Authorities are piloting a system that links traffic fine payments in Dubai to the process of issuing or renewing residency visas. Under the new system, residents need to settle any outstanding traffic fines before they can complete their visa renewal or issuance procedures.
According to the Director General of the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs ( GDRFA), this initiative has been rolled out to encourage residents to follow traffic rules and settle any overdue fines.
The system does not prevent visa renewal process altogether, but prompts individuals to settle dues either in full or through instalment plans before completing their residency transactions.
"The goal is not to restrict people," said Lt Gen Mohammed Ahmed Al Marri, Director General of the GDRFA in Dubai. "It’s about reminding residents to pay their fines. The system allows for flexibility depending on each case."
Authorities involved in the initiative stated that they have reviewed thousands of cases before launching the pilot, noting that the system has been designed to be user-friendly. Residents who approach the relevant departments for visa services will be guided through the payment process, and in many cases, allowed to pay in instalments.
At this stage, the system is still in the pilot phase and has not been applied across the board. For instance, it does not apply at Dubai airport’s GDRFA centre.
This is not the first time authorities have explored linking outstanding fines with government services. Back in 2014, the Ministry of the Interior stated that visas of individuals with outstanding traffic fines would not be renewed.
