Under the UAE’s new traffic law, set to take effect next year, serious offenses such as drunk driving, reckless driving, or non-compliance with traffic officers may result in jail time.
Article 31 of Federal Decree-Law No. 14 of 2024 on Traffic Regulation details offenses for which members of the Traffic Control Authority—responsible for regulating traffic and patrolling under the Ministry of Interior or Police commands—can arrest a driver. According to the law, a traffic officer may detain a driver if caught committing any of the following offenses:
- Causing death or injury to a person while driving.
- Causing severe property damage due to driving.
- Driving recklessly or in a way that endangers public safety.
- Operating a vehicle under the influence of alcohol, drugs, or other substances that impair control.
- Refusing to provide their name, address, or official ID, or providing false information when a crime under this Article has occurred.
- Attempting to flee the scene of an accident that endangers individual safety or evades a traffic stop order, which may lead to a road chase.
The new law, issued in September 2024, will officially come into force on March 29, 2025.
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