The Harsh Consequences of Drinking and Driving in the UAE

Welcome back to Lawgical with Ludmila, where we untangle legal knots so that you do not have to. I am Ludmila Yamalova, a US-qualified lawyer based in Dubai. In each episode, we break down complex laws into clear, practical insights that you can actually use.

In today’s episode, we are talking about drinking and driving in the UAE, or driving under the influence of alcohol. Despite the UAE’s, and Dubai’s in particular, vibrant nightlife and social culture, the rule has not changed: there is zero tolerance for alcohol while driving.

This is a strict legal standard, regularly enforced, with consequences that can touch every aspect of a person’s life: from their driving licence to their car, to their freedom, their immigration status, and even their criminal record. And this, by the way, applies across the board. It applies to UAE nationals, residents, expats, tourists, short-term visitors—anyone operating a vehicle, whatever that vehicle might be: car, motorcycle, scooter, anything with wheels and a licence plate.

Importantly, you do not need to be speeding, swerving, or causing an accident. Even a routine checkpoint, a random stop, or a post-accident situation can trigger mandatory alcohol testing.

So now, let us break it down. What does this zero tolerance really mean? What law governs it? How do these cases move through the system—from the time of a police check, all the way until the final judgment and the penalties that may be imposed? And how do the authorities detect or apprehend such cases? Finally, what are the safest and most practical alternatives to avoid ending up on the wrong side of the law?

Legal Framework: What Law Governs Drinking and Driving?

Let us start with the legal framework. What is the law that governs drinking and driving in the UAE?

There are two main sets of laws:

1. The Traffic Law
   The main law is the federal traffic law: Federal Decree-Law No. 14 of 2024, a very new law that came into effect in 2025. The good news is that while it still maintains zero alcohol tolerance in the context of driving, the penalties have been lessened compared to the previous law. However, the standard for how much one can drink and then sit behind the wheel remains the same: 0%.

   The penalties under this law are different, multiple, and we will speak about them shortly.

2. The Penal (Criminal) Law
   The other law is the UAE Penal Law or UAE Criminal Law. This law, among other things, sets standards for:

   • when and under what circumstances a person can be detained,

   • for how long they can be detained, and

   • the general process of how the case travels from one authority to another.

Under both laws, driving under the influence is not treated lightly, nor is it handled administratively as quickly or as casually as some may think.

There are often anecdotes or stories of people who say, “Yes, we know drinking and driving is not okay, but it will just result in a financial fine.” And in some cases, that might be how it feels from the person’s perspective: they are apprehended, alcohol is detected, they are released, the case progresses through the system, and at the end, they “only” pay a fine, and in their minds, the case is resolved.

But behind the scenes, there is much more going on. There is a formal legal process that must be followed from start to finish. It is not just a fine akin to a traffic ticket where you pay it and you are done.

In fact, at a high level, it ends up being a proper court case, administered by a traffic court, but still a fully formal criminal case with all the procedural steps that entails.

Types of Penalties

The penalties are fairly significant and quite diverse. They can include:

1. Financial Fines
   There will always be a fine. The fine ranges from AED 20,000 to AED 100,000, depending on aggravating factors such as:

   • whether there was an accident,

   • property damage,

   • injury to others, or

   • whether it was a repeat offense.

   The more serious the circumstances, the higher the fine.

2. Jail / Detention
   The law provides for jail or detention. Courts may impose jail time, particularly in aggravated cases or repeat offenses.
   And remember, even before sentencing, there is often some pre-trial detention due to weekends or administrative delays. I will give specific examples of this later.

3. Driving Licence Penalties
   Your driving licence is also affected:

   • After the first offense, there is a minimum three-month suspension.
     Even if you “only” pay a fine and have minimal or no additional detention, your licence will still be suspended for at least three months.

   • For a second offense, there is a longer suspension or potential revocation.

   • For a third offense, there is extended suspension, licence revocation, and black points—effectively, your licence is cancelled.

