Dubai’s judicial authorities have sentenced an Asian motorist to imprisonment following a serious traffic incident involving alcohol impairment and signal violation that resulted in two casualties. The Public Prosecution disclosed on December 25, 2025, that the convicted individual operated a vehicle while intoxicated, proceeding through a red traffic signal before colliding with another car, causing physical injuries to two persons and property damage.
The prosecution brought multiple charges against the driver, including alcohol consumption, driving under the influence of intoxicants, inflicting bodily harm, and property destruction due to traffic signal disobedience. Pending comprehensive investigation, authorities have ordered the defendant’s detention with intentions to apply maximum penalties under the United Arab Emirates’ stringent traffic regulations.
Recent legislative amendments in the UAE have substantially elevated penalties for impaired driving offenses. Current statutes mandate fines reaching AED 200,000 for operating vehicles under the influence of narcotics or psychotropic substances. The judicial system employs escalating consequences for recidivists, beginning with imprisonment and minimum AED 30,000 fines for initial offenses alongside six-month license suspensions. Second violations trigger one-year license cancellations, while third offenses result in permanent license revocation accompanied by substantial financial penalties.
This case aligns with Dubai’s pattern of strict enforcement, exemplified by last year’s sentencing of a motorist to two years imprisonment with AED 100,000 in fines for combined drug impairment and traffic violations. In another precedent, an Arab woman received conviction earlier this year for causing a fatal alcohol-impaired accident in Dubai’s Al Qudra area, resulting in AED 10,000 fines and AED 200,000 blood money payments to victims’ families following a multi-vehicle collision.