Road Safety Film Festival Competition – Second Edition
Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) adopts supportive policies to encourage community target groups to bring forward innovative ideas that promote safe driving and inspire positive road user behaviour. This is achieved through the “Road Safety Film Festival” competition, sponsored by Azizi Developments, where participants produce impactful films that contribute to rectifying unsafe driving behaviours.
In this second edition of the festival and competition, also sponsored by Azizi Developments, new categories have been introduced, addressing broader community-related road safety issues while fostering active community engagement.
Categories and Awards
Participants must select one of the categories below to present their impactful and innovative road safety films that raise awareness about the leading causes of accidents.
Youth and University Students
(Ages 16-35)
Best Road Safety Awareness Film on Safe Driving
This category focuses on unsafe driving behaviours that contribute to the highest number of road accidents, including: Sudden swerve, mobile phone use while driving, driving at low speeds in the fast lane, speeding, and unsafe electric scooter riding behaviours.
Best Innovative Road Safety Awareness Film Using Modern Technologies
Participants are encouraged to use innovative production techniques to communicate road safety messages and address unsafe driving behaviours, technologies include: 3D animation, artificial Intelligence (AI), Stop Motion animation, advanced visual effects and new media technologies.
In support of filmmaking efforts, winners in the individual subcategories for youth and university students aged 16–35 (mentioned above) will be recognised with the following rewards:
Awards (for each subcategory)
1st Prize
30,000
2nd Prize
20,000
3rd Prize
10,000
Government and Private Sector Organisations
Government Sector Road Safety Excellence Award
Presented to government entities, semi-government organisations, and non-profit organisations that produce innovative awareness films promoting safe driving within the community and workplace
Private Sector Road Safety Excellence Award
Presented to private companies and organisations that produce innovative road safety awareness films promoting safe driving culture within the community and workplace, including organisations operating in Transportation, Delivery services, Logistics, Contracting, Service providers, and Fleet management.
Recognition
RTA Recognition Trophy
Outstanding entries from both the government and private sectors will receive an RTA Recognition Trophy in appreciation of their contribution to promoting road safety awareness.
Community Category
(Open to All)
Best Family Road Safety Awareness Film
In line with the Year of the Family 2026, this category encourages films that promote road safety within families, including: Seat belt use, child restraint systems, safe pedestrian crossing for children, safe practices for students around school zones.
Road Accident Victims from the community
This award recognises films that make the strongest emotional impact by portraying real-life or reality-inspired stories highlighting: The consequences of unsafe driving behaviour, the psychological, social, and human impact of road accidents on victims and those responsible. The award encourages creative filmmaking that raises public awareness and promotes a culture of safe driving.
The award encourages creative filmmaking that raises public awareness and promotes a culture of safe driving. Winners of the subcategories will be honoured with the following rewards:
Awards (for each subcategory)
1st Prize
30,000
2nd Prize
20,000
3rd Prize
10,000
Sponsor
Azizi Developments
Event Timeline
To ensure a smooth competition, please review the official schedule for the Traffic Safety Films Festival.
Competition launch and
opening of submissions
24 Aug 2026
Submission
Deadline
22 Nov 2026
Film
Evaluation
16 Dec 2026
Awards Ceremony and
Announcement of Winners
Jan 2027
Eligibility
Participation is open only to films that comply with the competition's eligibility requirements. Applicants are encouraged to review the criteria thoroughly before submitting their entries.
Category 1: Youth and University Students
- All individual participants must belong to the 'Youth and University Students' category and be within the 16-35 age group or be students at a university or college located in the UAE. Postgraduate students are also eligible to participate in the competition.
- Participants may submit multiple films across different categories.
- Films must clearly communicate road safety objectives.
- Film duration must be between 1 and 3 minutes
- Submitted films must be original and effectively contribute to reducing traffic accidents and raising awareness of traffic safety.
- Entries may be submitted individually or by a team of up to three members. Each team must appoint a team leader.
- Participants are responsible for obtaining all necessary filming permits when required.
