Driving Differences: Australia vs. United Arab Emirates
When it comes to navigating the roads, Australia and the United Arab Emirates showcase distinct driving customs and regulations. From the left-hand driving in Australia to the right-hand rules in the UAE, understanding these variations is crucial for ensuring safety abroad. Key differences in speed limits, overtaking practices, and documentation requirements further highlight the need for informed travel.
Lanes
| Australia | United arab emirates | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Left | Right |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Not commonly used; can indicate the left edge in tunnels. | Marks the left edge on some roads. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Not commonly used; may mark reversible lanes. | Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. |
| Overtaking: On Left | Allowed | Yes |
| Overtaking: On Right | Not allowed except on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning right. | Allowed on multilane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. |
| Overtaking: Prohibited Areas | List length: 5 | List length: 6 |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use leftmost lane. | Use rightmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | Yes | Yes, in major cities like Abu Dhabi and Dubai |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses and taxis; usage by others restricted. | Reserved for buses, taxis, and motorcycles in some areas. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS LANE'; often with road signs. | Labeled and usually marked by road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Yes | Yes, primarily in urban areas and parks. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence | Yes | Yes, in some areas |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | Minimum two or more occupants | Minimum two or three occupants |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits. | Electronic signs display current limits, often in major urban areas and highways. |
Driving Side
australia:
Left
united arab emirates:
Right
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
australia:
Not commonly used; can indicate the left edge in tunnels.
united arab emirates:
Marks the left edge on some roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
australia:
Not commonly used; may mark reversible lanes.
united arab emirates:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Left
australia:
Allowed
united arab emirates:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
australia:
Not allowed except on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning right.
united arab emirates:
Allowed on multilane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Overtaking: Prohibited Areas
australia:
List length: 5
united arab emirates:
List length: 6
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
australia:
Use leftmost lane.
united arab emirates:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
australia:
Yes
united arab emirates:
Yes, in major cities like Abu Dhabi and Dubai
Bus Lanes: Usage
australia:
Reserved for buses and taxis; usage by others restricted.
united arab emirates:
Reserved for buses, taxis, and motorcycles in some areas.
Bus Lanes: Markings
australia:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS LANE'; often with road signs.
united arab emirates:
Labeled and usually marked by road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
australia:
Yes
united arab emirates:
Yes, primarily in urban areas and parks.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence
australia:
Yes
united arab emirates:
Yes, in some areas
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
australia:
Minimum two or more occupants
united arab emirates:
Minimum two or three occupants
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
australia:
Electronic signs display current limits.
united arab emirates:
Electronic signs display current limits, often in major urban areas and highways.
Speeds Limits
| Australia | United arab emirates | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 50 km/h | 40-60 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 40 km/h | 25-40 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 80-100 km/h | 60-80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 100-110 km/h | 100-140 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 100-110 km/h | 100-120 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 90-100 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits. | Electronic signs display current limits |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Common; may vary by area. | Less common; fines can be issued electronically |
Urban Areas: Standard
australia:
50 km/h
united arab emirates:
40-60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
australia:
40 km/h
united arab emirates:
25-40 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
australia:
80-100 km/h
united arab emirates:
60-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
australia:
100-110 km/h
united arab emirates:
100-140 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
australia:
100-110 km/h
united arab emirates:
100-120 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
australia:
90-100 km/h
united arab emirates:
80-100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
australia:
Electronic signs display current limits.
united arab emirates:
Electronic signs display current limits
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
australia:
Common; may vary by area.
united arab emirates:
Less common; fines can be issued electronically
Signals
| Australia | United arab emirates | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not commonly used. | Not used in UAE |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when entering and exiting | Signal when exiting |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply | Unnecessary use discouraged; especially in residential areas |
| Traffic Signs: Language | English; 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
australia:
Not commonly used.
united arab emirates:
Not used in UAE
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
australia:
Signal when entering and exiting
united arab emirates:
Signal when exiting
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
australia:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
united arab emirates:
Unnecessary use discouraged; especially in residential areas
Traffic Signs: Language
australia:
English; symbols are standard
united arab emirates:
Arabic and English; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
australia:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
united arab emirates:
Triangular with red borders
Turns
| Australia | United arab emirates | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed, except where signage permits. | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by signs. | Allowed unless specifically prohibited by a sign |
Right Turn On Red
australia:
Not allowed, except where signage permits.
united arab emirates:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
australia:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs.
