Dubai Police services for individuals & businesses

Dubai Police Services for Individuals & Businesses

Barely a month passes for a Dubai resident or visitor without a certificate or clearance from the General Command of Dubai Police being asked of them: a Police Clearance Certificate for a new employer or a foreign embassy, a Traffic Fines Clearance Certificate to sell or transfer a vehicle, a Traffic Status Certificate for a professional driving record, or a “To Whom It May Concern” certificate to document losses reported to the Police.

From what we see daily at our office in Business Bay, the majority of Dubai Police services applications that get delayed or returned are not delayed because of anything the authority did – they are delayed because of preparation: the wrong applicant category picked, the wrong certificate type requested, a vehicle whose traffic file the owner never checked, or a requesting party’s letter that was never read before submission. That is why Instant PRO‘s work in Dubai Police services rests on one rule: no application is submitted before it is reviewed.

Send us your details, tell us the purpose of the certificate and who is asking for it, and we will map out the case, the documents, and the fees before you pay a single dirham.

Dubai Police Services: Nature & Official Channels

The General Command of Dubai Police is an executive authority of the Emirate of Dubai. It issues the Police Clearance Certificate – the flagship of these services – at the emirate level through Dubai Police, and at the federal level through the Ministry of Interior under Ministerial Decision No. (600) of 2024 on the regulation of the issuance of Criminal Status Search Certificates. Traffic-related services are governed by Federal Decree-Law No. (14) of 2024 on the regulation of traffic and road safety, in force since 29 March 2025.

Dubai Police has moved most of its services onto digital channels: the Dubai Police smart app, the dubaipolice.gov.ae portal, and the Smart Police Stations (SPS). Digital completion is the default for most services, and in-person attendance is reserved for specific cases such as fingerprinting for certain applicant categories. Certificates issued for use abroad require subsequent attestation by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and depending on the receiving authority may need a certified legal translation.

The practical effect of all this is that the Police issues what is properly requested of it once the applicant satisfies the eligibility conditions; it does not adapt the purpose of the certificate to what the receiving party actually needs, nor does it verify that fit. Anyone who wants a certificate that serves its purpose the first time must nail down the purpose and complete the documents before submission.

The Dubai Police Services We Prepare for You

Service	Official name	When you need it
Police Clearance Certificate	Criminal Status Search Certificate (Police Clearance Certificate)	Employment, professional licensing, immigration, residency or citizenship abroad, study
Traffic Fines Clearance Certificate	Traffic Fines Clearance Certificate	Vehicle transfer, sale, export, or deregistration
Traffic Status Certificate	Traffic Status Certificate	Full driving record since the driver’s licence was issued
To Whom It May Concern Certificate	To Whom It May Concern (within the Certificates Package)	Documenting damages and incidents reported in Police records

1. Police Clearance Certificate (Criminal Status Search Certificate)

The Police Clearance Certificate – commonly referred to as a “Certificate of Good Conduct” – is an official document issued by the General Command of Dubai Police. It records the applicant’s criminal status over their period of residence or visit in the UAE, drawn from the records of the security and judicial authorities. It is used for employment, study, immigration, and professional licensing, whether inside or outside the country.

The service is available to four applicant categories: citizen, resident, visitor, and applicant from outside the UAE. At the time of submission, the applicant specifies the certificate language (Arabic or English), the purpose, the requesting party, and the country of use. Submission is via the Dubai Police app or portal, using UAE Pass for citizens and residents, and a Guest account for visitors and applicants outside the country. Dubai Police accepts a valid or expired Emirates ID number for this service. Fingerprinting is required only when Dubai Police has no prior fingerprint record for the applicant, and is available at the designated service centres: Al Qusais, Ports, Al Rashidiya, and Jebel Ali Police Stations.

Before we proceed, we identify the correct applicant category, the documents that go with it, the fingerprinting route where needed, and the requirements of the receiving party as spelled out in its own letter – so that the language and purpose of the certificate are not framed in ways the receiving party will not accept.

