Changing a vehicle’s number plate in Dubai runs primarily through RTA. If you’ve seen this described as a Ministry of Interior service, that’s also correct: MOI’s federal eServices portal, and each emirate’s own traffic or police department (Abu Dhabi Police, Sharjah Police, and so on), offer the same kind of service UAE-wide, including for Dubai-registered vehicles. RTA is Dubai’s own dedicated, detailed channel; MOI is the federal alternative usable across every emirate.
Where to apply
Use RTA’s Vehicle Plate Management service, through the RTA website or the Dubai Drive app. Log in with UAE Pass, or your Emirates ID, driving licence or plate number details. Go to Vehicle Licensing Services, then Vehicle Plate Management, select your vehicle, and choose Change Plate Number.
Requirements
- You or your legal representative must be present in person if requested through a service centre.
- All outstanding traffic fines must be settled before the request is processed.
- No NOC is required specifically for a plate number change.
- You’ll need to hand over the old plates when collecting the new ones.
Fees
| Plate type | Fee |
|---|---|
| Short plate | AED 35 |
| Long plate | AED 50 |
| Luxury plate | AED 500 |
| Branded (Dubai/Expo) plate | AED 200 |
A further AED 20 Knowledge and Innovation fee applies on top. New plates are manufactured on the spot at RTA service centres, or you can choose home delivery.
Other plate services in the same menu
The same Vehicle Plate Management section also handles replacing a lost or damaged plate, renewing a reserved plate number, and adding or cancelling a third plate (needed if a bicycle rack blocks your rear plate). If your plate was lost or stolen, you’ll need a Lost Item Certificate from Dubai Police first (AED 70) before RTA can issue a replacement.
Driving with a missing or non-compliant plate carries fines up to AED 3,000, 24 black points, and possible vehicle impoundment, so don’t delay once you’ve decided to change it.
If you’re changing plates as part of selling the vehicle, see our RTA vehicle ownership transfer guide.
The MOI route: a federal alternative for any emirate, including Dubai
Whether or not your vehicle is registered in Dubai, MOI’s federal eServices portal and each emirate’s own traffic or police department offer this service too, as an alternative to RTA. The general flow matches RTA’s in shape, even though the portal and exact screens differ by emirate:
- Go to the MOI eServices portal, or your emirate’s own traffic/police portal or app (for example Abu Dhabi Police or Sharjah Police), and sign in with UAE Pass or your registered account.
- Find the vehicle or traffic services section and select the plate number change service.
- Enter your vehicle and Emirates ID details, and confirm any outstanding fines are cleared, this is required before processing a plate change, the same as RTA’s own route requires.
- Pay the service fee shown on screen; this varies by emirate and plate type, so treat any figure quoted elsewhere as indicative rather than fixed.
- Collect your new plates from the service centre, or arrange delivery if that option is offered, handing over your old plates as part of the process.
Because each emirate runs its own portal and fee schedule, confirm the exact steps and current cost with your local traffic or police department before you start, rather than assuming Dubai’s RTA figures above apply.
