Dubai and the rest of the Emirates have some of the strictest policies in the world against drunk driving. Law enforcement has a zero-tolerance approach towards drunk driving. Fines, license suspensions, black points and even imprisonment can be imposed.
DUI in Dubai: What the law says
The governing statute is Federal Decree-Law No. 14 of 2024 on Traffic Regulation, which took effect on 29 March 2025. As Gulf News reports, Article 35 sets the penalty for driving under the influence of alcohol at imprisonment and a fine of AED 20,000 to AED 100,000, or one of the two. The licence penalty stacks on top: suspension for at least three months on a first offence, six months on a second, and cancellation on a third.
Black points and impound: what should we expect?
- DUI adds 23 black points to your licence: the top of the scale, the same tier the law reserves for driving in a way that endangers other people’s lives.
- The vehicle is confiscated for 60 days. Khaleej Times’ complete list of Dubai traffic fines and black points sets out both figures side by side.
- Reaching 24 black points inside 12 months can trigger a suspension on its own (separate from, and on top of, whatever the court decides).
Recent cases of DUI in Dubai
- September 2025 – Dubai: A motorist lost control of his car, veered off the road, mounted a curb and destroyed five metres of landscaped area. He was fined AED 15,000 with his licence suspended for three months. Nobody was hurt, and it still cost him a quarter of a year off the road.
- October 2024 – Dubai: Dubai Traffic Court jailed a driver for two years and fined him AED 100,000 for driving under the influence of psychotropic substances, in an uninsured vehicle, on an expired licence. His licence was suspended for a year, and deportation follows the prison term.
The real cost of DUI in Dubai
- Fines: AED 20,000-100,000 for alcohol cases, and AED 30,000-200,000 for narcotics cases.
- Imprisonment: A first conviction could also result in imprisonment, depending on the impact of the case.
- License penalties: 23 black points, vehicle impound and suspension of license or even cancellation.
- Reputation: A criminal record will adversely affect your current employment, visa and entry in other countries.
How to avoid drunk driving
- Plan your ride in advance: decide how you will get home if you plan to drink. For a long evening, booking an hourly driver up front covers the whole night rather than just the trip home.
- Designate a friend as a sober driver for the entire evening.
- Take a taxi or use safe driver services like Comfort Drive. The cost is minimal compared to a DUI case.
- Make your booking well in advance to avoid last-minute inconveniences.
- Never assume you are fit to drive after drinking. The UAE has a zero-tolerance alcohol policy.
An easy solution: Comfort Drive
Whenever you go out and get drunk, the best choice is to hire a professional safe driver to drive you home in your own car. Services like Comfort Drive are designed to prevent drivers from getting behind the wheel after a drink.
Final word
The UAE has stringent regulations that safeguard the rights of all road users. DUI can result in steep fines, black points, cancellation or suspension of driving licence, impoundment of the vehicle, and even prison in some court cases. The simplest way to avoid these consequences is clear: do not drive if you are under the influence of alcohol.
This article is for general awareness, not legal advice. If someone already faces charges, they should speak to a UAE-licensed lawyer.