Dubai Police issued nearly 49,000 fines in the first 10 months of 2026 for driving vehicles with expired registrations. January recorded the highest monthly total, with 6,977 violations.

Brigadier Juma Salem bin Suwaidan, Director of the General Department of Traffic at Dubai Police, said 48,950 fines were issued for the offence between January and October this year.

Under UAE traffic regulations, driving a vehicle with an expired registration carries a fine of AED 500 and four black points on the driver’s record. The vehicle will also be impounded for seven days if its registration expired more than three months earlier.

January records highest number of violations

According to figures released by Dubai Police, January recorded the highest number of violations during the period, at 6,977. It was followed by February with 6,768 cases and March with 6,573.

July, April, May, June, August, September and October recorded 6,404, 2,601, 984, 4,965, 4,859, 4,763 and 4,056 violations, respectively.

Police warn over vehicle safety

Brigadier bin Suwaidan warned that driving vehicles that do not undergo regular technical inspections can increase the risk of mechanical failure and accidents.

He said periodic inspections help identify potential problems in critical vehicle components, including tyres, brakes, lighting systems and steering. Failing to address these defects could result in sudden breakdowns and accidents.

Dubai Police also warned of the financial and legal consequences of driving a vehicle without valid insurance, particularly if the driver is involved in an accident.

Vehicle registration renewal grace period in Dubai

According to official information from Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), vehicle registration is valid for up to 12 months, followed by a 30-day grace period for renewal. Vehicle owners must renew their registration within this period.

Renewing a vehicle registration requires valid insurance and, where applicable, passing a technical inspection and paying any outstanding fines. If an owner fails to renew within two months of the registration’s expiry, their traffic file will be blocked and the RTA will notify them by text message.

Owners can check their vehicle registration status and follow the renewal process through the RTA website and smart app.