Suddenly discovering a traffic fine from Saher or a speed camera that you need to pay several hundred dirhams or riyals for is frustrating, and driving fines tend to add up if you ignore them. Each time you go to renew your vehicle registration you may be faced with several additional fines.
The great news for UAE and Saudi Arabian drivers, and the reason for this guide that TechMLA has created, is that there are legal, sustainable options available for both countries to significantly reduce fines or even completely eliminate them. The government has created a legal framework, and these options do not involve shady shortcuts, nor do they involve agents on WhatsApp. Incentives for early payments or a government sponsored fine appeal are available for drivers that are informed.
TechMLA has created a country specific step-by-step guide
The UAE and Saudi Arabia, and has provided the information in the simplest terms, to minimize liability for fines.
It is important to first understand the difference between a fine reduction and a fine removal, because many people confuse the two terms and as a result, incur additional expense.
A fine reduction refers to the situation in which a driver accepts responsibility for a violation, but pays less, typically as a result of a time sensitive government sponsored discount. A fine removal refers to a situation in which a driver disputes a violation and the government agrees to cancel the fine.
It is actually pretty common for the second scenario to happen. Cameras can malfunction when reading plates. Someone can put up a sign and take it down the next day. A fine can be issued to a car you no longer own that was sold months ago. We will explain both paths for each country in this TechMLA guide so you can choose the one that fits your situation best.
How To Reduce A Fine In The UAE
The easiest way to pay less a fine in the UAE is to just pay it sooner rather than later.
In Dubai, if you pay a fine within 60 days the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) grants you a 35% discount. The 60 days starts the day you are sent the fine via SMS so don’t ignore it! If you let it go beyond the 60 days then the fine shrinks to approximately 25%. If you let it go for an even longer period then you will have to pay the entire fine and your car’s registration will be blocked until you pay the accumulated fines.
Abu Dhabi has the same rule and even the same 35% discount for paying fines within the first 60 days so you also should not ignore the fine SMS! Even if you go beyond the 60 days but pay the fine within one year you will also get a 25% discount.
The same early payment discount also applies to the other Emirates within the UAE and the discount is usually 25% to 50% depending on the situation.
Additional schemes include:
- Installment plans for large fines. When a fine exceeds AED 5,000, it is likely that the relevant authorities will agree to a payment plan. If you keep current with the plan, you will be eligible to receive a discount (approximately 25%) for the duration of the plan.
- Amnesty events. Several times each calendar year, various Emirates in the UAE offer a discount of up to 50% on various fines in connection with UAE National Day (earliest December), Eid, and other events that correlate with the month of Ramadan. For example, during anticipated events in December 2023, many Emirates (such as Ajman, Fujairah, Ras Al Khaimah, and Umm Al Quwain) will offer a 50% discount on fines.
Where can you find information on these schemes? Use official channels, including: RTA Dubai Website, Dubai Police App, Emirates Vehicle Gate, Ministry of Interior App, etc. After signing in with UAE Pass, you can find information by inputting your traffic file number, Emirates ID, or vehicle license plate number. Discounts, if eligible, will be displayed prior to the payment.
As a disclaimer, these discounts only reduce the fine. Points will not be removed, and they will not apply to any serious offences (such as reckless driving or driving under the influence). Reducing the fine and retaining your points is not possible, as these are two separate and distinct issues.
Removing a fine in the UAE (The appeal route)
This is the bit most people would not expect. Even if you think a fine was levied correctly, you still have the option to contest it, with no fee to pay.
It’s astonishing what can go wrong. It could be a glitch in the radar, a fraction of a misread, perhaps a violation logged after you no longer owned the vehicle. All of these merit an appeal.
This is how you do it in your emirate:
- Dubai: Via the MOI app (log in with UAE Pass) or the DubaI Police app or website. In the traffic services section, select the fine and raise your complaint with justification and evidence. Alternatively, you can call the General Directorate of Traffic at +971 4 606 3555 or go to a police station.
- Abu Dhabi: Go to the TAMM grievance service and select “Request a Grievance for Transport Violations,” or use the Abu Dhabi Police e-complaints service.
- Sharjah: Send a message via WhatsApp to +971 6 517 7555 or via the MOI app, Help and then Complain.
- Ajman and the northern emirates: Use the Ajman Police app to file, or the MOI app.
Evidence is everything. Upload clear photos of the violation and accompanying timestamped footage if you have it. Think about what you want to say, and how you say it. Emotional messages do not make much of an impact for reviewing officers.
Two basic principles to know. First, do not pay the disputed fine. Paying typically means you agree the fine is valid. Second, after rejection, if you think you are still correct, you go to the next level, which is first to the Public Prosecution at that emirate, and then to a traffic court which will have a binding decision.
If your evidence is accepted, the fine is canceled, and the black points are removed. That is the main goal.
Keep the time limits in mind. In Dubai you usually have 30 days to make your appeal from the time of the violation. In Abu Dhabi you have almost 60 days. The sooner you make your appeal, the better your chances.
Reducing your fine in Saudi Arabia
The logic is similar in Saudi Arabia, but the platforms and numbers are different.
