Driving in Argentina vs. United Arab Emirates: Key Differences
When exploring the roads of Argentina and the United Arab Emirates, drivers will encounter notable disparities that can impact their journey. From speed limits to lane usage, understanding these distinctions is vital for ensuring a secure and enjoyable driving experience abroad. This comparison highlights essential driving norms that travelers should be aware of in each country.
Lanes
| Argentina | United arab emirates | |
|---|---|---|
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the left edge on divided roads. | Marks the left edge on some roads. |
| Overtaking: On Right | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. | Allowed on multilane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. |
| Overtaking: Prohibited Areas | List length: 5 | List length: 6 |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | Yes | Yes, in major cities like Abu Dhabi and Dubai |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. | Reserved for buses, taxis, and motorcycles in some areas. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled with signs and road markings. | Labeled and usually marked by road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Yes | Yes, primarily in urban areas and parks. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence | No | Yes, in some areas |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | Minimum two or three occupants |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Electronic signs display current limits, often in major urban areas and highways. |
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
argentina:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
united arab emirates:
Marks the left edge on some roads.
Overtaking: On Right
argentina:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
united arab emirates:
Allowed on multilane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Overtaking: Prohibited Areas
argentina:
List length: 5
united arab emirates:
List length: 6
Bus Lanes: Presence
argentina:
Yes
united arab emirates:
Yes, in major cities like Abu Dhabi and Dubai
Bus Lanes: Usage
argentina:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
united arab emirates:
Reserved for buses, taxis, and motorcycles in some areas.
Bus Lanes: Markings
argentina:
Labeled with signs and road markings.
united arab emirates:
Labeled and usually marked by road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
argentina:
Yes
united arab emirates:
Yes, primarily in urban areas and parks.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence
argentina:
No
united arab emirates:
Yes, in some areas
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
argentina:
N/A
united arab emirates:
Minimum two or three occupants
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
argentina:
No
united arab emirates:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
argentina:
N/A
united arab emirates:
Electronic signs display current limits, often in major urban areas and highways.
Speeds Limits
| Argentina | United arab emirates | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 40 km/h | 25-40 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80-110 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 60-80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 110-130 km/h | 100-140 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 90-100 km/h | 100-120 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80-90 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Electronic signs display current limits |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes | Less common; fines can be issued electronically |
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
argentina:
40 km/h
united arab emirates:
25-40 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
argentina:
80-110 km/h
united arab emirates:
80-100 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
argentina:
80 km/h
united arab emirates:
60-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
argentina:
110-130 km/h
united arab emirates:
100-140 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
argentina:
90-100 km/h
united arab emirates:
100-120 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
argentina:
80-90 km/h
united arab emirates:
80-100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
argentina:
No
united arab emirates:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
argentina:
N/A
united arab emirates:
Electronic signs display current limits
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
argentina:
Yes
united arab emirates:
Less common; fines can be issued electronically
Signals
| Argentina | United arab emirates | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Argentina | Not used in UAE |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply | Unnecessary use discouraged; especially in residential areas |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Spanish; symbols are standard | Arabic and English; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow background | Triangular with red borders |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
argentina:
Not used in Argentina
united arab emirates:
Not used in UAE
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
argentina:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
united arab emirates:
Unnecessary use discouraged; especially in residential areas
Traffic Signs: Language
argentina:
Spanish; symbols are standard
united arab emirates:
Arabic and English; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
argentina:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
united arab emirates:
Triangular with red borders
Turns
| Argentina | United arab emirates | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Usually not allowed unless indicated by a sign | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies by locality; check for signs | Allowed unless specifically prohibited by a sign |
Right Turn On Red
argentina:
Usually not allowed unless indicated by a sign
united arab emirates:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
argentina:
Varies by locality; check for signs
united arab emirates:
Allowed unless specifically prohibited by a sign
Documentation
| Argentina | United arab emirates | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted with an International Driving Permit | Accepted with International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted with an International Driving Permit | Accepted with International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Required | Annual inspection required for vehicles older than 3 years |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on windshield | Displayed on the windshield after inspection |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Recommended |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
argentina:
Accepted with an International Driving Permit
united arab emirates:
Accepted with International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
argentina:
Accepted with an International Driving Permit
united arab emirates:
Accepted with International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
argentina:
Required
united arab emirates:
Annual inspection required for vehicles older than 3 years
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
argentina:
Displayed on windshield
united arab emirates:
Displayed on the windshield after inspection
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
argentina:
Mandatory
united arab emirates:
Recommended
Road Etiquette
| Argentina | United arab emirates | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Frequent use in some areas | Moderate use, not excessively |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
argentina:
Frequent use in some areas
united arab emirates:
Moderate use, not excessively
Alcohol
| Argentina | United arab emirates | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.0% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.0% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% | 0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common | Less common; checkpoints used in some areas |
Limits: General Drivers
argentina:
0.05%
united arab emirates:
0.0%
Limits: Professional Drivers
argentina:
0.00%
united arab emirates:
0.0%
Limits: Underage Drivers
argentina:
0.00%
united arab emirates:
0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
argentina:
Common
united arab emirates:
Less common; checkpoints used in some areas
Emergency Services
| Argentina | United arab emirates | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 911 | 999 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 101 | Varies by emirate; often integrates with general emergency |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or ACA | Check with your insurance provider or organizations like AAA |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
argentina:
911
united arab emirates:
999
Contact: Traffic Police
argentina:
101
united arab emirates:
Varies by emirate; often integrates with general emergency
Contact: Roadside Assistance
argentina:
Check with your insurance provider or ACA
united arab emirates:
Check with your insurance provider or organizations like AAA
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
argentina:
Mandatory
united arab emirates:
Recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Argentina | United arab emirates | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; can be substantial | Varies; AED 300 to AED 3000, points on license |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time | Severe penalties, including fines and potential imprisonment |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines apply | AED 400, 4 black points |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines apply | AED 800, 4 black points |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines apply | AED 1000, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Sometimes; fines can also be paid later | Not typical; fines usually notified electronically |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 30 days to pay | Varies; typically 15-30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
argentina:
Varies; can be substantial
united arab emirates:
Varies; AED 300 to AED 3000, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
argentina:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
united arab emirates:
Severe penalties, including fines and potential imprisonment
Common Fines: Seat Belts
argentina:
Fines apply
united arab emirates:
AED 400, 4 black points
Common Fines: Phone Use
argentina:
Fines apply
united arab emirates:
AED 800, 4 black points
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
argentina:
Fines apply
united arab emirates:
AED 1000, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
argentina:
Sometimes; fines can also be paid later
united arab emirates:
Not typical; fines usually notified electronically
Payment: Deadline
argentina:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay
united arab emirates:
Varies; typically 15-30 days to pay