Brunei vs. United Arab Emirates: Driving Differences Explained
When embarking on a journey through Brunei or the United Arab Emirates, understanding the distinct contrasts in road regulations and practices is vital for safe travel. From driving sides to speed limits and emergency protocols, this comparison highlights essential variations to help ensure a secure and enjoyable experience on the roads of these two unique nations.
Lanes
| Brunei | United arab emirates | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Left | Right |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the right 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 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 | No | Yes, in major cities like Abu Dhabi and Dubai |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | N/A | Reserved for buses, taxis, and motorcycles in some areas. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | N/A | Labeled and usually marked by road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | No | Yes, primarily in urban areas and parks. |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | N/A | Exclusive for bicycles. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | N/A | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. |
| 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. |
Driving Side
brunei:
Left
united arab emirates:
Right
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
brunei:
Marks the right edge on divided roads.
united arab emirates:
Marks the left edge on some roads.
Overtaking: On Right
brunei:
Allowed 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
brunei:
List length: 5
united arab emirates:
List length: 6
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
brunei:
Use leftmost lane.
united arab emirates:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
brunei:
No
united arab emirates:
Yes, in major cities like Abu Dhabi and Dubai
Bus Lanes: Usage
brunei:
N/A
united arab emirates:
Reserved for buses, taxis, and motorcycles in some areas.
Bus Lanes: Markings
brunei:
N/A
united arab emirates:
Labeled and usually marked by road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
brunei:
No
united arab emirates:
Yes, primarily in urban areas and parks.
Cycle Lanes: Usage
brunei:
N/A
united arab emirates:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
brunei:
N/A
united arab emirates:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence
brunei:
No
united arab emirates:
Yes, in some areas
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
brunei:
N/A
united arab emirates:
Minimum two or three occupants
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
brunei:
No
united arab emirates:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
brunei:
N/A
united arab emirates:
Electronic signs display current limits, often in major urban areas and highways.
Speeds Limits
| Brunei | 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: Cars And Motorcycles | 70-80 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 70-80 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 70-80 km/h | 60-80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 100 km/h | 100-140 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 100 km/h | 100-120 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: Standard
brunei:
50 km/h
united arab emirates:
40-60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
brunei:
40 km/h
united arab emirates:
25-40 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
brunei:
70-80 km/h
united arab emirates:
80-100 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
brunei:
70-80 km/h
united arab emirates:
80-100 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
brunei:
70-80 km/h
united arab emirates:
60-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
brunei:
100 km/h
united arab emirates:
100-140 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
brunei:
100 km/h
united arab emirates:
100-120 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
brunei:
No
united arab emirates:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
brunei:
N/A
united arab emirates:
Electronic signs display current limits
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
brunei:
Yes
united arab emirates:
Less common; fines can be issued electronically
Signals
| Brunei | United arab emirates | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Brunei | 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 | Malay; English used for important signs | Arabic and English; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow background | Triangular with red borders |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
brunei:
Not used in Brunei
united arab emirates:
Not used in UAE
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
brunei:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
united arab emirates:
Unnecessary use discouraged; especially in residential areas
Traffic Signs: Language
brunei:
Malay; English used for important signs
united arab emirates:
Arabic and English; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
brunei:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
united arab emirates:
Triangular with red borders
Turns
| Brunei | United arab emirates | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | 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
brunei:
Not allowed
united arab emirates:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
brunei:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
united arab emirates:
Allowed unless specifically prohibited by a sign
Documentation
| Brunei | United arab emirates | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted with International Driving Permit | Accepted with International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted with International Driving Permit | Accepted with International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Annually required | Annual inspection required for vehicles older than 3 years |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Not used | Displayed on the windshield after inspection |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory | Recommended |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
brunei:
Accepted with International Driving Permit
united arab emirates:
Accepted with International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
brunei:
Accepted with International Driving Permit
united arab emirates:
Accepted with International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
brunei:
Annually required
united arab emirates:
Annual inspection required for vehicles older than 3 years
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
brunei:
Not used
united arab emirates:
Displayed on the windshield after inspection
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
brunei:
Not mandatory, but recommended
united arab emirates:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
brunei:
Not mandatory
united arab emirates:
Recommended
Road Etiquette
| Brunei | 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
brunei:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
united arab emirates:
Moderate use, not excessively
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
brunei:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
united arab emirates:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Brunei | United arab emirates | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.00% | 0.0% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.0% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance | 0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used in some areas | Less common; checkpoints used in some areas |
Limits: General Drivers
brunei:
0.00%
united arab emirates:
0.0%
Limits: Professional Drivers
brunei:
0.00%
united arab emirates:
0.0%
Limits: Underage Drivers
brunei:
0.00%; zero tolerance
united arab emirates:
0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
brunei:
Common; checkpoints used in some areas
united arab emirates:
Less common; checkpoints used in some areas
Roundabouts
| Brunei | United arab emirates | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal left when preparing to exit | Signal right when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
brunei:
Signal left when preparing to exit
united arab emirates:
Signal right when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Brunei | United arab emirates | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 991 | 999 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 993 | Varies by emirate; often integrates with general emergency |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or local services | 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
brunei:
991
united arab emirates:
999
Contact: Traffic Police
brunei:
993
united arab emirates:
Varies by emirate; often integrates with general emergency
Contact: Roadside Assistance
brunei:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
united arab emirates:
Check with your insurance provider or organizations like AAA
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
brunei:
Not mandatory, but recommended
united arab emirates:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
brunei:
Not mandatory, but recommended
united arab emirates:
Recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Brunei | United arab emirates | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; B$50 to B$500, points on license | 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 | B$150 | AED 400, 4 black points |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | B$300 | AED 800, 4 black points |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | B$250 | AED 1000, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes | Not typical; fines usually notified electronically |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 14 days to pay | Varies; typically 15-30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
brunei:
Varies; B$50 to B$500, points on license
united arab emirates:
Varies; AED 300 to AED 3000, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
brunei:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
united arab emirates:
Severe penalties, including fines and potential imprisonment
Common Fines: Seat Belts
brunei:
B$150
united arab emirates:
AED 400, 4 black points
Common Fines: Phone Use
brunei:
B$300
united arab emirates:
AED 800, 4 black points
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
brunei:
B$250
united arab emirates:
AED 1000, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
brunei:
Yes
united arab emirates:
Not typical; fines usually notified electronically
Payment: Deadline
brunei:
Varies; typically 14 days to pay
united arab emirates:
Varies; typically 15-30 days to pay