Traffic Violations

4504 Road Shoulder Violations Recorded in Dubai in 2026

06 June 2026

Dubai Police have announced the recording of 4,504 hard shoulder overtaking violations since the beginning of this year, confirming that this violation is considered one of the dangerous traffic behaviours that threatens the safety of road users and impedes the movement of emergency vehicles while performing their humanitarian duties.

The Director of the General Department of Traffic at Dubai Police, Brigadier Jumaa Salem Bin Suwaidan, confirmed that overtaking on the hard shoulder is one of the reckless traffic behaviours that can lead to serious accidents, particularly on motorways and during periods of heavy traffic, noting that this behaviour not only constitutes a violation of traffic regulations but also shows disregard for the safety of all road users.

"This behaviour does not merely reflect a violation of traffic regulations — it also demonstrates a disregard for the safety of road users."

— Brigadier Jumaa Salem Bin Suwaidan, Director of the General Department of Traffic

Brigadier Bin Suwaidan explained that the hard shoulder is designated for emergency situations and the safe stopping of broken-down vehicles, in addition to its vital role in facilitating the movement of ambulances, civil defence, and police vehicles to reach the scenes of accidents and reported incidents as quickly as possible.

He warned that using the hard shoulder to overtake poses a direct danger to drivers and road users, particularly when there are vehicles stopped due to mechanical failures or individuals standing beside their vehicles seeking assistance — which could lead to run-over accidents or sudden collisions as a result of vehicles travelling in a lane not designated for regular traffic flow.

He noted that this traffic behaviour negatively impacts traffic flow and affects the speed at which emergency and rescue teams can respond, potentially delaying their arrival at accident scenes and urgent humanitarian situations.

Regarding the statistics, Brigadier Bin Suwaidan stated that February recorded the highest number of hard shoulder overtaking violations at 1,638, followed by January with 1,379, then March with 676, while May recorded 482 violations and April recorded 329. The UAE Federal Traffic Law penalises this violation with a AED 1,000 fine and the registration of six traffic points on the driving licence.

Infographic — Figures and Statistics

Hard Shoulder Overtaking Violations · Dubai 2025

Total violations recorded from January to May 2025

4,504

Total Violations

1,638

Highest · February

901

Monthly Average

Violations by Month

February

▶ 1,638

January

▶ 1,379

March

▶ 676

May

▶ 482

April

▶ 329

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1,000

AED Financial Penalty

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Traffic Points on Driving Licence

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Federal

UAE Federal Traffic Law

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The hard shoulder is not an overtaking lane — it is reserved exclusively for emergencies, broken-down vehicles, and the passage of ambulances, police, and civil defence.

Legal Perspective

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The Story Through a Legal Lens

This news story reflects the practical application of the UAE Federal Traffic Law, which classifies hard shoulder overtaking as an explicit traffic violation punishable by a financial penalty and the registration of demerit points on the driving licence. It is worth noting that this penalty may be accompanied, in accident cases, by civil or criminal liability if the violation results in harm to others.

Furthermore, causing emergency vehicles to be delayed by occupying the hard shoulder may give rise to additional legal liability where a direct causal link is established between that delay and any injury or damage suffered by individuals or property.

💡 The figures show that the start of the year consistently records the highest violation rates, which calls for intensified awareness campaigns and monitoring specifically during January and February.

A Note on Behaviour

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Why Does This Behaviour Persist?

Hard shoulder overtaking often reflects a behavioural pattern that places individual time gain above collective safety. This behaviour tends to escalate during congestion, when time pressure overrides the driver's judgement — causing them to overlook the fact that the hard shoulder exists to save lives, not to shorten journeys. True awareness of the human cost of this action — putting a stranded motorist at risk or delaying an ambulance — is a far more profound deterrent than the financial penalty alone.

A Word of Advice

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Advice for Drivers

When you find yourself in a traffic jam with an empty hard shoulder stretching ahead, remember that this space is not a shortcut — it is a lifeline. The seconds you might gain mean nothing compared to the moment an ambulance is delayed in saving a life, or a vehicle strikes someone standing beside their broken-down car. Stay in your lane, respect the hard shoulder, and play your part in keeping everyone safe.