Authorities in Dubai have launched a pilot initiative that requires residents to clear outstanding traffic fines before renewing or applying for residency visas.

According to Khaleej Times, the move, led by the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA), aims to promote road safety and ensure compliance with traffic regulations, according to top officials. While the system introduces a new checkpoint in the visa process, it does not impose a complete block on renewals. Instead, it prompts individuals to settle fines either in full or through flexible instalment plans before completing their visa transactions.

Lt. Gen. Mohammed Ahmed Al Marri, Director General of GDRFA, emphasized that the measure is not meant to restrict residents. “The goal is not to penalize, but to gently remind people to pay their dues,” he said. “Each case is handled individually, and the system offers payment flexibility to accommodate different circumstances.”

Officials say thousands of cases were reviewed before rolling out the pilot programme, with user-friendliness and accessibility as key considerations. Residents visiting GDRFA service centres will be guided through the fine settlement process and, in many cases, offered the option of paying in instalments.

Currently, the initiative is being implemented on a trial basis and is not yet applicable at all service centres — including those at Dubai International Airport.

This is not the first time the UAE has considered linking government services with outstanding fines. In 2014, the Ministry of Interior announced a similar plan that tied visa renewals to the clearance of unpaid traffic penalties.

The new system reflects a broader effort by Dubai’s authorities to streamline services while encouraging responsible civic behaviour among residents.