4. Vehicle Confiscation
   Your vehicle is usually impounded for three months.
   It is possible to have an early release of the vehicle, but you must pay at least AED 6,000 to the authorities. In some cases, this can increase up to around AED 20,000, and that is separate from the fine and the licence consequences.

   In addition, the longer the car is impounded, the more you may also be liable for parking or storage fees.

5. Criminal Record
   A conviction becomes part of your police record. Removing or “cleaning” it is a process. You must:

   • pay the fines,

   • clear any travel bans, and

   • apply for a clearance or good standing certificate.

   This entire process is administratively involved. There are several steps required to ensure your file is completely clear.

6. Deportation
   Finally, for non-UAE nationals, there is the possibility of deportation. Courts can order deportation, especially if there was:

   • an accident,

   • injuries, or

   • repeat offenses.

   In practice, prosecutors very often request deportation as part of their standard prosecution submissions.

So, to summarise this part:

• The UAE still maintains 0% alcohol tolerance while driving.

• While the law may now be somewhat less harsh than before in terms of maximum penalties, the range of possible penalties is still extensive and severe: high fines, detention, licence suspension, car impoundment, a criminal record, and possible deportation.

How Cases Happen in Real Life: From Arrest to Judgment

Now let us talk about what this looks like in practice. Unfortunately, these kinds of cases have become more common than they used to be before the law changed.

People sometimes take the UAE’s legal evolution and general progressiveness a bit too literally and interpret it too liberally to suit their narrative:
“Well, yes, drinking and driving is technically not allowed, but I heard it is just a fine. I will pay it, like a traffic fine, and move on.”

The reality, in most cases, is far more significant and far more involved.

Interestingly, some of the simplest cases can become quite protracted and burdensome, while some more complicated cases end up with lighter punishment because of specific circumstances. I will share examples later—consider that your little cliffhanger.

First, let us outline the stages of the case from the moment of apprehension until final clearance:

1. Police stop and initial check

2. Detention / jail

3. Prosecution (Public Prosecutor)

4. Court (Traffic Court)

5. Post-judgment administrative clearances (fines, letters, car release, licence implications, record clearance)

Each of these stages involves multiple agencies, mandatory documents, and fairly strict procedural steps.

How Can Someone Be Apprehended?

How does this start? How can someone be apprehended in the first place?

The most obvious scenario is driving erratically and causing an accident. After an accident, it is generally expected that the police will conduct a breathalyser test, and if alcohol is detected, things move from there.

However, it does not have to involve an accident.

Other common scenarios include:

• Routine checkpoints
  There are regular checkpoints set up in different parts of the country, especially around nightlife areas. Authorities know which venues host which events and what kind of crowds they attract at certain times of the year. These areas are more likely to see alcohol-related incidents, and checkpoints are often positioned accordingly.

• Routine or random stops
  Police may carry out a routine stop, and if there is suspicion of alcohol, they can proceed with testing.

• Erratic driving captured by cameras
  The UAE is very technologically connected. Even if a police car is not directly behind you,traffic cameras all over the country can capture erratic driving, and this can trigger a police check.

Once you are stopped, the police will usually perform:

• a breathalyser test, and

• if you are taken into detention, a blood test.

These tests provide the evidence necessary for a conviction.

In the UAE, it is not typical, and generally not advisable, to refuse to cooperate with the police. If the police ask you to take a breathalyser test, you are expected to comply. If you refuse, you will likely be taken into detention anyway, and a blood test will be conducted there.

If the reading is zero, that is fine—there is no offense.
If there is any level of alcohol, you are typically immediately arrested.

Police Report and Ministry of Interior Report

Once apprehended, the police will:

• take you to the police station,

• prepare a police report, and

• impound your vehicle.

The police report includes:

• a detailed narrative of the circumstances under which you were apprehended,

• the alcohol reading, and

• details of what you said and how you behaved.

