UAE's Traffic Law: Severe penalties for drunk driving and narcotic substance use

Dubai: Driving under the influence in the UAE carries severe consequences, with the country’s updated traffic law imposing steep fines, jail terms, and even licence suspension or cancellation for repeat offenders.

Federal Decree-Law No. 14 of 2024 on Traffic Regulation, which came into effect on March 29, 2025, outlines strict penalties for motorists caught driving under the influence of alcohol, narcotics, or psychotropic substances.

Clause (1) of Article 35 highlights the specific penalties for driving under the influence of alcohol. It states that anyone who drives or attempts to drive a vehicle on the road while under the influence of alcohol shall be subject to imprisonment and a fine ranging from Dh20,000 to Dh100,000, or one of these two penalties.

Not only does drunk driving result in imprisonment and traffic fines but there are also penalties on your driving licence:
• First offence – Licence suspension for a minimum of three months.
• Second offence – Licence suspension for six months.
• Third offence – Licence cancellation.

Clause (2) of the same article specifically highlights penalties for offenders driving under the influence of narcotic or psychotropic substances. The clause states that anyone who drives or attempts to drive a vehicle on the road while under the influence of narcotic or psychotropic substances, or similar substances, shall be subject to imprisonment and a fine ranging from Dh30,000 to Dh200,000, or one of these two penalties.

Similarly, there are also penalties on the driving licence:
• First offence – Licence suspension for six months.
• Second offence – Licence suspension for one year.
• Third offence – Licence cancellation.

According to Article 36 of the new traffic law, if an offender is caught driving with a suspended licence, they shall face imprisonment for three months and a fine of Dh10,000, or one of these two penalties.

According to Article 40 of the law, if a motorist is found to have caused the death of a person as a result of driving while intoxicated or under the influence of any narcotic or psychotropic substance, he or she faces a fine of not less than Dh100,000 and/or jail for a period of not less than one year.

This article was published on November 5, 2024 and has been updated since.