Driving in Ireland vs. United Arab Emirates: Key Differences
When exploring the roads of Ireland and the United Arab Emirates, it's crucial to understand their distinct driving customs and regulations. From lane usage and overtaking protocols to speed limits and traffic signals, these countries showcase diverse approaches to road safety. Familiarizing yourself with these contrasts can enhance your travel experience and ensure a safer journey abroad.
Lanes
| Ireland | United arab emirates | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Left | Right |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks areas where passing is not allowed. | Marks the left edge on some roads. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Used as centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. | Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. |
| Overtaking: On Left | No, overtake on the right. | Yes |
| Overtaking: On Right | Yes, standard overtaking side. | 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 | 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. |
Driving Side
ireland:
Left
united arab emirates:
Right
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
ireland:
Marks areas where passing is not allowed.
united arab emirates:
Marks the left edge on some roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
ireland:
Used as centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
united arab emirates:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Left
ireland:
No, overtake on the right.
united arab emirates:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
ireland:
Yes, standard overtaking side.
united arab emirates:
Allowed on multilane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Overtaking: Prohibited Areas
ireland:
List length: 5
united arab emirates:
List length: 6
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
ireland:
Use leftmost lane.
united arab emirates:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
ireland:
Yes
united arab emirates:
Yes, in major cities like Abu Dhabi and Dubai
Bus Lanes: Usage
ireland:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
united arab emirates:
Reserved for buses, taxis, and motorcycles in some areas.
Bus Lanes: Markings
ireland:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
united arab emirates:
Labeled and usually marked by road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
ireland:
Yes
united arab emirates:
Yes, primarily in urban areas and parks.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence
ireland:
No
united arab emirates:
Yes, in some areas
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
ireland:
N/A
united arab emirates:
Minimum two or three occupants
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
ireland:
No
united arab emirates:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
ireland:
N/A
united arab emirates:
Electronic signs display current limits, often in major urban areas and highways.
Speeds Limits
| Ireland | 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: Trucks And Trailers | 80-90 km/h | 60-80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 120 km/h | 100-140 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 100 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 | More common; fines can be issued on the spot. | Less common; fines can be issued electronically |
Urban Areas: Standard
ireland:
50 km/h
united arab emirates:
40-60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
ireland:
30 km/h
united arab emirates:
25-40 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
ireland:
80-90 km/h
united arab emirates:
60-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
ireland:
120 km/h
united arab emirates:
100-140 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
ireland:
100 km/h
united arab emirates:
100-120 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
ireland:
90 km/h
united arab emirates:
80-100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
ireland:
No
united arab emirates:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
ireland:
N/A
united arab emirates:
Electronic signs display current limits
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
ireland:
More common; fines can be issued on the spot.
united arab emirates:
Less common; fines can be issued electronically
Signals
| Ireland | United arab emirates | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Flashing Amber | Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians and other vehicles. | Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians and other vehicles |
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Indicates the light is about to turn green. | Not used in UAE |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when entering and exiting | Signal when exiting |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Use between 11:30pm and 7:00am is generally prohibited in residential areas. | Unnecessary use discouraged; especially in residential areas |
| Traffic Signs: Language | English; symbols are standard | Arabic and English; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangles with red borders | Triangular with red borders |
Traffic Lights: Flashing Amber
ireland:
Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians and other vehicles.
united arab emirates:
Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians and other vehicles
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
ireland:
Indicates the light is about to turn green.
united arab emirates:
Not used in UAE
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
ireland:
Signal when entering and exiting
united arab emirates:
Signal when exiting
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
ireland:
Use between 11:30pm and 7:00am is generally prohibited in residential areas.
united arab emirates:
Unnecessary use discouraged; especially in residential areas
Traffic Signs: Language
ireland:
English; symbols are standard
united arab emirates:
Arabic and English; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
ireland:
Triangles with red borders
united arab emirates:
Triangular with red borders
Turns
| Ireland | 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
ireland:
Not allowed
united arab emirates:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
ireland:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
united arab emirates:
Allowed unless specifically prohibited by a sign
Documentation
| Ireland | 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 | Compulsory for vehicles older than four years; NCT certificate required. | Annual inspection required for vehicles older than 3 years |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on the windshield | Displayed on the windshield after inspection |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Required | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory, but recommended | Recommended |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
ireland:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
united arab emirates:
Accepted with International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
ireland:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
united arab emirates:
Accepted with International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
ireland:
Compulsory for vehicles older than four years; NCT certificate required.
united arab emirates:
Annual inspection required for vehicles older than 3 years
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
ireland:
Displayed on the windshield
united arab emirates:
Displayed on the windshield after inspection
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
ireland:
Required
united arab emirates:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
ireland:
Not mandatory, but recommended
united arab emirates:
Recommended
Road Etiquette
| Ireland | 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
ireland:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
united arab emirates:
Moderate use, not excessively
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
ireland:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
united arab emirates:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Ireland | 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 | Random breath testing is common. | Less common; checkpoints used in some areas |
Limits: General Drivers
ireland:
0.05%
united arab emirates:
0.0%
Limits: Professional Drivers
ireland:
0.02%
united arab emirates:
0.0%
Limits: Underage Drivers
ireland:
0.00%; zero tolerance
united arab emirates:
0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
ireland:
Random breath testing is common.
united arab emirates:
Less common; checkpoints used in some areas
Emergency Services
| Ireland | United arab emirates | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 or 999 | 999 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 112 or 999 | Varies by emirate; often integrates with general emergency |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or AA Ireland | Check with your insurance provider or organizations like AAA |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Required | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory, but recommended | Recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
ireland:
112 or 999
united arab emirates:
999
Contact: Traffic Police
ireland:
112 or 999
united arab emirates:
Varies by emirate; often integrates with general emergency
Contact: Roadside Assistance
ireland:
Check with your insurance provider or AA Ireland
united arab emirates:
Check with your insurance provider or organizations like AAA
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
ireland:
Required
united arab emirates:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
ireland:
Not mandatory, but recommended
united arab emirates:
Recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Ireland | United arab emirates | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; €80 to €120, and 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 | €60 fine and two penalty points | AED 400, 4 black points |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | €60 fine and three penalty points | AED 800, 4 black points |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | €80 and three penalty points | AED 1000, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible; fines can be issued on the spot | Not typical; fines usually notified electronically |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 30 days to pay | Varies; typically 15-30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
ireland:
Varies; €80 to €120, and points on license
united arab emirates:
Varies; AED 300 to AED 3000, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
ireland:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
united arab emirates:
Severe penalties, including fines and potential imprisonment
Common Fines: Seat Belts
ireland:
€60 fine and two penalty points
united arab emirates:
AED 400, 4 black points
Common Fines: Phone Use
ireland:
€60 fine and three penalty points
united arab emirates:
AED 800, 4 black points
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
ireland:
€80 and three penalty points
united arab emirates:
AED 1000, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
ireland:
Possible; fines can be issued on the spot
united arab emirates:
Not typical; fines usually notified electronically
Payment: Deadline
ireland:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay
united arab emirates:
Varies; typically 15-30 days to pay