united arab emirates:
Allowed unless specifically prohibited by a sign
Documentation
| Australia | United arab emirates | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short periods; International Driving Permit recommended. | Accepted with International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted for short periods; International Driving Permit recommended. | Accepted with International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Varies by state; proof may be required | Annual inspection required for vehicles older than 3 years |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate or windshield in some states | Displayed on the windshield after inspection |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory | Recommended |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
australia:
Accepted for short periods; International Driving Permit recommended.
united arab emirates:
Accepted with International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
australia:
Accepted for short periods; International Driving Permit recommended.
united arab emirates:
Accepted with International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
australia:
Varies by state; proof may be required
united arab emirates:
Annual inspection required for vehicles older than 3 years
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
australia:
Displayed on license plate or windshield in some states
united arab emirates:
Displayed on the windshield after inspection
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
australia:
Not mandatory
united arab emirates:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
australia:
Not mandatory
united arab emirates:
Recommended
Road Etiquette
| Australia | United arab emirates | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Less frequent use compared to some countries | Moderate use, not excessively |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
australia:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
united arab emirates:
Moderate use, not excessively
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
australia:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
united arab emirates:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Australia | United arab emirates | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.0% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.02% | 0.0% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance in all states. | 0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; roadside breath testing often conducted | Less common; checkpoints used in some areas |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies by state; can be substantial | Varies; can be substantial |
Limits: General Drivers
australia:
0.05%
united arab emirates:
0.0%
Limits: Professional Drivers
australia:
0.02%
united arab emirates:
0.0%
Limits: Underage Drivers
australia:
0.00%; zero tolerance in all states.
united arab emirates:
0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
australia:
Common; roadside breath testing often conducted
united arab emirates:
Less common; checkpoints used in some areas
Enforcement: Fines
australia:
Varies by state; can be substantial
united arab emirates:
Varies; can be substantial
Roundabouts
| Australia | United arab emirates | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Entering | Signal right if intending to turn immediately | Signal if turning immediately upon entry |
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal left when preparing to exit | Signal right when preparing to exit |
| Lane Usage: Left | Use for subsequent exits, move to left lane before exit when safe | Use for subsequent exits, move to right lane before exit when safe |
Signaling: Entering
australia:
Signal right if intending to turn immediately
united arab emirates:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
Signaling: Exiting
australia:
Signal left when preparing to exit
united arab emirates:
Signal right when preparing to exit
Lane Usage: Left
australia:
Use for subsequent exits, move to left lane before exit when safe
united arab emirates:
Use for subsequent exits, move to right lane before exit when safe
Emergency Services
| Australia | United arab emirates | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 000 | 999 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | Varies by state; contact local police | Varies by emirate; often integrates with general emergency |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or NRMA | Check with your insurance provider or organizations like AAA |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory, but recommended | Recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
australia:
000
united arab emirates:
999
Contact: Traffic Police
australia:
Varies by state; contact local police
united arab emirates:
Varies by emirate; often integrates with general emergency
Contact: Roadside Assistance
australia:
Check with your insurance provider or NRMA
united arab emirates:
Check with your insurance provider or organizations like AAA
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
australia:
Not mandatory, but recommended
united arab emirates:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
australia:
Not mandatory, but recommended
united arab emirates:
Recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Australia | United arab emirates | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; AUD 100 to AUD 3,000, demerit points possible | 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 | AUD 200 to AUD 500, demerit points possible | AED 400, 4 black points |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | AUD 200 to AUD 1,600, demerit points possible | AED 800, 4 black points |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | AUD 300 to AUD 900, demerit points possible | AED 1000, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes; varies by jurisdiction. | Not typical; fines usually notified electronically |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 14 to 28 days to pay | Varies; typically 15-30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
australia:
Varies; AUD 100 to AUD 3,000, demerit points possible
united arab emirates:
Varies; AED 300 to AED 3000, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
australia:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
united arab emirates:
Severe penalties, including fines and potential imprisonment
Common Fines: Seat Belts
australia:
AUD 200 to AUD 500, demerit points possible
united arab emirates:
AED 400, 4 black points
Common Fines: Phone Use
australia:
AUD 200 to AUD 1,600, demerit points possible
united arab emirates:
AED 800, 4 black points
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
australia:
AUD 300 to AUD 900, demerit points possible
united arab emirates:
AED 1000, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
australia:
Yes; varies by jurisdiction.
united arab emirates:
Not typical; fines usually notified electronically
Payment: Deadline
australia:
Varies; typically 14 to 28 days to pay
united arab emirates:
Varies; typically 15-30 days to pay