without a valid third-party liability insurance policy
Faulty vehicle lights
Driving with broken or non-functioning headlights tail lights or indicators
Child under 10 in front seat
Allowing a child under 10 years old or shorter than 145 cm to sit in the front passenger seat
Crossing through heavy traffic
Driving dangerously through congested traffic areas or cutting across multiple lanes at once
Driving against traffic flow
Driving in the wrong direction on a one-way road or against oncoming traffic on a dual carriageway
Using mobile phone while driving
Holding or operating a mobile phone or handheld device while driving a vehicle on a public road
Using fake driving licence
Driving with a counterfeit or forged driving licence document
Speeding 60+ km/h over limit
Driving more than 60 km/h above the posted speed limit resulting in severe penalty and vehicle impound for 30 days
Not wearing a seatbelt
Driving or riding in a vehicle without wearing a properly fastened seatbelt as required by UAE traffic law
Underage driving (under 17)
Driving a vehicle while under the legal minimum driving age of 17 years in the UAE
Fleeing from police
Attempting to escape or evade a police vehicle during a traffic stop or pursuit
Using mobile phone while cycling
Operating a mobile phone or handheld device while riding a bicycle on public roads or cycling tracks in the UAE.
No child safety seat (under 4)
Failing to secure a child aged 4 years or younger in a proper child safety seat while in a vehicle
Not reporting accident in time
Failing to report a traffic accident to the police within the required 3-hour timeframe
Illegal window tinting
Having window tint that exceeds the legal 30% limit (less than 70% light transparency)
Dangerous reversing
Reversing a vehicle in a dangerous manner on a public road or highway
Driving a polluting vehicle
Operating a vehicle that emits excessive smoke or harmful pollutants beyond permitted levels
Sudden lane swerving
Abruptly changing lanes without signalling or checking mirrors thereby endangering other drivers
Littering from vehicle
Throwing rubbish cigarette butts or any waste from a moving or parked vehicle onto the road