How much is diya, and what does the motor insurer pay?
Diya for a person killed by mistake is AED 200,000, for a man or a woman. The at-fault vehicle's insurer pays what a court awards, with a AED 200,000 cap for the driver's own family.
What do the rules say?
| Person | Death | Disability |
|---|---|---|
| Diya for any person killed by mistake | AED 200,000 | Arsh, set by the court |
| Pedestrian, passenger or other driver | What a court awards, no upper limit | What a court awards, plus treatment costs |
| Spouse, parent or child of the insured or driver | Up to AED 200,000 | Disability % x AED 200,000, plus treatment costs |
| Driver of a rental car, public transport or driving school car | Up to AED 200,000 | Disability % x AED 200,000 |
| Driver who caused the accident, or the insured | Excluded from third party cover | Excluded from third party cover |
Worked example: the driver's wife is left with a 30% disability. The insurer pays 30% x AED 200,000 = AED 60,000, plus her treatment costs.
A court can add compensation on top of diya or arsh for material and moral harm they do not cover. Read blood money and compensation after a road injury.
Sources
- The UAE raises a woman's diya in accidental killing to AED 200,000Emarat Al Youm. Arabic, 1 February 2020. Quotes Federal Decree-Law No. (1) of 2019. Read 12 November 2026.
- The Unified Motor Vehicle Insurance Policy Against Third Party LiabilityCBUAE Rulebook. Read 4 November 2026.
- Federal Decree by Law No. (25) of 2025 Promulgating the Civil Transactions LawUAE Legislation portal. In force since 1 June 2026. Articles 253 to 272 and 966. Read 12 November 2026.