Driving in Greece vs. United Arab Emirates: Key Differences
When driving abroad, understanding the nuances of local regulations is crucial for ensuring safety on the roads. This comparison between Greece and the United Arab Emirates reveals significant distinctions, such as speed limits, lane usage, and alcohol policies. Dive into the essential differences to stay informed and drive confidently in these diverse landscapes.
Lanes
| Greece | 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 | Not applicable | Minimum two or three occupants |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Not applicable | Electronic signs display current limits, often in major urban areas and highways. |
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
greece:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
united arab emirates:
Marks the left edge on some roads.
Overtaking: On Right
greece:
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
greece:
List length: 5
united arab emirates:
List length: 6
Bus Lanes: Presence
greece:
Yes
united arab emirates:
Yes, in major cities like Abu Dhabi and Dubai
Bus Lanes: Usage
greece:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
united arab emirates:
Reserved for buses, taxis, and motorcycles in some areas.
Bus Lanes: Markings
greece:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
united arab emirates:
Labeled and usually marked by road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
greece:
Yes
united arab emirates:
Yes, primarily in urban areas and parks.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence
greece:
No
united arab emirates:
Yes, in some areas
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
greece:
Not applicable
united arab emirates:
Minimum two or three occupants
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
greece:
No
united arab emirates:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
greece:
Not applicable
united arab emirates:
Electronic signs display current limits, often in major urban areas and highways.
Speeds Limits
| Greece | 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 | 100 km/h | 100-120 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Not applicable | Electronic signs display current limits |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes, fines can be issued on the spot | Less common; fines can be issued electronically |
Urban Areas: Standard
greece:
50 km/h
united arab emirates:
40-60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
greece:
30 km/h
united arab emirates:
25-40 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
greece:
90 km/h
united arab emirates:
80-100 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
greece:
80 km/h
united arab emirates:
80-100 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
greece:
80 km/h
united arab emirates:
60-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
greece:
130 km/h
united arab emirates:
100-140 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
greece:
100 km/h
united arab emirates:
100-120 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
greece:
80 km/h
united arab emirates:
80-100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
greece:
No
united arab emirates:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
greece:
Not applicable
united arab emirates:
Electronic signs display current limits
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
greece:
Yes, fines can be issued on the spot
united arab emirates:
Less common; fines can be issued electronically
Signals
| Greece | United arab emirates | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Greece | Not used in UAE |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Discouraged in urban areas unless necessary | Unnecessary use discouraged; especially in residential areas |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Greek and English; symbols are standard | Arabic and English; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangle-shaped with yellow background | Triangular with red borders |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
greece:
Not used in Greece
united arab emirates:
Not used in UAE
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
greece:
Discouraged in urban areas unless necessary
united arab emirates:
Unnecessary use discouraged; especially in residential areas
Traffic Signs: Language
greece:
Greek and English; symbols are standard
united arab emirates:
Arabic and English; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
greece:
Triangle-shaped with yellow background
united arab emirates:
Triangular with red borders
Turns
| Greece | United arab emirates | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies by locality; check for signs | Allowed unless specifically prohibited by a sign |
Right Turn On Red
greece:
Not allowed
united arab emirates:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
greece:
Varies by locality; check for signs
united arab emirates:
Allowed unless specifically prohibited by a sign
Documentation
| Greece | United arab emirates | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted; International Driving Permit not required | 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 | Yes, periodic vehicle inspections required | Annual inspection required for vehicles older than 3 years |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate or windshield | Displayed on the windshield after inspection |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Recommended |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
greece:
Accepted; International Driving Permit not required
united arab emirates:
Accepted with International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
greece:
International Driving Permit required
united arab emirates:
Accepted with International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
greece:
Yes, periodic vehicle inspections required
united arab emirates:
Annual inspection required for vehicles older than 3 years
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
greece:
Displayed on license plate or windshield
united arab emirates:
Displayed on the windshield after inspection
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
greece:
Mandatory
united arab emirates:
Recommended
Road Etiquette
| Greece | United arab emirates | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Less frequent use compared to some countries | Moderate use, not excessively |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
greece:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
united arab emirates:
Moderate use, not excessively
Alcohol
| Greece | United arab emirates | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.0% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.02% | 0.0% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance | 0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; police may set up roadblocks | Less common; checkpoints used in some areas |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension and potential penalties | Can result in license suspension |
Limits: General Drivers
greece:
0.05%
united arab emirates:
0.0%
Limits: Professional Drivers
greece:
0.02%
united arab emirates:
0.0%
Limits: Underage Drivers
greece:
0.00%; zero tolerance
united arab emirates:
0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
greece:
Common; police may set up roadblocks
united arab emirates:
Less common; checkpoints used in some areas
Test Refusal
greece:
Can result in license suspension and potential penalties
united arab emirates:
Can result in license suspension
Emergency Services
| Greece | United arab emirates | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 999 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 100 | Varies by emirate; often integrates with general emergency |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | 10400 for ELPA assistance | Check with your insurance provider or organizations like AAA |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
greece:
112
united arab emirates:
999
Contact: Traffic Police
greece:
100
united arab emirates:
Varies by emirate; often integrates with general emergency
Contact: Roadside Assistance
greece:
10400 for ELPA assistance
united arab emirates:
Check with your insurance provider or organizations like AAA
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
greece:
Mandatory
united arab emirates:
Recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Greece | United arab emirates | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; €40 to €700, 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 | €350, points on license | AED 400, 4 black points |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | €100, points on license | AED 800, 4 black points |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | €350, points on license | AED 1000, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes; usually paid immediately or within a few days | Not typical; fines usually notified electronically |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 10 days to pay | Varies; typically 15-30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
greece:
Varies; €40 to €700, points on license
united arab emirates:
Varies; AED 300 to AED 3000, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
greece:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
united arab emirates:
Severe penalties, including fines and potential imprisonment
Common Fines: Seat Belts
greece:
€350, points on license
united arab emirates:
AED 400, 4 black points
Common Fines: Phone Use
greece:
€100, points on license
united arab emirates:
AED 800, 4 black points
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
greece:
€350, points on license
united arab emirates:
AED 1000, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
greece:
Yes; usually paid immediately or within a few days
united arab emirates:
Not typical; fines usually notified electronically
Payment: Deadline
greece:
Varies; typically 10 days to pay
united arab emirates:
Varies; typically 15-30 days to pay