- Most UAE speed cameras have a tolerance margin; Abu Dhabi removed it in 2018.
- Fines increase with speed over limits, from 300 AED up to 3,000 AED.
- Over 60 km/h excess: 6 points and 15 days license detention.
- Over 80 km/h excess: 23 points and 60 days license detention.
The United Arab Emirates have become an increasingly popular destination for Romanian tourists, drawn by the possibility to rent luxury cars at affordable prices and by low fuel costs. If you plan to drive in this country, it is essential to know the speeding fines system for traffic violations.
In a country known for its exceptional road infrastructure and high-quality highways, the temptation to speed can be strong. Here is everything you need to know about speeding penalties in the UAE.
The fines system in Dubai and the UAE
Dubai boasts some of the best roads in the world, offering drivers a unique driving experience behind the wheel of luxury cars on an exceptionally well-maintained road network. However, this excellent infrastructure can encourage drivers to exceed legal speed limits.
The UAE Federal Traffic Law, especially Ministerial Resolution No. (178) of 2017 on traffic control rules and procedures, establishes clear fines and penalties for exceeding speed limits.
Speeding tolerance margin
An important peculiarity of the UAE system is that most speed cameras provide drivers with a certain margin of maneuver. Similar to Romania, where you are not fined for speeding by 1-10 km/h, in the UAE you will not be fined for minor overspeeding.
Important exception: Abu Dhabi announced in 2018 the removal of the speed tolerance margin.
Fine amounts in dirhams and Romanian lei
The national currency of the UAE is the Dirham (AED), with a value of approximately 1.35 Romanian lei per dirham. Here is the full structure of fines for speeding over the limit:
Speeding by up to 20 km/h
- Fine: 300 AED (approximately 405 RON)
- Penalty points: Not applicable
- License detention: Not applicable
Speeding by up to 30 km/h
- Fine: 600 AED (approximately 810 RON)
- Penalty points: Not applicable
- License detention: Not applicable
Speeding by up to 40 km/h
- Fine: 700 AED (approximately 945 RON)
- Penalty points: Not applicable
- License detention: Not applicable
Speeding by up to 50 km/h
- Fine: 1,000 AED (approximately 1,350 RON)
- Penalty points: Not applicable
- License detention: Not applicable
Speeding by up to 60 km/h
- Fine: 1,500 AED (approximately 2,025 RON)
- Penalty points: 6 points
- License detention: 15 days for light vehicles
Speeding by more than 60 km/h
- Fine: 2,000 AED (approximately 2,700 RON)
- Penalty points: 12 points
- License detention: 30 days for light vehicles
Speeding by more than 80 km/h
- Fine: 3,000 AED (approximately 4,050 RON)
- Penalty points: 23 points
- License detention: 60 days for light vehicles
Comparison with the Romanian system
The UAE fines system presents several advantages compared to Romania:
Higher tolerance
In the UAE, drivers are not fined for speeding up to 20 km/h, compared to only 10 km/h in Romania. This tolerance can be justified by the exceptional road quality and safety measures in place.
Fines proportionally smaller
Although absolute fine amounts are higher, they are proportionally lower relative to wage levels in the UAE.
License detention – different rules
The driver’s license is suspended only for speeding over 60 km/h, and the detention periods are relatively short compared to other jurisdictions.
Recommendations for Romanian drivers
If you intend to drive in the United Arab Emirates, consider the following tips:
- Respect the speed limits – even if fines seem affordable, avoid risks
- Inform yourself about local limits – they can vary between emirates
- Keep in mind the points system – accumulating points can have long-term consequences
- Check differences between emirates – Abu Dhabi has stricter rules
Quality of road infrastructure
The United Arab Emirates are renowned for massive investments in road infrastructure. The roads are of exceptional quality, with modern safety systems and impeccable maintenance. This superior infrastructure partly explains the higher tolerance for speeding.
Nevertheless, it is important to stay vigilant and drive defensively, regardless of road quality or the performance of the car you are driving.