Remember, being stopped by police is stressful. People may say things hastily, forget details, or speak in a way they normally would not, but whatever is said can make its way into the report.

In addition, the Ministry of Interior (which manages the prisons/jails) issues another report. This includes:

• your detainment status,

• the type of facility you were placed in,

• whether you were allowed visitors or calls,

• your identification and residency status.

This Ministry of Interior report becomes part of the case file as well.

Detention: From Police Station to Jail

How do you go from being apprehended by police to being placed in jail?

Once you are picked up:

• you are taken to the police station, and

• from there, placed in jail as part of the process.

You can expect some form of detention. It is not just a slap on the wrist or immediate release with a fine. There will usually be some time spent in custody.

Detention can be as short as 24 hours (one night) or as long as up to 14 days. The duration is influenced by:

• weekends,

• holidays, and

• how quickly your file is seen by the prosecutor.

Under the criminal law:

• there is a default detention of up to 7 days,

• which can be renewed, up to a maximum of 14 days.

In many cases, prosecutors will renew detention by default and then refer the case quickly to the court, knowing that traffic court hearings move quickly and the court can address the case and any ongoing detention.

The Role of the Prosecutor

After the initial period with the police and the jail, the case file (police report + Ministry of Interior report + test results) is sent to the Public Prosecutor.

The prosecutor:

• reviews the file,

• holds a hearing with you, typically online while you are still in jail, and

• asks additional questions, including whether you have an alcohol licence and about the specific circumstances.

During this hearing:

• you can request bail, and

• the prosecutor decides whether to grant bail.

Based on:

• the case file, and

• what you say during the hearing,

the prosecutor prepares a formal accusation report and transfers the file to the traffic court.

Practically, you may remain in jail throughout this process. The timing depends heavily on when you were detained. For instance:

• if you are detained late on a Thursday night, you may not be seen by the prosecutor before the weekend, so you may remain in jail until Monday, because prosecutors generally do not work over the weekend.

• If there is a holiday week, detention can be extended even further before the first prosecutor hearing.

Because traffic cases move quickly in court, prosecutors often find it faster to:

• renew detention, and

• refer the case to court,

rather than dealing formally with bail applications.

We have seen cases where:

• the prosecutor’s hearing took place on Monday,

• the file was transferred on the same day, and

• the court hearing took place on Wednesday, with a judgment issued the same day.

Should You Appoint a Lawyer?

You can appoint a lawyer (local advocate) at various stages, including before the court hearing.

In simple, straightforward cases, however, it can sometimes be faster to let the system run its course without submitting an extensive written defence. Submitting formal defences and documents can prolong the case and, where there is ongoing detention, can inadvertently prolong your time in jail.

On the other hand, if there are important documents that can help your case, such as:

• proof of a valid alcohol licence,

• clarifications about your driving licence, or

• missing identification documents,

then an advocate can submit these via the prosecution portal to complete the file.

For more complicated cases, or where you are facing potentially aggravated charges, having an advocate prepare a proper defence for the court becomes more important.

Court Proceedings and Sentencing

Once the prosecutor transfers the file to court, the case is heard by the traffic court. The hearing is generally online if you are still in detention.

The prosecutor, in practice, often requests the maximum range of penalties available under the law. This “kitchen sink” approach means that the prosecution’s written request may include:

• the highest possible financial fines,

• extended detention, and

• deportation.

It does not necessarily mean all of these will be applied by the court, but they will often be requested.

The court then issues a judgment, which typically includes:

• a financial fine (for a first offense, often in the range of AED 20,000–100,000),

• a licence suspension (at least three months for a first offense), and

• notes regarding detention.

If you have already spent time in jail, you receive a credit against your fine of AED 100 per day spent in detention. For example:

• If you have been in jail for 10 days, you get AED 1,000 credited against your fine.

The logic is that detention is also a penalty. To avoid “double punishment”, the law allows one penalty to offset part of the other.