2. Traffic Fines Clearance Certificate

This certificate confirms that the driver’s licence holder or the vehicle has cleared all outstanding traffic fines recorded with Dubai Police. It is required to transfer vehicle ownership, to sell a vehicle, to export it outside the UAE, and – in specific cases – for vehicle deregistration or release from impound.

Before submission we flag any unpaid financial obligation that may block issuance, because filing before those obligations are settled means paying a fee for a certificate that will not serve its purpose.

3. Traffic Status Certificate

This certificate differs materially from the previous one. Whereas the Traffic Fines Clearance concerns unpaid fines, the Traffic Status Certificate presents the driver’s full traffic record since their licence was issued: prior traffic incidents, traffic points, accidents classified as simple or major, and the driver’s position in each accident (offender or affected party).

It may be requested by certain professional-driver employers, insurers, and immigration authorities that require a driving record, depending on each party’s own policy. Before submission, we identify for the client which of the two certificates actually serves the intended purpose.

4. To Whom It May Concern (within the Certificates Package)

This service is delivered through the “Certificates Package” in the Dubai Police app and portal, and covers specific cases: vehicle damages caused by natural disasters, accidents, and the circumstances recorded in Police reports. Its use is limited to documenting incidents reported to the Police before insurers and the relevant official parties.

Anyone seeking a “To Whom It May Concern” certificate for other purposes – proof of residence, property ownership, embassy submissions, personal-status matters – will typically need a different authority, which we can point out. Dubai Police does not issue “To Whom It May Concern” certificates outside the scope of incidents on file with it.

Dubai Police Services Fees & Official Turnaround Times

Government fees for Dubai Police services are set by Executive Council resolutions of the Emirate of Dubai and the applicable ministerial decisions. They are paid directly to the General Command of Dubai Police, the Ministry of Interior, or the Ministry of Foreign Affairs through their official channels.

Service	Government fee	Official turnaround
Police Clearance Certificate — Citizen	AED 100 + AED 20 Knowledge & Innovation fee	Up to 5 working days
Police Clearance Certificate — Resident	AED 200 + AED 20 Knowledge & Innovation fee	Up to 5 working days
Police Clearance Certificate — Applicant outside the UAE	AED 300 + AED 20 Knowledge & Innovation fee	Up to 5 working days (after certified fingerprinting)
MOFA attestation for use outside the UAE	AED 150	Via the integrated digital route (for MOI federal certificates)
MOFA + destination-country embassy attestation	AED 300 (150 + 150)	Depends on the destination
Traffic Fines Clearance Certificate	Check the Dubai Police platform	Depends on the file status
Traffic Status Certificate	Check the Dubai Police platform	Depends on the file status
To Whom It May Concern (natural-disaster damages)	AED 95	Around one working day

Important note: The figures above are government fees paid to the General Command of Dubai Police, the Ministry of Interior, or the Ministry of Foreign Affairs only. They do not include Instant PRO’s office fees for arranging and following up the application, nor certified legal translation fees, nor any further consular attestations that may be needed. Government fees are subject to periodic revision by ministerial decision, so we recommend confirming the final figure on dubaipolice.gov.ae or relying on our written estimate before you proceed. We set out the full cost in writing before starting any case, so nothing comes as a surprise afterwards.

The turnaround times above are the ceilings officially announced by Dubai Police. Completed applications submitted via UAE Pass may finish faster than that, but this is not a formal commitment on the authority’s part, and we do not present it as one. Turnaround for the traffic certificates depends on the file: a Traffic Fines Clearance will not issue until financial obligations are settled, and a Traffic Status Certificate will not issue until the driving-licence data is complete.

Documents Required for Dubai Police Services

For every service, Dubai Police verifies three things: the applicant’s identity, their category (citizen / resident / visitor / outside the UAE), and their purpose. The documents follow from these.

For individuals: Emirates ID (valid or expired) for citizens and residents applying for a Police Clearance Certificate; a valid passport for visitors and applicants outside the UAE; a ten-print fingerprint card certified by the UAE Embassy and the local authorities in the country of residence for applications filed from abroad; and a letter from the requesting party where relevant — a new employer’s letter, an embassy application form, or a professional-licensing-authority letter. For Traffic Fines Clearance or Traffic Status applications, the driving-licence number or the vehicle’s registration details are required. Traffic services’ requirements vary with the file.

