DUBAI, UAE — Dubai residents, university students and families can compete for cash prizes of up to Dh30,000 by creating short films that promote safer driving under a new Roads and Transport Authority competition.
The second edition of the RTA’s Road Safety Film Festival will accept entries from Aug. 24 through Nov. 22, with participants invited to use filmmaking and digital storytelling to address dangerous road behavior.
Films can focus on issues including speeding, distracted driving, failure to use seat belts and other traffic violations.
The competition also includes a category for films based on the experiences of people affected by road crashes, highlighting the potential human consequences of unsafe driving.
Who can enter?
The competition is divided into three broad groups: individuals and university students, government entities and private companies, and the wider community.
Individuals and university students can compete in two areas: a road safety awareness film promoting safe driving and an innovative road safety film that uses modern technology.
Both categories offer Dh30,000 for first place, Dh20,000 for second and Dh10,000 for third.
A family-focused film category has been added this year as part of the UAE’s Year of the Family initiative. It follows the same prize structure.
The community category will recognize films telling impactful stories involving traffic crash victims, with the top three entries receiving Dh30,000, Dh20,000 and Dh10,000, respectively.
Government departments and private-sector companies will compete for recognition trophies rather than cash awards.
Across the competition, the RTA said Dh240,000 will be distributed in cash prizes, while the combined value of prizes and recognition is up to Dh300,000.
Winning films could reach wider audiences
The competition is intended to extend beyond the awards themselves.
Selected films may be used by the RTA in road safety campaigns, educational sessions, workshops and digital platforms, potentially giving winning creators a wider audience.
The authority is increasingly using digital content and social media as part of its public awareness efforts, particularly to reach younger road users.
More than 100 entries were submitted during the first edition of the festival in 2025, according to the RTA.
The film competition forms part of Dubai’s wider road safety efforts and supports the authority’s Zero Fatalities vision, which seeks to reduce deaths and serious injuries on the emirate’s roads.
Focus on everyday driving risks
The RTA’s broader awareness programs cover several groups, including school students, truck drivers and delivery riders.
Campaigns also address safe driving practices and pedestrian safety, reflecting the range of risks faced by motorists and other road users in Dubai.
For filmmakers entering this year’s competition, the authority is encouraging stories that can turn road safety messages into content that resonates with the public.
Entries will be submitted through the RTA’s official website.
With submissions opening Aug. 24, participants have until Nov. 22 to develop and submit their films before the judging process begins.
