Many people in Dubai know the big road fines, but few know the small daily fines. A short metro ride can cost you money, and a drip from your air conditioner can cost you money too. Bolo Asan made this guide for people who live here. It lists common fines in Dubai from official law pages only. We checked every amount below on its official page on 7 November 2026. Dubai has no single fines list, since each authority sets fines inside its own law. The Roads and Transport Authority sets public transport fines, while Dubai Municipality sets cleanliness fines for streets and homes. Federal traffic rules add fines for drivers and riders, and each law prints its own table of acts and amounts. This guide follows those tables one by one.
Quick Answer: Small daily acts in Dubai carry fixed fines. If you eat on the metro, the fine is AED 100. If you spit in public, the fine is AED 500. If you enter a flooded valley, you pay AED 2,000 plus 23 traffic points. This guide lists the amounts from the official laws, so you can check your own fine before you pay.
Metro and Bus Fines Riders Miss
The metro and bus fines sit in one official schedule. Executive Council Resolution No. 3 of 2026 changed that schedule. The new schedule started on 17 February 2026, and it replaced the old Schedule 3 on public transport fines. The law calls the travel card the Unified Card, but riders in Dubai know this card as the Nol card. The acts below come from the 2026 schedule.
| Act on public transport | Fine |
|---|---|
| Riding without paying the fare | AED 200 |
| Failing to show the Unified Card on request | AED 200 |
| Using a card made for another person | AED 200 |
| Using an expired card | AED 200 |
| Using an invalid card | AED 200 |
| Using a counterfeit card | AED 500 |
| Selling Unified Cards without RTA permission | AED 200 |
| Smoking inside public transport or its buildings | AED 200 |
| Spitting or littering on public transport | AED 200 |
| Eating or drinking in a banned area | AED 100 |
| Placing feet on seats | AED 100 |
| Sleeping in shelters or banned sleeping places | AED 300 |
| Sitting in areas kept for set groups | AED 100 |
| Bringing animals inside, guide dogs aside | AED 100 |
| Causing a disturbance to other users | AED 100 |
| Damaging or breaking equipment or seats | AED 2,000 |
| Carrying alcoholic drinks inside | AED 500 |
| Carrying risky items like weapons or sharp tools | AED 2,000 |
| Selling or promoting goods inside | AED 200 |
| Ignoring inspectors or blocking their work | AED 200 |
| Misusing lifts, escalators or travelators | AED 100 |
| Climbing or jumping on transport buildings | AED 100 |
| Entering restricted areas past warning signs | AED 100 |
| Standing or sitting in non passenger areas | AED 100 |
| Using transport against RTA signboard rules | AED 200 |
| Opening doors on a moving vehicle | AED 400 |
| Carrying items that annoy or endanger users | AED 400 |
| Blocking the driver view or distracting the driver | AED 400 |
| Using a safety or security device without need | AED 4,000 |
The safety device fine stands far above the rest. If you use a safety or security device without need, the fine is AED 4,000. The schedule names emergency exits inside that same act, so keep your hands off emergency buttons and exits. Use them only in a real emergency.
Metro parking carries its own daily fine. If you leave a car in metro user parking too long, you pay AED 100 for each extra day. The total for this act stops at AED 1,000, so plan your parking time before you start your trip.
Clean Streets Fines at Home and Outside
Dubai Municipality fines keep streets, beaches and parks clean. The hygiene schedule sits under Local Order No. 11 of 2003. Executive Council Resolution No. 14 of 2015 updated that schedule. The schedule lists 42 acts with fixed amounts, and many acts happen during normal home life. These are the acts residents meet most.
