For years a traffic camera in the UAE meant one thing: a radar that measures speed. Today many cameras run artificial intelligence on the video they capture, and they recognise behaviour, not just speed.
- Phone in handDh800 · 4 points
- No seat beltDh400 · 4 points
- TailgatingDh400 · 4 points
- Obstructing trafficDubai ITS
- Stopping in the roadDubai ITS
- SpeedingDh300–3,000
Dubai: five violations, detected automatically
At GITEX Global in October 2025 Dubai Police presented an intelligent traffic system that works on live video and detects, without an officer: not wearing a seat belt, using a mobile phone while driving, obstructing traffic, stopping in the middle of the road without reason, and tailgating. Earlier in 2025 Dubai installed cameras that detect seat belt use even through tinted windows.
Abu Dhabi: AI cameras since 2021
Abu Dhabi Police have deployed smart cameras with AI algorithms since 2021, targeting phone use and seat belts. They say a distracted driver is eight times more likely to crash, and that around 80% of accident victims were not wearing a seat belt.
The fines
| Offence | Fine | Black points |
|---|---|---|
| Phone use while driving | Dh800 | 4 |
| Not wearing a seat belt | Dh400 | 4 |
| Tailgating | Dh400 | 4 |
What this means for camera apps
An app cannot warn you about a behaviour camera the way it warns about a speed camera — the only protection is not doing it. What an app can do is keep your hands off the phone: Ghost runs in the background, warns with one tone and shows the detail on CarPlay, Android Auto or your Apple Watch, so there is no reason to pick the phone up.