For businesses: a valid trade licence, a stamped authorisation from the company when the certificate concerns one of its employees, and the employee’s full details as they appear in the residency system (four-part name, residency number, nationality, passport number), plus a letter from the requesting party if the purpose is tied to a legal or official transaction.

We flag that a mismatch of the applicant’s name across the ID, passport, and official file – even by a single letter – is among the most common reasons Dubai Police applications are delayed, because the certificate can issue in a name that does not match the passport and then be rejected by a foreign embassy. We reconcile the names before submission.

How We Handle Your Case

Step 1 - Send us your details

Send a copy of your ID and passport and describe what you need in one line, even if you do not know the exact service name — along with the requesting party's letter if you have it.

Step 2 - Case review

We identify the correct certificate, your applicant category, and the right official channel — and we tell you the documents, fees, and official turnaround.

Step 3 - Preparation

We prepare the documents, reconcile the data, and set the application's language and purpose in line with the requesting party's requirements.

Step 4 - Channel handoff

We direct the client to the right official channel - Dubai Police app, portal, or a service centre when needed - and walk them through the steps as required.

Step 5 - Follow-up

We follow the application until a decision or a request for additional information is issued by the competent authority, and we address any information request the day it comes in.

Step 6 - Attestation, translation, and delivery

We complete MOFA attestation and certified legal translation where needed, and deliver the certificate once the required attestation and translation steps are done.

Remote Completion vs. In-Person Requirements

The Dubai Police app allows most certificates to be completed without physical attendance, provided the applicant signs in with UAE Pass. Traffic Fines Clearance and Traffic Status certificates can be issued through the app directly, provided the data is complete and any obligations are settled. The Police Clearance Certificate is filed electronically by citizens and residents; attendance is only required for fingerprinting by visitors and by anyone without a fingerprint record in the UAE, and this is available at designated service centres: Al Qusais, Ports, Al Rashidiya, and Jebel Ali Police Stations.

Applicants outside the UAE submit electronically through the Dubai Police app or portal using a Guest account, and need a ten-print fingerprint card certified by the UAE Embassy in their country of residence if Dubai Police has no prior fingerprint record for them. The application can be completed in full without a visit to the UAE, once the documents are in order and fees are paid through the payment gateway. We do not file the application on the client’s behalf when the service requires them to sign in personally with their digital identity – we prepare the documents, direct them to the right channel, and follow up.

Attestation for Use Outside the UAE

Certificates issued for use abroad require MOFA attestation. The Ministries of Interior and Foreign Affairs have launched an integrated digital service that issues and attests the federal (MOI) Police Clearance Certificate in a single route. The emirate-level Dubai Police certificate, on the other hand, is attested by the MOFA portal in a separate step after issuance. Whether the destination-country embassy attestation and a certified legal translation are needed depends on the receiving party’s own requirements: some countries accept UAE MOFA attestation alone, some require their own embassy stamp, and some accept the English-language certificate without translation.

The UAE is not a party to the Hague Apostille Convention as of the date of this page (September 2026), so an apostille does not substitute for consular attestation in documents exchanged between the UAE and member states. We set out for the client what the specific receiving party requires before we proceed, and never oblige them to a step they do not need.

Foreign Supporting Documents

Some Dubai Police services require a foreign document in support of the application – an employer’s letter, a court judgment, or a fingerprint card issued abroad. The attestation chain varies by country and by document type. The general rule for foreign documents: attestation in the country of issuance, then the UAE Embassy there, then the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs, then certified legal translation into Arabic where required. We confirm the specific sequence for each case before we proceed.

Common Reasons for Application Delays

From what we see in preparing Dubai Police services applications, the following issues may delay the application or trigger a request for additional information – and most of them are catchable before submission:

Selecting an applicant category that does not match the person’s status (a resident selected instead of a visitor, for example).
Requesting a certificate type that will not serve the purpose – asking for a Traffic Fines Clearance where a Traffic Status Certificate is needed.
Name mismatch across the ID, passport, and official file.
A fingerprint card issued abroad without UAE Embassy attestation in the country of issuance.
An unpaid financial obligation on the vehicle file that the applicant was unaware of.
Framing the purpose in generic language the receiving party will not accept.
A supporting foreign document submitted without consular attestation, or with the attestation steps in the wrong order.