| Cleanliness act | Fine |
|---|---|
| Spitting in public places | AED 500 |
| Spitting or littering paan residue in public | AED 1,000 |
| Littering waste in public places | AED 500 |
| Disposing of waste outside set disposal sites | AED 1,000 |
| Dumping waste in sea, beaches, creek or ports | AED 1,000 |
| Dumping tree or garden waste in wrong places | AED 1,000 |
| Spilling car wash water in wrong places | AED 500 |
| Air conditioner water dripping on pavements or roads | AED 100 |
| Disposing of waste by open burning | AED 1,000 |
| Making a fire or barbecuing in a banned public place | AED 500 |
| Leaving pet waste in a public place | AED 500 |
| Affixing posters or ads that spoil public views | AED 1,000 |
| Moving a Dubai Municipality waste container without approval | AED 200 |
| Picking recyclable waste from a Municipality container | AED 1,000 |
| Damaging a waste container or its base | AED 1,000 |
| Parking near a waste container and blocking emptying | AED 1,000 |
| Leaving goods on a balcony, roof or public place | AED 500 |
| Leaving a vehicle unattended in a public place | AED 500 |
| Failing to clean or manage a building properly | AED 1,000 |
| Failing to provide or maintain waste containers | AED 500 |
| Putting harmful items inside a waste container | AED 1,000 |
The balcony rule catches many flat residents by surprise. The schedule fines items that spoil the look of a building. Goods left on a balcony can cost AED 500. The act covers roofs and public places too, and a tidy balcony keeps you clear of this fine.
Neglected cars also appear in this same schedule. If you leave a vehicle unattended in a public place, the fine is AED 500. The act must harm health, safety or the environment, and the law also allows impoundment of the vehicle. If you spill car wash water in the wrong place, the fine is AED 500. Keep your car clean and move it on time.
Buildings carry cleaning duties inside this schedule too. If a building is not cleaned or managed properly, the fine is AED 1,000. If it has no waste containers, or the containers are not maintained, the fine is AED 500. Harmful items inside a waste container bring a fine of AED 1,000. These rows hit building owners and managers most, and tenants feel them through building service charges later. Ask your building team how it handles waste rooms.
Tram Fines Drivers Forget Near the Tracks
The Dubai Tram runs along normal roads in some areas, and drivers share road space with the tram every day. Executive Council Resolution No. 1 of 2014 regulates the tram. Its Schedule 2 lists fines for acts near the tracks. The fine for crossing the tracks outside marked crossings is AED 1,000. A prohibited tram zone carries a fine of AED 1,000. The fine for waste on the tracks is AED 500. If you block the tram on its right of way, the fine is AED 3,000. The same schedule sets AED 2,000 for interference with tram safety or operations.
The red light rule at tram crossings hits hardest. If you drive through a red light there, the fine is AED 2,000 to AED 5,000. That amount applies with no accident at all. An accident with bodily injury raises the range to AED 5,000 to AED 15,000. An accident with a death raises the range again. That range runs from AED 10,000 to AED 30,000. Each case also brings a licence withdrawal period, and the shortest withdrawal period lasts thirty days.
Note: Schedule fines double for a repeat act within one year. The tram law caps that doubling at AED 500,000.
Rain and Valley Fines From Federal Traffic Rules
Rain in the UAE brings fines many drivers never heard about. The Ministry of Interior announced new rain violations in 2023. The changes sit inside Ministerial Resolution No. 178 of 2017. Article 113 covers gathering near valleys, torrents and dams. If you gather there during rainy weather, the fine is AED 1,000, and that act also adds six traffic points. Article 114 covers entering valleys with flowing rainwater. If you enter a flowing valley, the fine is AED 2,000, and it also adds twenty three traffic points. The law adds sixty days of vehicle impoundment there. Article 117 covers blocking the work of authorities. If you block traffic, ambulance or rescue work, the fine is AED 1,000, and that act adds four traffic points. It also adds sixty days of vehicle impoundment. These fines apply during emergencies, disasters and heavy rain. Read the Ministry of Interior news page for the full list. The wider rule changes are in UAE Traffic Rules 2027.
Warning: Never drive into a valley with flowing rainwater. The fine is AED 2,000 with 23 traffic points and 60 days of vehicle impoundment. Many residents drive out to watch rain water for fun, but that fun trip can turn into three separate fines. Stay away from valleys and dams on rainy days, and follow police and civil defence instructions on the road.
