Driving in Estonia vs United Arab Emirates: Key Differences
When exploring the roads of Estonia and the United Arab Emirates, it's crucial to understand the distinctive regulations and practices that govern their streets. From speed limits and lane usage to alcohol regulations, each country has unique aspects that ensure motoring safety. Delve into the nuances of driving in these diverse nations to stay informed and secure while on the move.
Lanes
| Estonia | 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 '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: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits. | Electronic signs display current limits, often in major urban areas and highways. |
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
estonia:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
united arab emirates:
Marks the left edge on some roads.
Overtaking: On Right
estonia:
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
estonia:
List length: 5
united arab emirates:
List length: 6
Bus Lanes: Presence
estonia:
Yes
united arab emirates:
Yes, in major cities like Abu Dhabi and Dubai
Bus Lanes: Usage
estonia:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
united arab emirates:
Reserved for buses, taxis, and motorcycles in some areas.
Bus Lanes: Markings
estonia:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
united arab emirates:
Labeled and usually marked by road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
estonia:
Yes
united arab emirates:
Yes, primarily in urban areas and parks.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence
estonia:
No
united arab emirates:
Yes, in some areas
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
estonia:
N/A
united arab emirates:
Minimum two or three occupants
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
estonia:
Electronic signs display current limits.
united arab emirates:
Electronic signs display current limits, often in major urban areas and highways.
Speeds Limits
| Estonia | 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 | 90 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 60-80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 110 km/h (summer period: May to October) | 100-140 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 110 km/h (summer period: May to October) | 100-120 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80-90 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes | Less common; fines can be issued electronically |
Urban Areas: Standard
estonia:
50 km/h
united arab emirates:
40-60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
estonia:
30 km/h
united arab emirates:
25-40 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
estonia:
90 km/h
united arab emirates:
80-100 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
estonia:
90 km/h
united arab emirates:
80-100 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
estonia:
80 km/h
united arab emirates:
60-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
estonia:
110 km/h (summer period: May to October)
united arab emirates:
100-140 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
estonia:
110 km/h (summer period: May to October)
united arab emirates:
100-120 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
estonia:
80-90 km/h
united arab emirates:
80-100 km/h
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
estonia:
Yes
united arab emirates:
Less common; fines can be issued electronically
Signals
| Estonia | United arab emirates | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Standard Sequence[ Index 1] | Yellow | Amber |
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Estonia | 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 | Estonian; symbols are standard | Arabic and English; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow background | Triangular with red borders |
Traffic Lights: Standard Sequence[ Index 1]
estonia:
Yellow
united arab emirates:
Amber
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
estonia:
Not used in Estonia
united arab emirates:
Not used in UAE
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
estonia:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
united arab emirates:
Unnecessary use discouraged; especially in residential areas
Traffic Signs: Language
estonia:
Estonian; symbols are standard
united arab emirates:
Arabic and English; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
estonia:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
united arab emirates:
Triangular with red borders
Turns
| Estonia | United arab emirates | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Prohibited unless indicated by a sign | 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
estonia:
Prohibited unless indicated by a sign
united arab emirates:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
estonia:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
united arab emirates:
Allowed unless specifically prohibited by a sign
Documentation
| Estonia | United arab emirates | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted with International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted with International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Required every year; proof must be carried | Annual inspection required for vehicles older than 3 years |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on the windshield | Displayed on the windshield after inspection |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Recommended |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
estonia:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
united arab emirates:
Accepted with International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
estonia:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
united arab emirates:
Accepted with International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
estonia:
Required every year; proof must be carried
united arab emirates:
Annual inspection required for vehicles older than 3 years
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
estonia:
Displayed on the windshield
united arab emirates:
Displayed on the windshield after inspection
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
estonia:
Mandatory
united arab emirates:
Recommended
Road Etiquette
| Estonia | United arab emirates | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Less frequent use compared to some countries | Moderate use, not excessively |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
estonia:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
united arab emirates:
Moderate use, not excessively
Alcohol
| Estonia | United arab emirates | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.02% | 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 | Less common; checkpoints used in some areas |
Limits: General Drivers
estonia:
0.02%
united arab emirates:
0.0%
Limits: Professional Drivers
estonia:
0.00%
united arab emirates:
0.0%
Limits: Underage Drivers
estonia:
0.00%; zero tolerance
united arab emirates:
0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
estonia:
Common; checkpoints used
united arab emirates:
Less common; checkpoints used in some areas
Emergency Services
| Estonia | United arab emirates | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 999 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 112 | Varies by emirate; often integrates with general emergency |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider | Check with your insurance provider or organizations like AAA |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
estonia:
112
united arab emirates:
999
Contact: Traffic Police
estonia:
112
united arab emirates:
Varies by emirate; often integrates with general emergency
Contact: Roadside Assistance
estonia:
Check with your insurance provider
united arab emirates:
Check with your insurance provider or organizations like AAA
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
estonia:
Mandatory
united arab emirates:
Recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Estonia | United arab emirates | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; substantial fines apply | 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, points on license | AED 400, 4 black points |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines apply, points on license | AED 800, 4 black points |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines apply, points on license | AED 1000, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes | Not typical; fines usually notified electronically |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically must pay within specified period to avoid additional penalties | Varies; typically 15-30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
estonia:
Varies; substantial fines apply
united arab emirates:
Varies; AED 300 to AED 3000, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
estonia:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
united arab emirates:
Severe penalties, including fines and potential imprisonment
Common Fines: Seat Belts
estonia:
Fines apply, points on license
united arab emirates:
AED 400, 4 black points
Common Fines: Phone Use
estonia:
Fines apply, points on license
united arab emirates:
AED 800, 4 black points
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
estonia:
Fines apply, points on license
united arab emirates:
AED 1000, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
estonia:
Yes
united arab emirates:
Not typical; fines usually notified electronically
Payment: Deadline
estonia:
Varies; typically must pay within specified period to avoid additional penalties
united arab emirates:
Varies; typically 15-30 days to pay