Driving in Dubai as a visitor: speed cameras, fines and rental cars

Key points

Camera fines go to the car’s owner — the rental company charges them to you, usually with a fee.

Dubai’s radars are commonly set about 20 km/h above the limit; Abu Dhabi’s trigger at 1 km/h over.

Phone use at the wheel costs Dh800; AI cameras detect it.

Limits change often between sections and at emirate borders.

Dubai is easy to drive in: wide, well-signed roads, good lighting, and English on every sign. It is also one of the most heavily camera-monitored cities in the world, and visitors are caught by the same things again and again.

1. The fine comes later — on your card

Camera fines are linked to the plate. With a rental car, the rental company receives the fine, pays it and charges it to the card you left, usually with an administration fee. You may only find out after you are home.

2. Two different rulebooks

Dubai’s radars are commonly set about 20 km/h above the posted limit. Drive to Abu Dhabi — for the Grand Mosque, Yas Island or the Louvre — and that margin disappears: Abu Dhabi’s radars trigger at 1 km/h over. See Dubai to Abu Dhabi.

Sources: The National (11 September 2026), Gulf News / Dubai Police (12 September 2026).

3. The things cameras see besides speed

Phone in your hand: Dh800 and 4 black points.
No seat belt, front or back: Dh400.
Too close to the car in front: Dh400.

4. Common visitor mistakes

Following a local’s speed instead of the sign.
Missing a limit change on Sheikh Zayed Road between 120 and 100 km/h.
Swerving across lanes for a missed exit — the most common cause of accidents in the UAE in 2025. Take the next exit instead.

Questions and answers

Do tourists get speeding fines in Dubai?

Yes. The fine goes to the car’s owner; rental companies charge it to your card, usually with a fee.

Can I drive in Dubai with a foreign licence?

Visitors from many countries can drive with their home licence or an international driving permit; check the RTA rules for your country before renting.