Why Instant PRO for Dubai Police Services?

Case review before submission

We identify the correct certificate and applicant category before any fees are paid.

Name & data reconciliation

We reconcile the name across ID, passport, and official file, and catch mismatches the client may not notice.

Framed to the requesting party

We ask the client for the requesting party's letter where possible, and set the purpose and language against it.

Attestation & translation

We complete MOFA attestation and certified legal translation where needed, in the sequence the receiving party will accept.

Office in Business Bay

Office 805, Opal Tower, Business Bay - close to the government centres for clients who prefer to follow their case in person.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which Dubai Police services does Instant PRO handle?

We prepare applications for the Police Clearance Certificate (also known as a Certificate of Good Conduct), the Traffic Fines Clearance Certificate, the Traffic Status Certificate, and the To Whom It May Concern certificate within its official scope. We direct the client to the right official channel, follow up, and handle attestation and translation where needed.

What is the difference between a Certificate of Good Conduct and a Police Clearance Certificate?

The current official name at Dubai Police is “Criminal Status Search Certificate”, widely known internationally as the Police Clearance Certificate (PCC). “Certificate of Good Conduct” is the common/historical name for the same document.

What is the difference between a Traffic Fines Clearance and a Traffic Status Certificate?

The Traffic Fines Clearance confirms that unpaid traffic fines have been settled and is required to sell, transfer, or export a vehicle. The Traffic Status Certificate presents the driver’s full traffic record since their licence was issued: prior incidents, points, accidents by classification, and the driver’s position in each accident. The first asks: are the fines paid? The second asks: what does the record show?

Who can apply for a Police Clearance Certificate?

The service is available to four categories: citizen, resident, visitor, and applicant outside the UAE (whether formerly resident or not). Each category has its own ID and fingerprint requirements, which we set out at the review stage.

Can Dubai Police services be completed remotely?

Yes, for most applications, through the Dubai Police app and portal signed in via UAE Pass. Anyone without an Emirates ID applies through a Guest account and may need to visit a service centre for fingerprinting in specific cases.

How much does a Police Clearance Certificate cost?

Fees depend on the applicant category: AED 100 for citizens, AED 200 for residents, AED 300 for applicants outside the UAE, plus AED 20 Knowledge & Innovation fee. MOFA attestation for use outside the UAE is AED 150, with an additional AED 150 if destination-country embassy attestation is required. The figures above are government fees only; they do not include our office fees. Amounts are subject to periodic revision, and we confirm the final figure before starting.

How long does a Police Clearance Certificate take to issue?

The official turnaround announced by Dubai Police is up to 5 working days. Complete electronic applications may finish faster, but that is not a formal commitment on the authority’s part.

How long is a Police Clearance Certificate valid?

The Dubai Police-issued certificate is valid for 3 months from the date of issuance. The federal certificate issued by the Ministry of Interior is valid for 30 days under Ministerial Decision No. (600) of 2024. The receiving party may separately require the certificate to be more recent than a certain window (30 or 60 days) as a matter of its own policy, which is a distinct requirement from the certificate’s formal validity.

Is a Dubai Police-issued certificate accepted abroad?

It is accepted after attestation by the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs through its digital portal, then by the destination country’s embassy where required, and translated by a certified legal translator if the receiving party’s language is not Arabic or English. The integrated digital service between the Ministries of Interior and Foreign Affairs applies specifically to the federal (MOI) Police Clearance Certificate – the Dubai Police certificate is attested through the MOFA portal separately. The UAE is not a party to the Hague Apostille Convention, so an apostille does not substitute for consular attestation.

I don't know which certificate I need — what do I do?

Send us the requesting party’s letter or describe your purpose in a single line. We will identify the case, tell you the requirements, fees, and turnaround before you pay anything.

Next step

WhatsApp: +971 56 232 7778
Office 805, Opal Tower, Business Bay, Dubai – Monday to Friday, 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM