Dubai's cameras photograph number plates, not drivers. So when a rental car is caught speeding or running a red light, the fine is first issued against the car, which is registered to us. What happens next is the part that surprises visitors.
How a fine reaches you
When a fine is issued against one of our cars, we match its date and time to the rental agreement covering that moment and send it to the renter at the amount Dubai Police set, with the police record attached so you can see exactly what it was for.
Fines are not always instant. Some appear on the system the same day; others take days or weeks, so a fine may turn up once the car is back with us and, for visitors, after you have flown home. That is why we may contact you once the rental is over, and why the record always comes with the charge.
Black points
Many offences carry black points as well as a fine. On a rental, the points attach to the driver, not to NCK: the renter is registered as the driver for the period, so points are recorded against your licence details in the UAE traffic system. For visitors this rarely has a practical effect, but residents should take it seriously, as enough points lead to a suspension.
The fines visitors get most often
The usual ones are speeding on the motorways, where limits change along the same road, parking without paying in a public zone, and using a phone while driving. Running a red light is less common and much more serious, with a large fine and black points. Our Dubai speed limits guide explains how the cameras work.
Salik tolls are not fines. They are normal road charges billed at cost; see Salik on a rental car.
Parking
Most streets in the busy parts of Dubai are paid parking zones, marked by RTA signs and meters. You pay through the RTA's apps, by SMS from a UAE number, or at the meter. If you are unsure whether a space is paid, assume it is. Mall and hotel car parks are separate and run by the property, not the RTA.
If a fine looks wrong
Tell us as soon as you receive it. Objections to a fine are made to Dubai Police, and the useful evidence is usually the time: if the fine falls outside your rental period, the agreement and the handover times show it, and we will send those to you.
Avoiding them
- Put the destination in before you drive, so you are not looking at the phone at 100 km/h.
- Read every speed sign. Limits can drop from 120 to 80 on the same road.
- Pay for parking, every time, even for ten minutes.
- Do not count on a margin above the limit. None is published.
Fines are one of the few things that can be added to a rental bill after the event, and the easiest to avoid. Everything else, from insurance to delivery, is settled before you drive.
