Traffic Fines, Black Points & Salik on a Leased Car in Dubai: The Complete 2026 Guide

You do — the driver, not the leasing company. Although the leasing company is the registered owner of the vehicle, the lease agreement makes the driver in possession responsible for every traffic fine, black point and Salik toll the car incurs.

Black points go on your personal driving licence, not on the company. Salik tolls are billed against the tag travelling with the car and are yours to cover. In practice: drive the leased car exactly as if you owned it outright, because financially — for penalties — you do.

All figures below reflect Dubai rules as published in 2026. Amounts and thresholds are set by UAE authorities and can change — always verify current figures on the official Dubai Police, RTA and MOI channels.

The fine is only half the penalty. The black points and the vehicle impoundment are usually the part that hurts:

Using a mobile phone while driving — AED 800 fine + 4 black points.

Not wearing a seatbelt (driver or passenger) — AED 400 fine + 4 black points.

Jumping a red light (light vehicle) — AED 1,000 fine + 12 black points + 30-day vehicle impoundment.

Jumping a red light (heavy vehicle) — AED 3,000 fine + licence suspension.

Exceeding the speed limit by more than 60 km/h — AED 2,000 fine + 12 black points + 30-day vehicle impoundment.

Reckless / severe driving offences — up to AED 3,000 + 23 black points + 60-day vehicle seizure.

A single offence can carry between 2 and 24 black points. Note what impoundment means on a lease: the car is seized while your monthly payment continues — one red light can cost you the fine, the points, and a month without the vehicle you're paying for.

Dubai also runs AI-powered cameras that automatically detect mobile-phone use and seatbelt violations — no traffic stop required. The fine simply arrives by SMS.

Accumulate 24 black points within 12 months and your licence is suspended. The suspension length escalates with repetition:

- First time reaching 24 points — licence suspended for 3 months. - Second time — suspended for 6 months. - Third time — suspended for 1 year, plus you must retake driving lessons and the test at an authorised driving school.

Two details people get wrong:

1. Points expire one year from the date of the violation — not from the date you pay the fine. Paying early clears the money, not the points. 2. You are notified by SMS within about 48 hours of the violation, stating the offence, the fine and any points. If you're not receiving these, your mobile number on the traffic file is likely outdated — fix that first.

On a leased car this is the real risk. The fine is recoverable money; a suspended licence means you legally cannot drive the car you keep paying for every month. Points, not dirhams, should shape how you drive.

Salik is Dubai's automatic toll system — gantries charge your tag each time you pass. Since the move to variable pricing, the rate depends on when you drive:

- Peak hours (weekdays 06:00–10:00 and 16:00–20:00) — AED 6 per crossing. - Off-peak (10:00–16:00 and 20:00–01:00) — AED 4 per crossing. - 01:00–06:00 daily — free. - Sundays — flat AED 4 all day.

Shifting a commute by twenty minutes across four gates a day is a genuine monthly saving.

The fine to avoid: crossing with insufficient balance triggers an AED 50 fine (applied to the first five trips per day). If it isn't settled within 5 working days, that fine escalates to AED 200. It's the cheapest penalty in Dubai to avoid entirely — just keep the tag topped up.

On a leased car, confirm with your manager which Salik account the vehicle's tag is linked to, and keep it positive.

Dubai runs fine-discount mechanisms that reward prompt payment:

- Up to 35% off for settling within 60 days of the violation. - Seasonal campaigns — around Ramadan, National Day and similar occasions — have offered reductions of up to 50%. - RTA and Salik fines are usually excluded from these traffic-fine discount schemes, so don't count on a discount saving you from an unpaid-Salik penalty.

Discount terms are announced by the authorities and vary by campaign; check the Dubai Police app for what currently applies to your specific fines. The practical rule: check monthly, pay promptly — waiting rarely gets cheaper, and never clears points.

Make this a monthly habit — the first of the month is easy to remember:

- Dubai Police app / website — Dubai fines by plate or traffic file number. - RTA Dubai Drive app — fines, Salik balance and vehicle status in one place. - MOI UAE Traffic app — aggregates fines across all seven Emirates; essential if you drive intercity to Abu Dhabi or Sharjah.

Because a leased car is registered to the leasing company, ask your DYD manager which identifier to use — plate + emirate, or the traffic file number — so your search returns the right vehicle. Two minutes a month prevents both nasty surprises and escalating penalties.

If someone else was genuinely driving your leased car when the violation happened, UAE law provides an official route to move the fine and the black points to them.

