How to Read UAE Vehicle Registration Card (Mulkiya) Details
Every vehicle registered in UAE carries a vehicle registration card — known as the Mulkiya — issued by the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) or the relevant emirate’s traffic authority. The Mulkiya must be carried in the vehicle at all times. Understanding what each field on the Mulkiya means helps you confirm your vehicle’s registered details, verify service records, and ensure compliance with UAE traffic law. This guide explains every section of the UAE Mulkiya in detail.
What Is the UAE Mulkiya?
The word Mulkiya (Arabic: ملكية) means ownership document. The UAE vehicle registration card is a bilingual (Arabic and English) card issued when a vehicle is registered with the relevant emirate’s traffic authority. In Dubai, this is the RTA. In Abu Dhabi, it is the Abu Dhabi Police. In Sharjah and the Northern Emirates, it is the respective emirate’s police department. The card confirms ownership of the vehicle, the vehicle’s technical specifications, and the validity of the vehicle’s registration for road use in UAE.
Key Fields on the UAE Mulkiya
- Traffic File No. / File Number: The unique identifier for the vehicle within the emirate’s traffic system. Use this number for all queries with the traffic authority and for renewing registration online.
- Plate Number and Category: The vehicle’s registered number plate. The category (Private, Commercial, Export) determines how the vehicle can be used legally on UAE roads.
- Owner Name: The registered owner’s name as it appears on their Emirates ID or residency document. If you have recently purchased the vehicle, ensure ownership transfer is completed and the Mulkiya reflects the new owner’s name before driving.
- Emirates ID / Passport Number: The identification number of the registered owner. This must match the owner’s current ID documents.
- Registration Date and Expiry Date: The date the current registration period began and the date it expires. UAE vehicle registration is annual. Driving with an expired Mulkiya is an offence and results in a fine.
- Chassis Number (VIN): The 17-digit Vehicle Identification Number. This is stamped on the vehicle’s chassis and engine bay. It uniquely identifies the vehicle globally and is used for insurance, service records, and border crossing.
- Engine Number: The number stamped on the physical engine block. Used to verify the engine has not been replaced without declaration.
- Make and Model: The manufacturer and model of the vehicle as declared at registration. Any significant modifications that change the vehicle’s classification may require re-registration.
- Color: The vehicle’s registered color. Repainting a vehicle to a significantly different color requires the Mulkiya to be updated with the traffic authority.
- Year of Manufacture: The year the vehicle was manufactured, not the year it was imported or registered in UAE. This affects insurance premiums and is used to determine when the vehicle must begin mandatory annual RTA inspections (vehicles over 3 years old in most emirates).
- Fuel Type: Petrol, diesel, hybrid, or electric. Used for insurance and compliance purposes.
- Weight and Seating Capacity: Relevant for commercial and passenger vehicles. Private cars show the number of permitted seats.
When Must You Carry the Mulkiya?
UAE traffic law requires the vehicle registration card to be in the vehicle at all times during road use. A police officer can ask to see the Mulkiya at any traffic stop or checkpoint. Failure to produce the card can result in a fine. In practice, keep the Mulkiya in the vehicle’s document holder in the glove compartment. Do not keep it in your wallet or bag, as it should travel with the vehicle rather than with you personally.
How to Renew Your UAE Mulkiya
UAE vehicle registration must be renewed annually. In Dubai, renewal is available through the RTA website, the RTA app, RTA service centres, and approved vehicle testing centres. Renewal requires a valid vehicle insurance policy and, for vehicles over three years old, a passed annual technical inspection. In Abu Dhabi, renewal is through the TAMM platform or Abu Dhabi Police service centres. In Sharjah and the Northern Emirates, renewal is through the respective emirate’s police registration service.