However, it is important to understand:

• Even after the judgment is issued,

• and even when it is only a fine (with licence suspension and no additional jail sentence),

• you do not automatically walk out of jail.

There are still several administrative steps needed to actually secure your release.

Post-Judgment: Fines, Release Letters, and Vehicle Retrieval

Once the judgment is issued:

1. Paying the Fine
   Someone—your lawyer, family member, or representative—must:

   • obtain a copy of the judgment, and

   • pay the fine.

2. Suspension of Search (Release Letter)
   After the fine is paid, they must apply via the prosecution portal for a letter often referred to as a “suspension of search” letter.
   This confirms that:

   • the judgment has been issued, and

   • the fine has been paid,
     so the authorities no longer need to “search” for you to enforce penalties.

   This letter is what actually authorises your release from jail.
   The judgment alone is not enough. The judgment plus proof of payment is still not always enough. The suspension of search letter is essential.

3. Vehicle Release Approval
   Separately, the prosecution must issue a vehicle release approval. With that:

   • you go to the relevant authority,

   • present the document, and

   • pay the impound fee (often around AED 6,000 or more).

   Your car is then released, but you cannot drive it yourself because:

   • your licence is suspended for three months.
     Someone else must accompany you to drive the car away.

4. Police Clearance / Good Standing Certificate
   If you want to ensure your file is completely clear and have official proof, you can apply through the police for a good standing or clearance certificate.
   This confirms that:

   • the case is final,

   • the judgment has been issued, and

   • all penalties and fines have been satisfied.

Appeal Period and Final Closure

The court’s judgment is still subject to appeal:

• The prosecutor can appeal within 15 days of the judgment.

• The Attorney General can appeal within 30 days.

So legally, the judgment can still be changed within those timelines, even if you have already been released and paid your fines.

Practically, you can feel more fully at ease about the finality of the case:

• after 30 days from the date of judgment,

• once the last appeal deadline has passed.

After that, combined with your:

• paid fine,

• suspension of search letter,

• vehicle release approval, and

• police clearance certificate,

you can be comfortable that your file is closed and your record is clear in the sense that you can still obtain a police clearance certificate. While this is technically a criminal case, it is not the type of record that automatically prevents you from getting such a certificate.

You will still, however, need to wait out the three-month licence suspension. Only after that period will you fully have your licence back and your driving life back on track.

Real-Life Case Examples

To illustrate how serious—and how varied—these outcomes can be, let me share a few real-life examples from practice. These are not scaremongering tactics; they are real client stories.

Client 1: “Small” Case, Big Impact

One client celebrated an event at a time of year when such celebrations are very common. There was a checkpoint in the vicinity of the venue.

• He had called a driver service to take his car home and had proof of this.

• The car was parked slightly away, and he tried to move the car forward to make it easier for the driver to find him.

• At that moment, he was stopped at the checkpoint.

• The police detected alcohol, carried out a breathalyser test, and the reading was high.

He was taken into detention on a Thursday night, which meant:

• No hearing with the prosecutor until Monday,

• So he spent:

  • Thursday night–Friday,

  • Saturday,

  • Sunday,
    in jail—three days.

On Monday, he had the online hearing with the prosecutor. The prosecutor immediately referred the case to court and deferred bail to the court, because the court hearing was scheduled very soon—in this case, the next day.

• The traffic court heard the case on Tuesday morning.

• A judgment was issued a few hours later.

The judgment:

• imposed a fine (AED 15,000, reduced by credits for days in detention),

• imposed a three-month licence suspension, and

• did not apply deportation or extended jail time, despite the prosecutor’s request for harsher penalties.

However:

• He was still in jail after the judgment.

• The fine had to be paid.

• Then a suspension of search letter had to be obtained.

• Only after that letter reached the jail was he actually released.

