Last updated: 1 November 2026
The black points Dubai Police adds to your traffic file are penalty points for serious offences, given on top of the fine. Offences that earn points mostly carry 4 to 12, the most dangerous carry 23, and reaching 24 points within a year leads to a licence suspension of three months the first time.
Points drop off 12 months after you pay the fine, and a free Dubai Police course can remove 8 points once a year. This guide gives the official points for common offences, the suspension rules, how to check your points and every official way to reduce them.
Black points Dubai: how the system works
Black points are recorded against the driver’s licence, not the car, and each offence has a fixed number set by federal law. The same system applies in every emirate, so a point earned in Sharjah counts on a Dubai licence.
The rules come from Ministerial Resolution No. 178 of 2017 on traffic control, which the UAE government portal lists as still in force alongside Federal Decree-Law No. 14 of 2024, the traffic law that took effect on 29 March 2025. The resolution sets out these basics:
- Points start on the date the violation is issued.
- The limit is 24 points collected within a period of no more than one calendar year from your first violation.
- Points are deleted 12 months after the date you pay the fine.
- One ticket with several offences carries only the points of the most serious one.
- Many offences carry no points at all, only a fine, such as most parking offences and speeding by up to 50 km/h over the limit.
In practice, most Dubai drivers only see points after a red light, a phone camera or a serious speeding fine. A few of those in one year is enough to approach the limit.
Black points Dubai list for common offences
The table below shows the fine, black points and impound period for common offences, from the official schedule of Ministerial Resolution No. 178 of 2017 published on u.ae. Impound periods are for light vehicles.
| Offence | Fine (AED) | Black points | Vehicle impound |
|---|---|---|---|
| Speeding by more than 80 km/h over the limit | 3,000 | 23 | 60 days |
| Speeding by more than 60 km/h over the limit | 2,000 | 12 | 30 days |
| Speeding by more than 50 and up to 60 km/h over the limit | 1,500 | 6 | 15 days |
| Speeding by up to 50 km/h over the limit | 300 to 1,000 | None | None |
| Driving in a way that endangers lives or property | 2,000 | 23 | 60 days |
| Driving without number plates | 3,000 | 23 | 90 days |
| Carrying passengers for money without a permit | 3,000 | 24 | 30 days |
| Jumping a red light | 1,000 | 12 | 30 days |
| Running away from a traffic policeman | 800 | 12 | 30 days |
| Driving a noisy vehicle | 2,000 | 12 | None |
| Changing the engine or chassis without permission | 1,000 | 12 | 30 days |
| Not stopping for a school bus stop sign | 1,000 | 10 | None |
| Not stopping after causing a minor accident | 500 | 8 | 7 days |
| Overtaking from the hard shoulder | 1,000 | 6 | None |
| Not giving way to ambulances, police or emergency vehicles | 1,000 | 6 | None |
| Not giving way to pedestrians at a crossing | 500 | 6 | None |
| Stopping in the middle of the road without reason | 1,000 | 6 | None |
| Parking at a fire hydrant or in a disabled bay | 1,000 | 6 | None |
| Throwing litter from a vehicle | 1,000 | 6 | None |
| Wrong overtaking | 600 | 6 | None |
| Using a mobile phone or being distracted while driving | 800 | 4 | None |
| Driver not wearing a seat belt | 400 | 4 | None |
| Tailgating (no safe distance) | 400 | 4 | None |
| Sudden swerving | 1,000 | 4 | None |
| U-turn from a place not allowed | 500 | 4 | None |
| Driving at night or in fog without lights | 500 | 4 | None |
| Driving with an expired licence | 500 | 4 | 7 days |
| Driving with expired tyres | 500 | 4 | 7 days |
Drink driving, driving under drugs and causing death or serious injury are not settled with a ticket. Under Decree-Law No. 14 of 2024 they go to court, which decides the penalty and any licence suspension.
The seat belt rule shows how the schedule works: the driver’s own unfastened belt costs 4 points, while passengers without a belt bring a fine but no points. The Dubai Police app always shows the points actually recorded on your file, so treat it as the final word on your own total.
What happens when you reach 24 black points
Reaching 24 points within a year means your licence is taken and suspended, and the period grows each time it happens. The resolution sets out a fixed ladder:
| Time you reach 24 points | Penalty | Training course |
|---|---|---|
| First time | Licence held and suspended for 3 months | Optional: passing an approved course cancels the suspension |
| Second time | Licence held and suspended for 6 months | Mandatory |
| Third time | Licence held for 1 year | Mandatory |
The course exemption works only the first time. The course is held at a driving institute approved by the traffic authority, and on the second and third occasions you must pass it on top of serving the suspension.