Article 75 of the Traffic Law is the basis for a general standard of a 25% reduction for payment of fines in the first 30 days. As a general principle in 2026, any new violation will be eligible for payment and a 25% reduction if paid within the first 30 days. Some official sources even provide a 45 day window. Since the number of days has varied with each communication, always check for the most recent reduction on your Absher or Efaa accounts.
Need more time and want to push your payment deadline? You can request a payment extension (grace period) via Absher. The extension could grant up to an additional 75 days from your settlement deadline time, while still allowing you to keep your payment reduction eligibility. This is especially useful if you have a tight cash flow for that month.
After that you have sporadic, large scale amnesties. Following a Royal Decree, in 2024, the Ministry of Interior offered a 50% reduction on old fines for violations issued prior to 18 April 2024, and a 6 month period to pay those new fines. That specific campaign is over, but in general, the Saudi government does give amnesties on older fines. So this could be a worthwhile use of your time to check Absher and Efaa for any amnesties before paying old violations.
The Kingdom gives you plenty of official ways to pay and check:
- Absher (absher.sa) — the main platform; Services, Traffic, query your violations
- Muroor app — quick inquiry and payment on iOS and Android.
- Efaa (efaa.sa) — users’ top choice in English, view and pay all active fines.
- Tamm — a clean, unified violations overview, popular with fleet owners.
- SADAD — payment through any Saudi bank app or ATM using biller code 071 (Ministry of Interior, Traffic Violations).
Consider how the points system works. Everyone starts out with 24 points. With each violation, points are deducted. The maximum number of points is 0, at which time the driver’s license is revoked. The fine is paid, but the points are deducted. The same system is used in the UAE.
Objection related to fine removal in Saudi Arabia
If you believe that a fine is incorrectly issued in Saudi Arabia, you can register an objection. Most people, however, do not understand the time limitations. You can lodge an objection only within 30 days of the violation. An objection can be lodged using the Absher application (Services, Traffic), the Muroor application, or by going to a traffic department. The reason for the objection must be legitimate (i.e. the violation was issued for a different vehicle, there was an error in the camera, etc., or you were not driving the vehicle).
TechMLA is warning you about a situation that happens to many drivers. If you lodge an objection that is rejected, the 30 day limit for the fine loitering (or “grace period”) is counted from the date of the violation, not from the date the objection is rejected. This means that if you lodge an objection that is rejected, you lose the right to pay the fine at the reduced rate. This is why you must be sure to have a good reason to lodge an objection, and you must do so promptly.
According to Article 75, if a lodged appeal is not acted upon, or if the appeal is rejected, or if the amount is determined within the limit, the decision is deemed to be accepted, and the necessary actions will be taken to impose the penalty. This is justification for substantiating your objection with supporting documents.
And whatever you do, don’t use random posts on social media about Saudi “fine forgiveness” to inform yourself. The official government portal is the only reliable source.
The truth about “secret discounts”
This is important enough that TechMLA will say this directly.
There is no permanent secret discount. No legitimate service is going to charge you to “unlock” 50% discount from your fines. Genuine campaigns in both countries are made public by the RTA, Dubai Police, Abu Dhabi Police, and the Saudi Ministry of Interior, and the reduced fine is reflected in the official application or website.
If you receive a WhatsApp message, SMS message, or are contacted via social media with a guaranteed discount in exchange for payment or personal information, then it is a scam, period. Each year, in addition to fines that they are obligated to pay, drivers lose money to these fraudulent schemes. If you are ever in doubt, close the message and visit the official portal to verify.
The simple rule of thumb is: if you didn’t initiate the message in an official government digital communication channel, don’t trust it with your money.
The best fine is the one you avoid
While discounts offer some relief, the best savings come from avoiding fines altogether.
A clean driving record comes with a few more perks than just the lack of penalties. Driving clean in both countries keeps you in better discount tiers and brings down your insurance premium. A record with violations results in a higher renewal cost. The UAE and Saudi Arabia run safe-driving initiatives where good driving can be rewarded, like in the UAE, some initiatives remove black points in driving records for a set time for people who do not incur any violations.
Get in the habit of checking for traffic fines through the apps every couple of weeks. It takes less than 2 minutes to check. This helps avoid traffic fines accumulating, blocking your ability to renew your registration, and makes sure you never miss the early-payment deadline, which is the largest discount you’ll receive.
One last thought from TechMLA
To recap, fines in the UAE can be paid for the largest early-payment discount, the 60 days to pay rule, followed by the campaigns of amnesty for National Day and Eid. Fines can be appealed through the police apps and TAMM. In Saudi Arabia, amnesty in the royal decrees, use Article 75 of the reduced fine, and the Absher grace period for extensions to be used – all while objecting within 30 days to any justified violations.
Without the scams, but doing it all through official means, you will pay less fines, be awarded the amnesty you deserve, and have a clean driving record.
One last thing to add: traffic laws, discount percentages, and campaign windows fluctuate in both nations, so consider this guide a pragmatic beginning. Always check the official government websites to stay up to date on the rules before making payments or submitting appeals. This article from TechMLA is general informative content and NOT formal legal advice. We encourage you to bookmark this guide, share it with your friends who may have fallen foul of a speed camera, and drive safely.