E-Scooter Fine Riders Learn Too Late
Many riders buy an e-scooter and ride the same day. Dubai asks riders on set streets to hold a permit. The RTA runs a free online permit platform, and riders pass a short awareness course on the RTA website. The course teaches scooter rules, signs and safe areas, and riders must be at least sixteen years old. If you ride without a permit on those streets, the fine is AED 200. That rule sits under Executive Council Resolution No. 13 of 2022. The RTA e-scooter permit service lists the full rules.
Example: If you ride an e-scooter on a set street without a permit, the fine is AED 200. The RTA permit is free, and the course sits online. A valid UAE driving licence covers you instead, and so does an international driving licence. A motorcycle licence also covers you. Everyone else needs the free permit first, so take it before your first ride.
Common Fines in Dubai Inside Multi Storey Car Parks
Multi storey car parks in Dubai now read your plate, and Parkin runs these buildings for the RTA. Its multistorey page explains a service called PayLater. PayLater gives you forty eight hours to pay after leaving, but unpaid fees after forty eight hours bring a fine. That fine is AED 1,000 for one missed payment. The same page lists the normal parking prices. One hour costs AED 5.25 including VAT, and one full day costs AED 42 including VAT.
The page also gives drivers a small safety window. If you pay inside the building, you get twenty minutes to exit, and those twenty minutes carry no extra charge. Use that window and leave without stress. Set a phone reminder when you use PayLater, because a forgotten small fee grows into a big fine here. Public car park fines sit in Executive Council Resolution No. 5 of 2016.
Licence and ID Fines People Miss at Renewal Time
Some common fines in Dubai grow quietly month by month. The RTA driving licence renewal page names one of them. A late licence renewal costs AED 10 per month, and the RTA counts it from the licence expiry date. The total for this fine stops at AED 500. The same page says an eye test stays valid three years, so renew on time and this fine never starts. Renew your registration on time too. See UAE Car Registration Renewal 2026.
Emirates ID fines work in a similar daily way. The u.ae Emirates ID page states the late renewal fee. If you renew more than one month after expiry, you pay AED 20 daily. The total late fee stops at AED 1,000. The same page sets a duty to report data changes. Card holders must tell ICP about changes within one month. Late reports cost AED 20 for each day of delay, and that total also stops at AED 1,000. Update your phone number and address with ICP early.
How to Check and Pay a Fine
The RTA fines enquiry page covers vehicle and passenger fines. You can open it on the RTA website today, then enter your details or log in with UAE Pass. The page then shows your fines for payment. RTA also takes fines through its Mahboub chatbot, and the RTA Dubai app carries the same service. You can pay fines for other people on the app. The service gives a payment receipt by email, while passenger transport fines send the receipt by SMS too.
Keep one extra charge in mind at payment time. RTA adds a Knowledge and Innovation fee per fine, and that fee is AED 20 for each fine. It sits on top of the fine amount itself. The RTA page also lists what you need ready: one detail from a short list. The list holds fine number and plate details, and it also holds licence number and traffic file number. You can pay Dubai fines and other emirate fines there. The page even covers municipality and GCC country fines, and you can pay in cash or by card.
Tip: Check your fine on the RTA fines page before you pay. A dispute costs nothing, and RTA sends the result by SMS within 30 working days. An approved dispute brings a refund within 5 days. If your fine came from Sharjah, read how to check Sharjah traffic fines online.
How to Dispute a Fine You Think Is Wrong
The RTA fines page explains the dispute route in full. You can dispute illegal transport fines free of charge. Start on the RTA website dispute page, then log in with your username or UAE Pass. Enter the fine information on screen, and upload the documents the page asks for. The list starts with the fine number itself, and it also asks for your Emirates ID copy. It asks for vehicle ownership papers as well, and a bank letter helps if you already paid. That letter must show your bank account number. A payment receipt joins the same document list.