You are also expected to hand over your licence. The official schedule fines drivers who fail to surrender it after reaching the limit AED 1,000 the first time, AED 2,000 the second and AED 3,000 the third. Driving while your licence is suspended is one of the serious offences listed under the 2024 traffic law, so do not risk it.
Many expats in the UAE need a licence for work, as drivers, sales staff or delivery riders. A three-month suspension can cost a job, which is the real reason to keep an eye on your total.
New drivers on a probation licence
A new licence or one on probation faces a stricter rule: the first time you reach 24 points, it is suspended for 6 months instead of 3.
- First time on probation: licence held and suspended for 6 months. You are excused from the suspension if you pass a driver rehabilitation course at an approved driving institute.
- Second time during probation: the licence is cancelled, and you cannot apply for a driving test again until one year after the cancellation.
If you passed your test in Dubai recently, two red lights in your first year already put you at 24 points, so the safest plan is to keep your points well below the limit until probation ends.
How long black points last
Black points are deleted 12 months after the date you pay the fine, under Article 2 of Resolution 178 of 2017. Many guides say one year from the violation, which is the same thing only if you pay straight away.
Leaving a fine unpaid keeps its points on your file for longer. Paying early also clears the way for vehicle and licence renewals, which need your fines settled first. Our Dubai traffic fine check guide shows every official way to see and pay what is outstanding.
The 24-point limit counts separately: it looks at points collected within one calendar year of your first violation. Once that year passes without reaching 24, a new count begins with your next violation.
How to check your black points
You can check the black points Dubai Police holds on your file for free in the Dubai Police app with UAE Pass, and the traffic summary shows your current total. Drivers with a licence from another emirate use the MOI UAE app or TAMM.
Dubai Police app (Dubai licence)
- Install the Dubai Police app from Google Play or the App Store.
- Log in with UAE Pass.
- Tap your profile picture at the top of the screen.
- Switch the view to Traffic.
- Read your black points in the traffic file summary, next to your fines.
You can also call the Dubai Police non-emergency number 901, choose traffic services and ask for your black points. Keep your driving licence number ready.
Licences from other emirates
- Sharjah, Ajman, Ras Al Khaimah, Umm Al Quwain, Fujairah: log in to the MOI UAE app with UAE Pass. A widget on the home screen shows your total black points.
- Abu Dhabi, Al Ain and Al Dhafra: log in to the TAMM app with UAE Pass, open My TAMM and find the black points widget.
Check after any fine with points, and again before you book a course, so you know whether you are still below 24.
How to reduce black points in Dubai
There are three official ways to reduce black points: wait for them to expire, pass an approved traffic course, or join the Ministry of Interior’s Accident-Free Day when it runs. No payment removes points directly.
Dubai Police traffic training course
Passing an approved traffic course removes 8 black points from your file. The resolution allows this only once a year and only before you reach the 24-point limit. Dubai Police runs the course for Dubai licence holders free of charge, with classes at its traffic department branches.
- Open the Dubai Police app and go to Services, then Traffic Services.
- Choose the traffic training course service and request it for yourself.
- Enter your Emirates ID, traffic code number, mobile number and email.
- Select the black points reduction course, a date and a language. Gulf News has reported English, Arabic and Hindi sessions.
- Submit, attend the class and check your total in the app afterwards.
App menu names change from time to time, so search for “traffic training” in the app if you cannot see the option. Drivers with licences from other emirates book through their own police force.
Accident-Free Day
The Ministry of Interior runs Accident-Free Day on the first day of the school year. In 2026, drivers signed an online pledge through the ministry with UAE Pass from 17 August, drove without any violation on 31 August, and had four black points deducted automatically on 25 September.
The campaign has run in recent years, but the 2027 edition has not been announced. Watch the MOI channels in mid August.
Letting points expire
Every point disappears 12 months after its fine is paid. If you are not near 24, paying promptly and driving cleanly for a year resets your file without any course.
Black points on a car someone else was driving
Points belong to the person who was driving, not the car owner. When a fine with points lands on your plate and someone else was at the wheel, the law gives the driver one month from your notification to come forward and take the points.
