Dubai is testing a system that connects traffic fine payments to residency visa issuance and renewal. Residents must clear any traffic fines before completing visa procedures.
The Director General of the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA) explained that this initiative encourages adherence to traffic rules and timely fine payments.
The system doesn’t block visa renewals but requires settling fines fully or via instalments before finalizing residency transactions.
Stay updated with the latest news. Follow KT on WhatsApp Channels.
“Our aim isn’t to restrict,” stated Lt Gen Mohammed Ahmed Al Marri, Director General of the GDRFA in Dubai. “It’s to remind residents to pay fines. The system offers case-by-case flexibility.”
Authorities involved reviewed thousands of cases before the pilot, ensuring user-friendliness. Residents will be guided through payment options, including instalments.
Currently, the system is in the pilot phase and not widely implemented, excluding Dubai airport’s GDRFA centre.
This isn’t the first attempt to link fines with government services. In 2014, the Ministry of the Interior stated that visas wouldn’t be renewed for those with unpaid traffic fines.
