I wasn’t someone who stayed updated on traffic laws, but after seeing a friend slapped with an AED 3,000 fine for something as simple as driving with an unrecognized foreign license, it made me reassess my approach.
And that’s been a good thing, as in 2025, the UAE isn’t taking road safety lightly. If you’re not updated, your wallet might just take a nasty hit.
These are the new UAE traffic law updates I discovered while trying to stay informed.
Driving Without a Valid License? That’ll Be AED 5,000+
One of the biggest changes? The crackdown on license violations. If you’re caught driving without a valid UAE license, you could face up to three months in jail and fines starting at AED 5,000, climbing to AED 50,000 for the first offense. Repeat offenses could have you paying up to AED 100,000 in fines. And if you’re using a foreign license that’s not officially recognized? That’s another AED 2,000 to AED 10,000 fine, minimum.
Hit-and-Run? You’re Looking at AED 100,000
This one definitely hits hard! Failing to stop after causing an accident—especially if someone’s injured—can now lead to imprisonment up to two years and fines between AED 50,000 and AED 100,000. That’s not just a legal issue—it’s a moral one. The new law makes it clear: accountability isn’t optional. Moreover, if things take a turn for the worse, leading to a fatality, you could be imprisoned and fined between AED 50,000 and AED 1,00,000
Driving Under the Influence? Think AED 20,000–100,000
This is for people who think, “Just one glass is fine, I can still drive”. Under the new rules, even that can cost you AED 20,000 to AED 100,000, plus license suspension and possible jail time. And if narcotics are involved? The fines jump to AED 30,000–200,000, with longer suspensions and harsher penalties.
Crossing roads from undesignated areas? Fork Out AED 5000–10,000
Crossing the road outside designated pedestrian zones might seem harmless, but in the UAE, it can cost you big. If jaywalking leads to a traffic accident, fines range from AED 5,000 to AED 10,000, and in high-speed zones (80 km/h or more), you could face up to three months in jail. The message is clear: use footbridges, crosswalks, and follow signals when walking through the city. Your safety and your wallet depend on it.
License Plates Not Visible? Get Fined AED 20,000
Blocking, altering, or tampering with your vehicle’s number plate is no longer a minor offense. Under the 2025 traffic law, violations like using fake plates, transferring plates without approval, or obscuring them with bike racks or luggage can result in fines of at least AED 20,000, and in some cases, imprisonment. Visibility of your license plates is important, especially when it comes to law enforcement and public safety.
Not Cooperating With the Police? Land a Hefty Fine of AED 10,000–20,000
If you’re stopped by a traffic officer, don’t try to argue your way out of being fined. Refusing to share your name, license, or registration, or providing false information, could give you up to three months in jail and fines that can range between AED 10,000 and AED 20,000. It’s now become a legal obligation in the UAE. Cooperation at traffic stops is now more critical than ever.
So What’s the Takeaway?
For drivers in the UAE, 2025’s road rule changes aren’t just updates that have to be read and forgotten. They’re a call for us to be more careful on the road, whether we are drivers or pedestrians. Specifically, be careful in complying with license rules, accident protocol, drinking/using narcotics and driving, crossing roads from undesignated areas, license plate visibility, and cooperating with the traffic cops who are only trying to do their duty. Otherwise, you could be in for steep penalties over AED 3,000 and, in certain cases, even imprisonment.
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