Unauthorised activity in Abu Dhabi's waters can lead to heavy fines. Photo: The NationalInfoAuthority issues warning over unauthorised maritime activityThe NationalJuly 17, 2026Abu Dhabi Maritime issued a reminder that people who break the rules when in the emirate's waterways face significant fines.The organisation issued a reminder on social media on Friday, urging people to be aware of the penalties in place for breaking the rules."We remind all marine users to stay aware of the fines that apply across Abu Dhabi’s waterways, from taking precautions when a vessel breaks down to avoiding unsafe behaviour and unauthorised activities," Abu Dhabi Maritime said on its Instagram page.Practising a maritime activity without a permit comes with a hefty fine of Dh10,000.Causing a "maritime accident" can lead to a fine of Dh5,000, while failure to take precautions when a marine vessel breaks down will incur a penalty of Dh1,000, according to the Instagram post.The heaviest fines, of Dh30,000, are for commencing maritime construction without a permit or for construction work that falls outside the terms of the permit.Updated: July 17, 2026, 3:30 PM