The legitimate process in Dubai:

1. Contact Dubai Police on 800-777 (or start the request in the Dubai Police app, for violations in Dubai). 2. Both parties attend a police station together — the registered driver and the person who was actually driving. 3. Both provide valid IDs and written consent to the transfer. 4. Police complete the transfer; the fine and the points move to the actual driver's licence.

This exists for real situations — your spouse borrowed the car, a colleague drove to a meeting, a family member ran an errand. Because the vehicle is leased, tell your DYD manager as well: the registered owner is the leasing company, and a clean documented paper trail makes the process straightforward.

Now the warning that matters. Some people treat this mechanism as a market — paying a stranger to 'take' their black points so an accumulating licence stays clean. Do not do this. The transfer procedure requires both parties to formally declare who was actually driving. Naming someone who was not behind the wheel is a false declaration to the police — a criminal matter in the UAE, not a clever workaround. It exposes both people to prosecution, and it is not something any licensed company will help with.

The legal transfer is a genuine correction of the record. Anything else is fraud with your residency and your record on the line.

- Respect the posted limit — UAE radars are strict and Dubai's cameras are increasingly AI-driven; assume no tolerance buffer. - Phone in a cradle, never in hand — AED 800 + 4 points, and the cameras catch it automatically now. - Seatbelt for every passenger — AED 400 + 4 points each, also camera-detected. - Never use the hard shoulder except in a genuine emergency. - Watch school zones and 25–40 km/h residential limits — cheap to obey, expensive to miss. - Keep Salik topped up — the AED 50 → AED 200 escalation is pure avoidable waste. - Check fines monthly and pay within 60 days for the discount. - Clear everything before your lease term ends so ownership transfer or renewal is clean.

On a lease, all of this is simply good ownership behaviour — with the bonus that your manager is a single point of contact if anything needs the registered owner's involvement.

*Figures current for 2026 and specific to Dubai unless stated; penalties differ in other Emirates. Verify current amounts on the official Dubai Police, RTA and MOI channels. This guide is general information, not legal advice.*

Who pays traffic fines on a leased car in Dubai?

The driver, not the leasing company. Although the leasing company is the registered owner, the lease agreement makes the driver in possession responsible for all fines, black points and Salik tolls. Black points attach to your personal driving licence.

How many black points suspend your licence in the UAE?

24 black points accumulated within 12 months triggers suspension. The first suspension is 3 months, the second is 6 months, and the third is 1 year plus mandatory retraining and a retest at an authorised driving school.

When do black points expire in the UAE?

One year from the date of the violation — not from the date you pay the fine. Paying a fine early clears the money but does not remove the points.

How much is the fine for using a phone while driving in Dubai?

AED 800 plus 4 black points. Dubai now uses AI-powered cameras that detect mobile-phone use automatically, so the fine can arrive by SMS without any traffic stop.

What does running a red light cost in Dubai?

For a light vehicle: AED 1,000, 12 black points and 30-day vehicle impoundment. For heavy vehicles it rises to AED 3,000 plus licence suspension. On a leased car, impoundment means you keep paying the monthly while the vehicle is seized.

How much is Salik per crossing in Dubai?

AED 6 during peak hours (weekdays 06:00–10:00 and 16:00–20:00), AED 4 off-peak (10:00–16:00 and 20:00–01:00), free between 01:00 and 06:00 daily, and a flat AED 4 all day on Sundays.

What is the fine for crossing Salik with insufficient balance?

AED 50, applied to the first five trips per day. If it is not settled within 5 working days it escalates to AED 200 — which is why keeping the tag topped up matters.

Can I get a discount on Dubai traffic fines?

Yes — up to 35% for paying within 60 days of the violation, and seasonal campaigns (Ramadan, National Day) have offered up to 50%. RTA and Salik fines are usually excluded from these schemes. Check the Dubai Police app for what currently applies.

Can I transfer a traffic fine and black points to the person who was actually driving?

Yes, legally. Contact Dubai Police on 800-777 or use the Dubai Police app, then both parties attend a police station together with valid IDs and provide written consent. The fine and points move to the actual driver.

Is it legal to pay someone to take your black points?

No. The transfer procedure requires both parties to formally declare who was actually driving. Naming someone who was not behind the wheel is a false declaration to the police — a criminal matter in the UAE that exposes both people to prosecution. The legal transfer exists only to correct the record when someone else genuinely drove.

How do I check fines on a car registered to a leasing company?

Use the Dubai Police app, RTA Dubai Drive app, or the MOI UAE Traffic app (covers all Emirates). Ask your lease manager which identifier to use — plate plus emirate, or the traffic file number — since the vehicle is registered to the leasing company.