- Film duration must be between 1 and 3 minutes.
- If a team wins, the team leader is eligible to receive the prize on behalf of the team.
- Film must clearly communicate road safety objectives.
- AI-generated films are permitted only in the Best Innovative Road Safety Awareness Film Using Modern Technologies subcategory.
Category 2: Government & Private Sector Eligibility
- Government entities, semi-government organisations, and non-profit organisations operating in the UAE may participate in the Government Sector category.
- Private companies, media production companies, transportation companies, logistics providers, contractors, service providers, and fleet management companies may participate in the Private Sector category.
- Films must focus on road safety and promoting safe road behaviours.
- Previously produced films aimed at promoting a culture of safe driving in society and the workplace may be accepted.
- Content must comply with UAE laws, regulations, and community values
- Film duration must be between 1 and 3 minutes.
- The awareness film must be produced by the participating organisation or in collaboration with another organisation, with each party's role clearly stated.
- All materials used (images, videos, music, sound effects, etc.) must be legally licensed or owned by the participating organisation or approved for use by the copyright owner.
- Films may be shot using professional cameras or high-quality smartphones, provided image and audio quality are maintained.
Category 3: Community Category Eligibility
- Duration of the film must be between 1–3 minutes, and professional cameras or high-quality smartphones may be used. Provided that image clarity and audio quality are maintained.
- For the “Best Family Road Safety Awareness Film” category, films should promote family road safety topics, including: Seat belt use, child safety seats, safe road crossing for children, student safety around school zones.
- All materials (music, images, sound effects, etc.) must be owned by the participant or legally licensed.
- Entries must meet the technical specifications provided by the organisers.
- For the “Road Accident Victims from the community” category, films should:
- Address one or more road safety issues or dangerous road behaviours.
- Highlight the human, psychological, and social impact of road crashes.
- Deliver a clear awareness message and be based on true story or reality-inspired stories without violating individuals' privacy or causing harm.
- Comply with UAE laws and community values.
Competition Rules
Review the competition rules to understand the requirements and conditions of participation before entering.
- Entries must align with the competition objectives, categories, and eligibility requirements.
- Films must be submitted through the official competition website: www.rta.ae/roadsafetyfilmfestival
- All required fields in the submission form must be completed, and the participating traffic safety film must be attached via the submission form available on the website.
- The organising committee reserves the right to reject any submission that does not comply with the competition requirements.
- RTA reserves the right to republish all submitted films and use them for awareness purposes.
- RTA assumes no responsibility for intellectual property ownership. Participants are solely responsible for ensuring ownership of all submitted content.
- Films submitted to the First Edition of the Road Safety Film Festival are not eligible.
- Winners across all categories will be announced during the Road Safety Film Festival.
- Participants must upload their films to YouTube or Vimeo and submit the viewing link through the application form, ensuring the video is publicly accessible.
How to Participate
Interested in Joining?
Follow these steps to maximize your chances of success
- Submissions open on 24th August 2026 via www.rta.ae/roadsafetyfilmfestival
- Select one of the categories and creatively contribute to raising traffic safety awareness. Conduct research and utilise available online data to produce an impactful, high-quality film that aligns with the competition’s goals and effectively promotes positive changes in driving behaviour.
- Film duration must be between 1 and 3 minutes.
- Films must be in Arabic or English and should include narration or subtitles in either language.
- Most of the film must be shot within the United Arab Emirates.
- Upload your film to YouTube or Vimeo and include the viewing link in the application and grant viewing access to the judging panel.
- Submission deadline: 22nd November 2026
- For enquiries, contact: roadsafetyfilmfestival@rta.ae
Film Evaluation Criteria
An expert judging panel will evaluate submissions according to the following criteria:
| Criteria | Point |
|---|---|
| Level of Creativity & Innovation | 20 |
| Clarity of the Film's Idea | 15 |
| Use of Research & Data | 10 |
| Film Quality | 25 |
| Film Impact & Effectiveness | 30 |
| Total | 100 |