RTA saves your dispute inside its grievances system, and you receive a reference number for the dispute. RTA sends the result by SMS to you, and the page promises that reply within thirty working days. That period can grow if RTA needs more time. An approved dispute cancels the fine in the system, and RTA then refunds the money to your bank account. The refund lands within five days of approval. Keep every receipt until the refund arrives safely, and dispute only fines with real errors.
Daily Habits That Keep Your Money Safe
Small habits block most common fines in Dubai each week. Keep your Nol card balance ready before every trip, and eat and drink before you enter the metro. Keep your feet on the floor inside trains, and carry a small bag for your daily rubbish. Use bins on streets, beaches and parks, and clean up after your pet on every walk. Book barbecue spots only where the Municipality allows fires. Check your balcony from the street once a month, and fix air conditioner drips as soon as you see them.
Drivers can build the same kind of habit list. Give the tram its space at every crossing, and never cross tram tracks outside marked crossings. Keep away from valleys and dams during rain. Renew your driving licence before its expiry date, and update your Emirates ID details within one month. Pay multi storey parking fees the same day, and take the free e-scooter course before your first ride. These habits cost little time and save real money, so share this list with family members who drive here.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did my friend pay less for a metro act last year?
The public transport schedule changed in February 2026, when Executive Council Resolution No. 3 of 2026 replaced Schedule 3. The fine for opening doors on moving transport is now AED 400. Misuse of a safety device now costs AED 4,000. Always check the current schedule before you compare fines.
Does the eating fine cover chewing gum on the metro?
The schedule fines eating and drinking in banned areas, and it sets that act at AED 100. The schedule does not print a separate chewing gum row. Keep snacks and drinks closed inside your bag, and eat at the station food areas instead.
Can I pay a Sharjah fine on the RTA page?
Yes, the RTA fines page covers other emirates too. The page says you can pay fines issued in other emirates, and it also covers municipalities and GCC countries. Unpayable fines stay with the authority that issued them, so the page sends you to that authority for those.
What happens if I dispute a fine and win?
RTA cancels the fine inside its system first, then refunds the money to your bank account. The refund arrives within five days of approval. You track the dispute with its reference number, and RTA shares the result with you by SMS.
Is the e-scooter permit really free in Dubai?
Yes, the RTA permit platform charges no fee. RTA launched it as a free electronic platform, and you pass an awareness course on the RTA website. Licence holders skip the permit under the same rules. If you ride without one on set streets, the fine is AED 200.
Why does RTA add AED 20 to my fine payment?
The RTA fines page lists a Knowledge and Innovation fee. RTA charges AED 20 for each fine you pay, and the fee sits apart from the fine amount. It appears on vehicle and passenger transport fines, and your receipt shows the full amount you paid.
Can a building fine reach me as a tenant?
The hygiene schedule fines the person who breaks its rules. Some rows target building owners and managers directly, while other rows target the person doing the act. A pet waste act fines the pet owner, and a dirty building row fines the building side. Read your tenancy contract for shared building costs.
Where can I read the full official fines lists?
The Dubai legislation portal holds the law texts online. It holds the public transport schedule from 2026 and the hygiene schedule from 2015. The tram resolution from 2014 sits there too, and the Ministry of Interior site holds the rain violations. Read the law text before you rely on any summary.
Official Sources
- Executive Council Resolution No. 14 of 2015 — Dubai legislation portal, hygiene schedule
- Executive Council Resolution No. 3 of 2026 — Dubai legislation portal, public transport schedule
- Executive Council Resolution No. 1 of 2014 — Dubai legislation portal, tram
- Ministry of Interior rain violations — rain and valley fines
- Parkin multi-storey car parks — PayLater, prices and fines
- Executive Council Resolution No. 5 of 2016 — RTA, public car parks
- RTA e-scooter permit service — permit, age and exemptions
- RTA driving licence renewal — late renewal fine and eye test
- RTA fines enquiry — check, pay and dispute fines
- ICP portal — Emirates ID renewal and updates
Disclaimer: This guide gives general information about fines in Dubai, and it is not legal advice for your case. Laws and fine amounts can change after publication. Check the current amount on the official page before you pay or dispute a fine.
Last Updated: 8 November 2026