In total, for what might appear to be a “simple” incident:

• roughly a week in jail,

• around AED 20,000 in fines,

• plus around AED 6,000 for car impound,

• plus three months without a driving licence,

• and all the associated stress and disruption.

All this, even though he had arranged a driver and only moved the car slightly himself.

Client 2: Serious Underlying Facts, Lighter Outcome

Another client had, in some ways, a much more severe situation:

• Heavy drinking, including a cocktail of hard liquors,

• Driving at night with a passenger,

• Lost control, hit roadside infrastructure (such as a lamp or traffic light),

• Panicked and left the passenger in the car and fled the scene.

Leaving the scene of an accident is itself a separate offense.

However:

• He only turned himself in the next day.

• By that time, there was no alcohol left in his blood.

• Witnesses partially corroborated his account.

As a result:

• He was punished for leaving the scene and causing damage,

• but not for drinking and driving,

• because there was no evidence of alcohol in his system at the time of his interaction with police.

He received:

• a financial fine,

• but no detention.

So here, the underlying facts were more serious, but because of the timing, the legal outcome was lighter than in the first case.

Client 3: Mixed Circumstances in Another Emirate

A third client in Abu Dhabi:

• engaged in heavy drinking,

• drove erratically,

• had two accidents in one night,

• eventually crashed into a construction site or some kind of government-related property.

The police were involved, and a breathalyser test showed a high alcohol level.

He:

• spent one night in jail,

• then was released on bail the next day.

From there:

• The case proceeded from police → prosecution → court.

• He appeared online from home for the court hearing.

• His lawyers paid the fines.

• He did not feel the system as heavily as the first client because he was not in detention during most of the process.

The outcome:

• a higher fine (because there was property damage),

• three-month licence suspension,

• only one night in jail.

So compared to the first client, he paid more money but spent far less time in jail, despite arguably more serious facts.

What Do These Examples Show?

These examples show that:

• The outcomes can vary widely, depending on:

  • the emirate,

  • the timing (weekends, holidays),

  • the presence of injury or property damage, and

  • how and when you come into contact with the authorities.

• The zero tolerance standard is consistent,
  but the practical impact on your life can range from:

  • a heavy fine and a week or more in jail,
    to

  • a shorter detention with a higher fine,
    or

  • in some complex but unusual cases, a fine without a drinking-and-driving conviction because of evidentiary timing.

What is consistent, however, is that none of these outcomes are trivial.

Alternatives: Why Drinking and Driving Is Completely Unnecessary

Given how rigorous and multi-stage this process is, and how severe the potential consequences are, it is truly unnecessary to put yourself in this situation.

In the UAE, there are many alternatives:

• taxi services,

• Uber,

• Careem,

• and numerous designated driver services that will drive your car home for you.

These services are widely available and relatively affordable compared to:

• tens of thousands of dirhams in fines,

• impound fees,

• a criminal file,

• potential deportation, and

• days or weeks spent in jail.

You should absolutely not drink and drive under any circumstances in the UAE. It is simply not worth the risk.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the UAE’s zero tolerance policy for drinking and driving is enforced through a rigorous, multi-stage process involving:

• police,

• the Ministry of Interior (jails),

• prosecution, and

• the traffic courts.

Each phase—from arrest to release—includes:

• mandatory documentation,

• strict timelines,

• potential detention,

• significant financial penalties,

• licence and vehicle implications, and

• possible deportation for non-nationals.

Understanding this roadmap helps individuals and families:

• navigate the system more efficiently when cases do occur,

• avoid unnecessary delays,

• ensure all clearance steps are properly completed, and most importantly,

• appreciate why it is essential to avoid drinking and driving altogether.

That is all for this episode of Lawgical with Ludmila. If you found this episode useful and you like what we do, you can always find more on our website: lylawyers.com. We are also on Apple Podcasts and Spotify, and for the full experience, you can watch our video podcast on YouTube.

Until next time, stay informed, stay safe, and keep things lawgical.