Jaywalking is punishable with a Dh400 fine in Dubai. EXPAT MEDIA

A Filipina living in Dubai is reminding residents that crossing the road outside designated pedestrian crossings can be costly after she was recently fined Dh400 for jaywalking. The resident shared her experience after being stopped by police while crossing an inner road in Dubai's Baniyas area on her way to Naif. "Jaywalking in Dubai is not a joke!" she wrote on social media, posting a photo of her fine on the Dubai Police app. She said she was unaware that a Dubai Police patrol vehicle had been parked nearby when she crossed the road. "I didn't notice they had parked their patrol car on the side. I wasn't crossing the highway, just one of the inner roads," she said in Filipino. According to the Filipina, she later checked the Dubai Police app and found that she had been issued a Dh400 fine. "This is my first time to be fined after eight years," she said. Her post prompted other residents to share similar experiences. One resident, identified as Shams, said she had been caught jaywalking twice, noting that there was a nearby bus stop but no designated pedestrian crossing. Another resident, Maria, recalled receiving a Dh200 jaywalking fine in Karama about 13 years ago, noting that the fine has doubled since then.

What UAE law says

Under the UAE Federal Traffic Law, pedestrians who cross roads from non-designated areas or ignore pedestrian traffic signals can be fined Dh400. Authorities have repeatedly urged residents to use pedestrian crossings, bridges and tunnels to reduce the risk of road accidents. Dubai Police has also warned that penalties become much more severe when jaywalking results in an accident. Pedestrians found responsible for causing a traffic accident may face fines of up to Dh10,000, imprisonment, or both. For violations involving roads with speed limits of 80km/h or higher, the minimum penalty is three months' imprisonment and/or a Dh10,000 fine. Authorities continue to remind residents that using designated pedestrian crossings is not only a legal requirement but also a key measure in preventing serious road accidents. ICA/Expat Media
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