Driving Differences: Egypt vs. Saudi Arabia Explained
As you explore the nuances of driving in Egypt and Saudi Arabia, it’s essential to understand the contrasting regulations and practices that influence road safety. Key distinctions include bus and cycle lane availability, speed limits, and alcohol regulations. Familiarizing yourself with these variations can enhance your confidence and security while navigating these vibrant regions.
Lanes
| Egypt | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| Bus Lanes: Presence | Limited | No |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Typically used by buses and minibuses. | N/A |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Not consistently marked. | N/A |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Limited | No |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Rare and may not be exclusive to bicycles. | N/A |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Often unmarked. | N/A |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence | No | Yes |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | Minimum two or three occupants |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Fixed speed limits. | N/A |
Bus Lanes: Presence
egypt:
Limited
saudi arabia:
No
Bus Lanes: Usage
egypt:
Typically used by buses and minibuses.
saudi arabia:
N/A
Bus Lanes: Markings
egypt:
Not consistently marked.
saudi arabia:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Presence
egypt:
Limited
saudi arabia:
No
Cycle Lanes: Usage
egypt:
Rare and may not be exclusive to bicycles.
saudi arabia:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Markings
egypt:
Often unmarked.
saudi arabia:
N/A
High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence
egypt:
No
saudi arabia:
Yes
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
egypt:
N/A
saudi arabia:
Minimum two or three occupants
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
egypt:
Fixed speed limits.
saudi arabia:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Egypt | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 40 km/h | 30-40 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 70-90 km/h | 100-120 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 70-90 km/h | 100-120 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 70-90 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 90-120 km/h | 120-140 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 90-100 km/h | 120 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80-90 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Fixed speed limits | N/A |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes; fines are often paid immediately | Rare; fines are usually mailed or sent via SMS |
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
egypt:
40 km/h
saudi arabia:
30-40 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
egypt:
70-90 km/h
saudi arabia:
100-120 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
egypt:
70-90 km/h
saudi arabia:
100-120 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
egypt:
70-90 km/h
saudi arabia:
80-100 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
egypt:
90-120 km/h
saudi arabia:
120-140 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
egypt:
90-100 km/h
saudi arabia:
120 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
egypt:
80-90 km/h
saudi arabia:
100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
egypt:
Fixed speed limits
saudi arabia:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
egypt:
Yes; fines are often paid immediately
saudi arabia:
Rare; fines are usually mailed or sent via SMS
Signals
| Egypt | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Egypt | Not used in Saudi Arabia |
| Horn Usage: Allowed | Commonly used to communicate with other drivers | Only in cases to avoid accidents |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary use discouraged; certain areas may restrict usage | Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply |
| Horn Usage: Penalties | Fines can occur for excessive misuse | Fines may apply for misuse |
| Headlight Flash: Usage | To signal other drivers or warn of presence | To warn other drivers of your presence or to indicate overtaking |
| Headlight Flash: Prohibited Usage | Not officially regulated | Not to be used to signal other messages |
| Hand Signals: Common Usage | Used in some situations due to high traffic density | Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangles with a red border and white background | Diamond-shaped with yellow background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
egypt:
Not used in Egypt
saudi arabia:
Not used in Saudi Arabia
Horn Usage: Allowed
egypt:
Commonly used to communicate with other drivers
saudi arabia:
Only in cases to avoid accidents
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
egypt:
Unnecessary use discouraged; certain areas may restrict usage
saudi arabia:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
Horn Usage: Penalties
egypt:
Fines can occur for excessive misuse
saudi arabia:
Fines may apply for misuse
Headlight Flash: Usage
egypt:
To signal other drivers or warn of presence
saudi arabia:
To warn other drivers of your presence or to indicate overtaking
Headlight Flash: Prohibited Usage
egypt:
Not officially regulated
saudi arabia:
Not to be used to signal other messages
Hand Signals: Common Usage
egypt:
Used in some situations due to high traffic density
saudi arabia:
Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected
Traffic Signs: Warning
egypt:
Triangles with a red border and white background
saudi arabia:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| Egypt | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Usually not allowed unless indicated otherwise | Not allowed |
Right Turn On Red
egypt:
Usually not allowed unless indicated otherwise
saudi arabia:
Not allowed
Documentation
| Egypt | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Requirement | Valid Egyptian driver's license required | Valid driver's license required |
