This post will cover four short topics that you really need to know if you live here.
Paying Fines
Getting fined for traffic offenses in the UAE is quite a regular occurrence for a lot of people…mainly because they don’t stick to the speed limit. Paying them is quite simple and the government has been lenient on people who owe thousands of dirhams-some of them have been pardoned and others have been given the option of installment payments.
In Dubai you get two different authorities that can fine you, the RTA (For issues like parking) and the Police (for issues like speeding). The good news is you can pay both types of penalty at either office. There is also an online facility, which makes life incredibly easy. I have included the sites below. I’ve made sure they work, so if they don’t, please let me know on feyaza@gmail.com
These are the online sites for the 3 most important emirates:
Abu Dhabi
Sharjah
Dubai
(The Dubai website has a ‘most-wanted’ section on the home page, which is quite fun…they’re mostly Europeans at the time of writing)
What to do in an Accident
If you ever meet in car crash-whatever emirate you’re in and however minor- you must always call the police. The officer will come out to you (within an hour depending on traffic) and will determine who caused the accident. Usually the person who has caused the crash will be given a 200-400 dirham penalty for being so ridiculous.
Your insurance details will be taken and depending on the circumstances, you may have to go with your crash-partner to the police station.
If your car has been damaged-whether you caused the crash or not, you will also have to visit your insurance office and determine how much excess you will have to pay and where to send your car, they very rarely sort this kind of thing on the phone.
In the cases of crashes with damage to your car, expect around 3 days of hassle.
Salik Toll
Salik was introduced in Dubai to curb the traffic, at first these ‘gates’ were remarkable, for four dirhams, you passed through with ease and bypassed all the other cars. Then everyone decided they don’t mind paying Salik and if you now try going to Deira at 5pm using Sheikh Zayed Road, you will be stuck in manic traffic coming from Abu Dhabi. Same goes for the opposite route in the mornings. (Also, they’re not really gates, they’re more like square arches that use Radio frequency technology, so its all automatic; your Salik tag is charged every time your car passes through one of them)
There are four Salik toll-gates-two of which are on Sheikh Zayed Road and one on the way to the airport. They can be avoided by using other roads, I know lots of people who never pay Salik, but you still need a tag.
You will never be charged more than 24 dirhams in a day and if you take less than half an hour to pass from one to the other gate on Sheikh Zayed Road, you’ll only be charged once.
You can get a Salik application form at some banks or you can apply online. It costs about 100 dirhams- 50 of which is credit. It’s one of the easiest things to do. You’ll need ID and car registration card. This is the website
Please note, you will be fined if your salik tag isn’t fixed-starting at 100 dirhams and then doubles every time you cross a gate. Also, if you don’t have enough credit on your tag, you will be fined 50 dirhams every time. However, you do get 4 ‘free’ passes before you’re fined for no credit. Since your mobile phone is registered to salik, you’ll get an SMS every time your pass by a toll without credit. I haven’t tested this out but have heard that if the credit is topped up within two working days, the penalty will be waived.
E-gate
Getting an e gate card, is the easiest thing ever and has changed my life. I haven’t waited in an immigration queue at a UAE airport for years. It costs 200 dirhams and needs to be renewed every year. You will need to physically go to the offices in the airport, DNATA buildings or DNRD yourself, since your picture and fingerprints will need to be taken and officials will have to see you are who you say you are.
It takes about 10 minutes in total, and your card will be issued in front of you. You will then be able to bypass the queues use the e-gates at any airport in the emirate.
Please note you should always take cash, and the prices may change so bring enough.
EDIT: As of January 2012, you can link your e-gate card to your ID card; just take your ID card to the DNATA offices, pay the fees and voila.
EDIT: As of January 2012, you can link your e-gate card to your ID card; just take your ID card to the DNATA offices, pay the fees and voila.
I haven't decided what to talk about in next week's post as yet, but am considering a rant on customer service in the UAE, and how to maintain your sanity.
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