Driving in Croatia vs. United Arab Emirates: Key Differences
When navigating the roads of Croatia and the United Arab Emirates, drivers encounter distinct regulations and practices that shape their travel experiences. From speed limits to lane usage, understanding these variations is crucial for ensuring a secure journey abroad. Explore how these two countries differ in their approach to vehicular operation and road etiquette, empowering you to drive with confidence.
Lanes
| Croatia | United arab emirates | |
|---|---|---|
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the left edge on divided roads. | Marks the left edge on some roads. |
| Overtaking: On Right | Not commonly practiced. | 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 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; 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 | 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
croatia:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
united arab emirates:
Marks the left edge on some roads.
Overtaking: On Right
croatia:
Not commonly practiced.
united arab emirates:
Allowed on multilane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Overtaking: Prohibited Areas
croatia:
List length: 5
united arab emirates:
List length: 6
Bus Lanes: Presence
croatia:
Yes
united arab emirates:
Yes, in major cities like Abu Dhabi and Dubai
Bus Lanes: Usage
croatia:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
united arab emirates:
Reserved for buses, taxis, and motorcycles in some areas.
Bus Lanes: Markings
croatia:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
united arab emirates:
Labeled and usually marked by road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
croatia:
Yes
united arab emirates:
Yes, primarily in urban areas and parks.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence
croatia:
No
united arab emirates:
Yes, in some areas
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
croatia:
N/A
united arab emirates:
Minimum two or three occupants
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
croatia:
No
united arab emirates:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
croatia:
N/A
united arab emirates:
Electronic signs display current limits, often in major urban areas and highways.
Speeds Limits
| Croatia | United arab emirates | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 50 km/h | 40-60 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30 km/h | 25-40 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 90 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 60-80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 130 km/h | 100-140 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 90 km/h | 100-120 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 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: Standard
croatia:
50 km/h
united arab emirates:
40-60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
croatia:
30 km/h
united arab emirates:
25-40 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
croatia:
90 km/h
united arab emirates:
80-100 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
croatia:
80 km/h
united arab emirates:
80-100 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
croatia:
80 km/h
united arab emirates:
60-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
croatia:
130 km/h
united arab emirates:
100-140 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
croatia:
90 km/h
united arab emirates:
100-120 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
croatia:
90 km/h
united arab emirates:
80-100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
croatia:
No
united arab emirates:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
croatia:
N/A
united arab emirates:
Electronic signs display current limits
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
croatia:
Yes
united arab emirates:
Less common; fines can be issued electronically
Signals
| Croatia | United arab emirates | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not 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 | Croatian; symbols are standard | Arabic and English; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangle with red border | Triangular with red borders |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
croatia:
Not used
united arab emirates:
Not used in UAE
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
croatia:
Signal when entering and exiting
united arab emirates:
Signal when exiting
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
croatia:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
united arab emirates:
Unnecessary use discouraged; especially in residential areas
Traffic Signs: Language
croatia:
Croatian; symbols are standard
united arab emirates:
Arabic and English; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
croatia:
Triangle with red border
united arab emirates:
Triangular with red borders
Turns
| Croatia | 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
croatia:
Not allowed
united arab emirates:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
croatia:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
united arab emirates:
Allowed unless specifically prohibited by a sign
Documentation
| Croatia | United arab emirates | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted temporarily; no International Driving Permit necessary for EEA citizens | Accepted with International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit required | Accepted with International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Annual inspection 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
croatia:
Accepted temporarily; no International Driving Permit necessary for EEA citizens
united arab emirates:
Accepted with International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
croatia:
International Driving Permit required
united arab emirates:
Accepted with International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
croatia:
Annual inspection required
united arab emirates:
Annual inspection required for vehicles older than 3 years
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
croatia:
Displayed on windshield
united arab emirates:
Displayed on the windshield after inspection
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
croatia:
Mandatory
united arab emirates:
Recommended
Road Etiquette
| Croatia | United arab emirates | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Less frequent use compared to some countries | Moderate use, not excessively |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
croatia:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
united arab emirates:
Moderate use, not excessively
Alcohol
| Croatia | 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 |
| Enforcement: Fines | Can be substantial | Varies; can be substantial |
Limits: General Drivers
croatia:
0.05%
united arab emirates:
0.0%
Limits: Professional Drivers
croatia:
0.00%
united arab emirates:
0.0%
Limits: Underage Drivers
croatia:
0.00%
united arab emirates:
0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
croatia:
Common
united arab emirates:
Less common; checkpoints used in some areas
Enforcement: Fines
croatia:
Can be substantial
united arab emirates:
Varies; can be substantial
Emergency Services
| Croatia | United arab emirates | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 999 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 92 | Varies by emirate; often integrates with general emergency |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | 188 or check with your insurance provider | Check with your insurance provider or organizations like AAA |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
croatia:
112
united arab emirates:
999
Contact: Traffic Police
croatia:
92
united arab emirates:
Varies by emirate; often integrates with general emergency
Contact: Roadside Assistance
croatia:
188 or check with your insurance provider
united arab emirates:
Check with your insurance provider or organizations like AAA
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
croatia:
Mandatory
united arab emirates:
Recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Croatia | United arab emirates | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; significant fines 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 | Fines enforced | AED 400, 4 black points |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines enforced | AED 800, 4 black points |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Significant fines | AED 1000, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes, often | Not typical; fines usually notified electronically |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; stated at the time of fine | Varies; typically 15-30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
croatia:
Varies; significant fines possible
united arab emirates:
Varies; AED 300 to AED 3000, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
croatia:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
united arab emirates:
Severe penalties, including fines and potential imprisonment
Common Fines: Seat Belts
croatia:
Fines enforced
united arab emirates:
AED 400, 4 black points
Common Fines: Phone Use
croatia:
Fines enforced
united arab emirates:
AED 800, 4 black points
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
croatia:
Significant fines
united arab emirates:
AED 1000, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
croatia:
Yes, often
united arab emirates:
Not typical; fines usually notified electronically
Payment: Deadline
croatia:
Varies; stated at the time of fine
united arab emirates:
Varies; typically 15-30 days to pay