Through RTA’s Pay Vehicle Fines service, select Payable Black Points and say whether you were driving. If you were not, enter the driver’s licence details, and the driver confirms the points with a code sent by SMS. Until this is done, the fine shows as locked and cannot be paid.
If the driver never comes forward, the penalties fall on the owner when the owner holds a licence. If the owner has no licence, the points lapse but the fine stays. This matters for anyone who lends a car to a friend, or for companies with shared vehicles.
Black points and impounded cars
Many offences with high points also bring a vehicle impound, from 7 to 90 days. The resolution offers two ways to get the car back early:
- Pass an approved training course. The driver who committed the offence completes the course.
- Pay per day. The driver or owner pays AED 100 for each remaining impound day for a light vehicle, or AED 200 for a heavy vehicle.
The fine plus the daily payment, or the course fee, may not go above AED 3,000 for one violation; beyond that, the car stays impounded for the remaining days. A car with registration expired for more than three months is also impounded when caught on the road, and is released only after you renew it. Confirm the release amount with Dubai Police before you go.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Waiting until you hit 24 to take the course. Before the limit, the course removes 8 points. After it, it only cancels a first suspension.
- Leaving fines unpaid. The 12 months for points to expire start only when the fine is paid.
- Ignoring locked fines on your plate. If someone else drove, have them claim the points within one month, or they may land on you.
- Thinking another emirate’s points do not count. The system is federal, and points from Sharjah or Abu Dhabi sit on the same licence.
- Trusting points tables from old guides. Some still show an older rule of a six-month ban for a third offence; the current rule is one year.
- Paying anyone to “clear” points. No official channel sells point removal. Use only the Dubai Police, MOI, RTA and TAMM apps.
Frequently asked questions
How many black points before a licence is suspended in Dubai?
A Dubai driving licence is suspended when the driver reaches 24 black points within one year of the first violation. The first time, the licence is held for three months, or the suspension is cancelled if you pass an approved training course. The second time it is suspended for six months, and the third time the licence is held for one year, with the course mandatory on both occasions.
How long do black points stay on a Dubai licence?
Black points stay on a Dubai licence for 12 months from the date you pay the fine, under Ministerial Resolution No. 178 of 2017. Many guides count the year from the violation date, which only matches when you pay straight away. Unpaid fines keep their points on your file for longer, so paying quickly is the simplest way to clear them sooner.
How can I check my black points in Dubai?
You can check your black points in the Dubai Police app by logging in with UAE Pass, tapping your profile picture and switching to the traffic view, where your total appears in the summary. You can also call 901 and choose traffic services. Drivers with licences from Sharjah or the northern emirates use the MOI UAE app, and Abu Dhabi licence holders use TAMM.
Can I remove black points by taking a course in Dubai?
Yes, passing an approved traffic course removes 8 black points from a Dubai licence, once a year and only before you reach the 24-point limit. Dubai Police offers the course free of charge at its traffic department branches, booked through the Dubai Police app. After you reach 24 points, the course no longer removes points but can cancel a first suspension.
Do new drivers in Dubai have stricter black point rules?
Yes, new drivers on a probation licence face stricter black point rules in Dubai. Reaching 24 points means a six-month suspension instead of three, which is cancelled if the driver passes a rehabilitation course. Reaching 24 a second time during probation cancels the licence, and the driver cannot apply for a new test until one year has passed.
Key takeaways
- The black points Dubai Police records go up to 24 per offence, under the federal schedule of Ministerial Resolution No. 178 of 2017.
- Reaching 24 points within a year means a 3-month suspension the first time, 6 months the second and 1 year the third.
- Points are deleted 12 months after you pay the fine, so pay promptly.
- Check your total in the Dubai Police app with UAE Pass, or in the MOI UAE or TAMM apps for other emirates.
- A free Dubai Police course removes 8 points once a year, but only before you reach 24.
- Probation licence holders face 6 months at the first limit and cancellation at the second.
Sources
- Road safety: UAE traffic law, The UAE Government portal (updated 1 October 2026)
- List of traffic offences and violations, Ministerial Resolution No. 178 of 2017, u.ae
- Ministerial Resolution No. 178 of 2017 on Rules and Procedures of Traffic Control, UAE Legislation (Arabic)
- Federal Decree-Law No. 14 of 2024 on Traffic Regulation, UAE Legislation
- Pay Vehicle Fines, Roads and Transport Authority
- Dubai Police
- Ministry of Interior
