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Drunk driving charge — first offense, blew 0.06 at 3am

Asked by Anonymous·Apr 22, 2026·1 answers
I was stopped at a checkpoint after a wedding in Downtown Dubai. Breathalyzer showed 0.06 mg/L. First offense ever, clean licence. What is the realistic outcome — jail, fine, or both? And will my employer find out?

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Sara El-SayedVerified Lawyer

labour-employment, family-law

4.5 · May 16, 2026
UAE has zero tolerance. Under Article 49 of the Federal Traffic Law, first DUI conviction carries a fine starting at AED 20,000 and licence suspension between 6-12 months. Jail is discretionary on first offense for non-Muslims with no aggravating factors (no accident, no children in car) but is the default for Muslims. Employer notification depends on your role — if your contract requires a clean licence (driving role) or includes a moral-clause clause, HR will likely be informed by the licensing authority. Plead guilty early to mitigate; insurance is also voided.
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