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit required | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Mandatory annual inspection | Mandatory periodic inspection required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Provided after passing inspection | Displayed on the vehicle after successful inspection |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory | Mandatory |
Driver's License: Requirement
egypt:
Valid Egyptian driver's license required
saudi arabia:
Valid driver's license required
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
egypt:
International Driving Permit recommended
saudi arabia:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
egypt:
International Driving Permit required
saudi arabia:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
egypt:
Mandatory annual inspection
saudi arabia:
Mandatory periodic inspection required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
egypt:
Provided after passing inspection
saudi arabia:
Displayed on the vehicle after successful inspection
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
egypt:
Not mandatory
saudi arabia:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Egypt | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| Flashing Lights: Misuse | Common in high traffic areas | Discouraged, fines may apply |
| Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging | Common practice, though not always observed | Common practice, especially in heavy traffic |
| Use Of Horn: Limited | Commonly used | Only in emergency situations |
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Frequent use compared to some countries | Frequent use for communication on the road |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Give way and allow passage | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary |
Flashing Lights: Misuse
egypt:
Common in high traffic areas
saudi arabia:
Discouraged, fines may apply
Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging
egypt:
Common practice, though not always observed
saudi arabia:
Common practice, especially in heavy traffic
Use Of Horn: Limited
egypt:
Commonly used
saudi arabia:
Only in emergency situations
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
egypt:
Frequent use compared to some countries
saudi arabia:
Frequent use for communication on the road
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
egypt:
Give way and allow passage
saudi arabia:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Egypt | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.00% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.02% | 0.00% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance | 0.00% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Conducted frequently | Common, random checkpoints are used |
| Enforcement: Fines | Can be substantial | Substantial; possible imprisonment |
| Enforcement: Imprisonment | Possible for severe offenses | Frequent for offenses |
| Test Refusal | Can result in penalties and license suspension | Can result in immediate license suspension and further penalties |
Limits: General Drivers
egypt:
0.05%
saudi arabia:
0.00%
Limits: Professional Drivers
egypt:
0.02%
saudi arabia:
0.00%
Limits: Underage Drivers
egypt:
0.00%; zero tolerance
saudi arabia:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
egypt:
Conducted frequently
saudi arabia:
Common, random checkpoints are used
Enforcement: Fines
egypt:
Can be substantial
saudi arabia:
Substantial; possible imprisonment
Enforcement: Imprisonment
egypt:
Possible for severe offenses
saudi arabia:
Frequent for offenses
Test Refusal
egypt:
Can result in penalties and license suspension
saudi arabia:
Can result in immediate license suspension and further penalties
Emergency Services
| Egypt | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 122 | 999 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 122 | 993 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider | Check with your insurance provider or local services |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
egypt:
122
saudi arabia:
999
Contact: Traffic Police
egypt:
122
saudi arabia:
993
Contact: Roadside Assistance
egypt:
Check with your insurance provider
saudi arabia:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
egypt:
Not mandatory, but recommended
saudi arabia:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Egypt | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; fines can be significant | Varies; SAR 300 to SAR 3,000 |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Severe penalties including fines and possible jail time | Substantial fines, imprisonment |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines apply for non-compliance | Fines imposed |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines apply for non-compliance | Fines imposed, typically SAR 500 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Significant fines and points on license | Substantial fines |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes; fines are often paid immediately | Not typical; usually paid online or via bank transfer |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically within a few weeks | Varies; typically 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
egypt:
Varies; fines can be significant
saudi arabia:
Varies; SAR 300 to SAR 3,000
Common Fines: Alcohol
egypt:
Severe penalties including fines and possible jail time
saudi arabia:
Substantial fines, imprisonment
Common Fines: Seat Belts
egypt:
Fines apply for non-compliance
saudi arabia:
Fines imposed
Common Fines: Phone Use
egypt:
Fines apply for non-compliance
saudi arabia:
Fines imposed, typically SAR 500
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
egypt:
Significant fines and points on license
saudi arabia:
Substantial fines
Payment: On The Spot
egypt:
Yes; fines are often paid immediately
saudi arabia:
Not typical; usually paid online or via bank transfer
Payment: Deadline
egypt:
Varies; typically within a few weeks
saudi arabia:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay