What fines and penalties can you face after an accident in the UAE?

Some accident offences are fixed fines with black points. Leaving an injured person, causing an injury or a death, and crossing the road away from a crossing go to court.

What is the fine for leaving the scene of a minor accident?

AED 500, 8 black points and 7 days’ impound, for not stopping after causing a small accident.¹ The fine applies even when nobody is hurt.

Sources for Table 1

The Arabic schedule on the UAE Legislation portal¹ and the English list hosted on u.ae.² Emirates 24|7 reports the AED 3,000 fine for item 54.³

Stop, move off the road if nobody is hurt, and report within 3 hours.⁴

Can you be fined for not moving your car after a minor accident?

Yes. Abu Dhabi Police apply item 56, stopping in the middle of the road without reason, to drivers who do not move to the nearest safe spot after a minor accident: AED 1,000 and 6 black points.⁵ The UAE Government’s emergency guidance tells drivers to move to the shoulder lane after a minor accident, and to leave the cars in place if anyone is hurt.⁶

What if someone was injured and the driver left?

That is a crime under Article 38 of the traffic law: not stopping without an acceptable excuse after an accident that injures people. The Arabic text, which prevails, sets up to one year in prison and a fine of AED 50,000 to AED 100,000, or one of the two.⁷ The same article covers an owner who will not give information that would show who was responsible.⁴

If you saw the other driver leave, note the plate and call 999. See hit and run.

What are the penalties for causing a death?

Prison and a fine of at least AED 50,000, or one of the two, under Article 40. The minimum rises to one year in prison and AED 100,000 if the driver ran a red light, was under the influence of alcohol or drugs, was driving on a suspended or cancelled licence, or drove into a valley in flood.⁴

A court that convicts a driver of a driving crime may also suspend the licence for up to three years.⁴ Blood money and compensation to the family are separate; see blood money.

Can a pedestrian be punished for causing an accident?

Yes. Crossing away from a designated crossing and causing an accident carries prison and a fine of AED 5,000 to AED 10,000, or one of the two. On roads with a limit of 80km/h or more, crossing away from a crossing carries at least three months and at least AED 10,000, or one of the two, accident or not.⁴ See pedestrian and passenger claims.

The small print

Fines and black points come from the schedule to Ministerial Resolution 178 of 2017, still applied under Federal Decree-Law 14 of 2024. The Arabic schedule and the English list differ on item 54.^1,2 The court offences are Articles 38, 39, 40 and 42 of the Decree-Law, in force since 29 March 2025.⁴ On Article 38 the English translation gives up to two years and an upper fine written as “(AED 100.000) one million AED”. The portal says the Arabic text prevails.

The law’s executive regulation, Cabinet Resolution 174 of 2026, takes effect on 1 January 2027.⁸